GULZAR SETHI
ITS NOT ABOUT THE CAMERA, ITS ABOUT THE HANDS THAT HOLD IT.
Photography- Today it is my lifeline but 6 years ago it was a distant dream and 7 years ago even the thought had not germinated. By education I am an engineer, but even being a National Level boxer, a hobbyist drummer and a passionate biker I yearned for more. The biker in me came about because i preferred to stay aloof and secluded while I explored the forgotten lanes of Northern India but I never knew that sitting somewhere in the deep Himalayas and admiring mother nature would give me the answer that I yearned for, for so many years.
This phase of life taught me so much but the vital lesson to remember & what I always say in my workshops is that by believing in yourself and listening to your instinct you can achieve any feat. I was 37 years old, a Father of two beautiful girls and I knew I had no option but to make my way into the world of Photography.
Weddings in India are an extravagant affair and each wedding is so different that each event can be soul satisfying. The hustle-bustle, the colors, the emotions would excite me so much that I knew from the beginning I wanted to be a wedding photographer. However, my family and peers felt otherwise. I was told that I should look at Fashion, Celebrity or even Travel photography as being a top wedding photographer was not that great an option but I felt otherwise. It took me a while to convince everyone that being a Wedding Photographer is a blessing because I get to be the person who has the power to freeze someones memories for generations to come.
Back in 2011, seems like a long time ago now, Candid and Destination Wedding Photography in India was just about making its way into the market and I took the plunge to see what I could offer my clients which was different from what they had seen so far. Simultaneously, Social Media was bubbling up and I began uploading my images to Facebook and other social media platforms and thankfully people appreciated my perspective. From taking the upside down shots of the brides eyelashes, to taking macro shots of her jewellery, my prime focus remained on the details that built up to the final look of the bride because don’t we all know that its the bride who is the centre of attention at every wedding. No wonder, Gulzar Sethi Photography ranks among the top destination wedding photographers in India.
We always want to be like someone else but I feel otherwise, and even for my students I push them to find their true self. As a Photographer it is imperative to keep your creativity at its optimum level and as a golden rule, never every emulate someone else. You are an individual, with your own perspective, your own magic so what you bring through your perspective is yours alone and this is what creates your identity. Weddings have an array of possibilities be it in candid moments or the smallest details and each wedding will bring you something different.
To my brides, I always say that this is your day, give it your 200% while you prepare but on your wedding day, just sit back and soak in every moment and emotion. The poise, elegance and charm a bride holds is unmatched.