RHYTHMIC FOCUS

The brainchild of Saif and Sneha, the dynamic duo that transformed their hobby and passion for photography into a brand in itself

How did the idea to start Rhythmic Focus come up?

Rhythmic focus started with an idea of photowalk group. We went out on outdoor shoots every weekend and it was our just our hobby project back then, but with the intent to become the best photographers. Soon enough, we got into limelight in our friend circles for being good with photography and with that tag we used to get small assignments with NGOs and local colleges like Lala Lajpatrai. We were on the verge to look for jobs in our respective fields. But then, we got a big wedding assignment, and that is where it all started.

How did the two of you meet/how do you know each other?

We met through Instagram! We were avid users of the service and that’s where we first interacted. Later, we met offline and decided to collaborate with theme projects based around Mumbai. Restlessly shooting every weekend, we realized that we have the same dreams and its better to chase them together.

Saif:  I have a tech-y background and I have learnt about everything related to photography on my own. I tend to never miss a shot irrespective of camera/lens because I know my settings right. When shooting people, I love to make them smile and I usually would crack a joke to get energy of my shot. My style is strictly candid and I love vivid colours with them.

 Sneha: I am always learning and I tend to make relation with the people I shoot to get them in a zone they are comfortable in. So my style is naturally dramatic and I love to experiment with my angling. I prefer candid portraits as well as they tend to be more realistic.

So knowing these facts about each other, we were quite happy with the idea of having a venture of our own that gives our client best from both of us.

How was the transition from the field of engineering to photography? What prompted you to make the switch?

Saif: I wasn’t looking for a switch at all. It automatically happened in my course of drop year when I started to wander with my Xperia phone camera more often than clinging onto my books. I won’t hide the fact that I was into depression and photography made me feel better. I was found editing the photos I clicked and I barely enjoyed coding/studying.

I got hired by a start-up called Pricebaba.com as a product photographer and video editor and that gave me a taste of what it’s like to be in this field and I loved being here. That’s when I decided that I will become a professional in photography and videography. The job paid me enough to buy my first DSLR all by myself.

I don’t regret at all when I look at the people that started their engineering journey with me. They might have to struggle a bit less for jobs, but I love and enjoy what I am doing while getting paid for it. They might be getting high package salaries when they get job at a big shot company, but they surely will be in high pressure. Photography will never depress me, and I will always be happy that I decided to switch my career path for something I love.

When you look at numerous engineers making a switch to photography, you will tend to relate me to Farhan of 3 Idiots and think it is THAT easy to convince parents to agree to your decision. They will not. Mine didn’t.  I had a fair share of struggle of convincing my Dad that I will do something out of my Canon camera that will credit me well, pay me enough to start my family someday and make him proud. It took three assignments and 5KTs to get my message through. Fast forward to today, they are proud that I am happy and tension free as I could ever be.

It’s a very natural decision and I’d say that you shouldn’t force it just because you flunked once. But you should act upon it if you feel that you have been made for it.

Have you both always been interested in photography since childhood or did this interest develop later?

 Sneha: I am a mass media grad, so I was always around people who are really passionate about photography. BMMites rightly say that photography is in their DNA and I am always proud to be one of them. As a kid, I started with photography with a basic point and shoot and later advanced to smartphone photography trend. I was always carrying a camera and what mattered to me was to have a photographic archive of my whole life. Eventually I started to learn about concepts of photography very slowly and that made me become the professional I am today. Saif played a major role in teaching me to operate a DSLR even before I had one and I owe him for that.

 Saif: For me, I was always spotted with my point and shoot whenever there was a family occasion and for the rest of the time, I was happy shooting abstracts and nature. Everybody I see today start with a close up of flowers and droplets as close as the camera’s range go before opening up their Facebook page and I was no exception. I also attended various events happening in the city which I still enjoy shooting. It came to me as a habit to have my camera around with me all the time.

Did you do a specific course or did you learn photography all by yourselves?

We learnt everything with (many) trial and errors over the course of our 2 years in business. But, we found that it is the most interesting way to learn and we actually tend to explain the terms with respect to practical usage and not just tell the theory. We wanted to learn studio lights through advance courses but instead, we found some useful YouTube tutorials that saved us a peace of mind. Shoot away, you will find the usage for each setting on the camera as you try to get a better shot.

Do you have any tips for our readers who want to take up photography full-time even though they haven’t done a course on it?

– We will advise you to stay away from photography courses at first. Give yourself about 6-8 months time to learn from abundant YouTube videos that will help you.

– Be spotted everywhere with your camera! Even if you are an aspiring DSLR buyer, don’t be shy to use your phone and don’t be disheartened with not having a great equipment to start with. Try different modes on camera and different angles for shots.

– Experiment with your framing and figure out what style of photography inspires you. You may be a nature lover (landscapes or macro), or you may be a fan of abstracts or portraits (fashion or documentary).

– When you know your style, you can deep dive into it and explore the work of photographers who are known for that genre. Have a set of favorites, when you see their work, you will tend to get shots inspired by them.

– Learn about post-processing. It is as important as shooting because it is what people are going to see. It is your end product and it will define an impression about you. Keep a well organized collection as you will need it once you pass about 500 photos from 50 different events. Keep it easy to be found for later use.

– Select your audience carefully. Don’t opt for people who will love every shot you take. Ask people for review from people who you believe, will give you genuine verdict.

– Lastly, don’t let your confidence stumble when you don’t get good turnouts. People will not give out enough likes on your photos and they may message you that you aren’t as good. Or you may get rain of likes and people praising you. Either ways, you should keep on doing what inspires you and make you happy!

Check out their work on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RhythmicFocus