Valuable career tips from India's first Child and Maternity Photographer

Considering a career in photography after college? Amrita Samant, India’s first child and maternity photographer dishes out her expert advice on pursuing the art of photography and turning it into a full-fledged profession.

Although she was working as a Human Resource Manager, Amrita found herself dabbling in creative pursuits whenever she could. From dance to art, she tried on many different hats. It was during this pursuit that she stumbled across photography. She soon found a niche for herself in the child and maternity space. Nearly eight years since, she now owns and runs her own photography business, Mommy Shots by Amrita.

These are a few tips Amrita wanted to share with young adults hoping to pursue their interests.

Do your research!

While Amrita didn’t pursue photography academically, she learnt her trade on the job. And the business skills that she racked up as an HR enabled her to run her business better.

“There is a ton of free content out there that you can use to study your subject of interest and build skills. But no amount of book knowledge amounts to getting out there, planning your own shoot, and executing it. If you have the option or the luxury to pursue photography academically, go for it. But nothing can equate to the amount of practice you put in.”

We’ve all heard the saying: Practice makes perfect. And that’s exactly what Amrita suggests. While learning skills are absolutely necessary, putting in the work is just as or even more important.

These were excerpts from a live session with Amrita on Instagram. Please watch the full session below to learn more about her journey as a photographer.

Conclusion

Making your mark as a professional photographer does not have to be complicated. Spend time to understand the skills needed and assess if that’s something that you can see yourself doing. Find a mentor, or if you can, work under a professional. Get started on honing your craft by practicing your skills as much as you can.

Interested in an apprenticeship? Or hoping to take a gap year to understand where to go next? Get in touch with us by sending us an email at contact@beyond8.in or on our website, www.beyond8.in.