shoots to her credit doing campaigns for Pepsi, Nivea and Monte Carlo she has established herself well. And yes, the money has been coming in.
But some challenges remain. "The fashion community is a very close door fraternity and as an outsider who knew no one it was and still very difficult. People want to employ only those who they know and comfortable with. You may be better, you may give brilliant concepts, quote low prices, but they would still like to hire someone they have worked with before," she says, adding, "I totally endorse what Kangana Ranaut says about nepotism in Bollywood," says the 30 year old. Gurgaon Local News
Besides, she adds, "Fashion photography still has some way to go to meet international standards. Indian clients are not yet ready to experiment." Rarely does one get clients like Zoraya, a clothing brand, where the designer and owner of the label gave her full freedom.
The world of fashion is glamorous as you and I see it, but she says when you have to climb on rooftops, spend hours in the sun, deal with men who seek something in return or clients who are interfering, it isn't that cool at all. There are also logistical challenges sometimes like when she flew all the way to Nagpur to do a Pepsi campaign only to find that her production guy was held back at the Delhi airport because he couldn't get clearance for the studio equipment like lights and tripods. "I was nervous as hell. You cannot mess around with such a big brand. But thankfully, then there was ample sunlight and I managed," she says.
But still, fashion it is what she loves and even if you pay her money, lots of it, she wouldn't do any other form of photography: Portfolio shoots, weddings, news photography, et al.
Describing the process, she says she meets the model at least twice to know her well so that the model and the photographer are in synch with each other. In these meetings she would explain the theme, explain the composition, what kind of expressions and body language required.
That brings me to the next question: Does female models feel more comfortable with women photographers? "International models have no issues, but I observe that Indian models are perhaps more comfortable with a woman photographer," Sarkar says.
How do people react when people find out that she is a fashion photographer? They don't react, she says, and that's because "I don't introduce myself as a fashion photographer. Just photographer, I say" she tells me on phone from the chamber of a dermatologist where she has gone for a consultation.
Why? What happened?
"Sun burn, I suppose," she says. "My skin is getting darker. Too much outdoor shooting."
Well, how's that for another professional hazard!
