Most of my friends know me as an Architect, though with the presence of my photography page https://www.facebook.com/photooneil and website www.photooneil.com , my work as a Wedding Photographer works seems to have overtaken my architectural work of late. I firmly believe we can be good at more than one field and I aim to take my Photography and Architecture to the next level.
I remember those days, years ago, quite vividly. I was at the weddings with a VHS Camcorder, the size of a modern day mini rocket launcher on my right shoulder and a relatively heavy 5Kg plus camera on my other shoulder. I could not afford to miss any moments at the ceremony and reception and had to tread along whole day with those beasts on either of my shoulders. At the end of the day I felt like a bullock freed off the card, tired from a gruesome day. Looking back it was all fun for I had my heart set in covering weddings.
The photography bug had bit me while I was very young. I watched my uncle shoot with the double reflex camera, got an opportunity to fiddle with a point and shoot Ricoh film camera to dreaming about having a Nikon Film Camera which I eventually did. I have kept my Nikon F401 as a memory to the good old film days.
My dad did his best to put the best equipment he could afford into my hands. Once I got admission into Architecture College, wedding videography did take a break. While in college, the study of light, graphics and details continued to fascinate me. The training I received as an Architect made sure I became a sensitive Architect and in turn helped me get better as a Photographer. The five fun filled successful years in college took me new heights wherein I got to learn more than architecture.
Good friends and social environment thought me more about interpersonal relationship. By the time I finished my architectural education, I realized that those years trained me to see and get set to face the mighty world ahead. I flew to the Middle East as soon as I finished my architectural degree and was exposed to some international practices. In the process I qualified myself as a project management Professional.
Architecture has always been my first love. But it was Photography that helped keep my sanity in the high stressed field. Photography helped me bust those stress levels . I was fortunate to be part of many group exhibitions in photography. I had a solo exhibition in Goa in August of 2013.
I have often been asked, why photography. My affinity to Photography has brought a sense of realization of instant gratification. This has made life more purposeful with bursts of consistent happiness and fulfillment. Every portrait taken has brought joy to the one being photographed and me as a creator of the image. Every environmental photograph has brought a memory.
Photography for me has always been about people, life and love. Over years I have learnt the art of making people look good and beautiful. I am fascinated with people in love and love capturing emotions. I want to tell a story with every picture I shoot. Thus wedding photography was the genre that I chose to live on.
Every smile has made me smile; every pain of the parents giving away their daughter, though hidden in a smile has made me feel the pain. I would not hesitate to say I have cried when I have seen the bride cry. I have also joined in the fun when the couple is in their fun element. I live and unwind my life through my subjects. I consider it a honor when I click a photograph of an individual or a group – cause I believe in doing so they give me a part of themselves.
I aim to bring work that is of International wedding standards. Being Goan myself, being involved in Goa Wedding Photography, as a Goan Wedding Photographer has been the closest to my heart.
What’s more, my clients have become good friends. It’s a relationship that goes beyond the camera. Since we deliberately keep a low profile, we depend on our past client’s recommendations for our wedding assignments, something that we have succeeded quite well.
We look at weddings as a challenge. Every wedding is different and we do ensure we give it our very all-knowing well that one gets married just once in her or his lifetime. Ask our past clients. They will tell you more. http://designoneil.com/testimonials
If you haven’t yet, you may want to see some of my work on www.photooneil.com and also follow us on https://www.facebook.com/photooneil
