Click your career

Education Times speaks to Muhammad Shafi, senior faculty member, photography department, 'Triveni Kala Sangam', on photography as a career and its future prospects. Important role Photography plays a very important role in our lives. We are all inclined towards it as we click images of special occasions be it a birthday, marriage or a picnic. But pursuing photography as a career is not everyone's cup of tea.One has to be creative, passionate, patient and persuasive to develop it into a profession. Awareness The awareness level is low in India. Most people are aware about either press photographers or the ones who click pictures in marriages. The concept of a professional photographer or a specialised photographer is still not an option for many. However, there has been a notable shift in the perception of the progressive generation of today, which is showing an interest in this area. Career prospects and scope Photography is a very attractive and a lucrative profession to be in. There is a tremendous growth potential in this area, with its scope having extended beyond news coverage. Today, there is a need for good photographers in every profession starting from fashion, interiors, food, medicine, museology to tourism. Graphics & advertising industry provides a major platform for growth. Industrial photography is in vogue as all big industries prefer to their products and equipment. Today, every professional likes to build his or her portfolio, so the scope has widened. Qualification and attributes Photography is synonymous with creativity and there are no qualifications for a creative person. One can acquire technical know-how from various institutes running short-term and long-term courses on this subjec t. But, real success comes through inclination and passion for this subject. One should remember that photography doesn't get one easy success and money. It calls for constant passion and persuasion and requires a lot of practice, alongwith time and monetary investment. Moreover, in this age of competition, photographers should specialise in whatever area they work in. The only qualities needed to be a good photographer is to have a 'creative eye', dedication, patience and a strong visual power to capture a subject. Future vision The booming print and electronic media industries have opened up wide avenues for photographers. Today, one can see a lot of journals, magazines and books coming out on a variety of subjects. These magazines, journals and books require both good editorial and pictorial content. Moreover, channels and production houses of both news and entertainment provide scope for photographers. Moreover, no product can be marketed without the use of advertisements where photography plays an important role. Industrial and portfolio photography is a high-growth area these days. The onset of digital photography has created many new areas for photographers, to explore their talent and grow professionally.