Bagging the 2018 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Award, this professional fashion photographer’s journey is a true example of ‘passion-driven struggle to victory’.In today’s fast-moving world, there are a plethora of career options to choose from. While most of us are stuck in a regular 9 to 5 job, Soraisam identified his passion for ‘fashion photography’ during his early graduation years and courageously overcame every obstacle to succeed in this field.
How ‘Fashion Photography’ Caught His Eye?
Soraisam hails from a city in Manipur and was completing his graduation in BBA. On a random day, he agreed to his friend’s request for modelling for his brother’s shirt brand. While he was posing in the studio room, Soraisam quotes “my attention was at the photographer’s exciting role, how he was moving around with his camera and trying to capture the best angles”. That was when he fell in love with the art of fashion photography!
Photographers usually diversify by venturing into wedding photography to earn their bread and butter but despite everyone’s advice, Soraisam set his focus only on fashion photography. He considers Daboo Ratnani as his role model and dares to fuel immense hard work in his desire for fashion photography even though Manipur does not have a lot of opportunities for this profession.
Tackling the Boiling Family Pressure!
New emerging fields like fashion photography or blogging are difficult for parents to understand. Soraisam was sailing in the same boat but did not break under his parent’s pressure. His parents wanted him to complete his studies and take up a substantial 9 to 5 job but Soraisam left his graduation in between and took up a professional photography course in Apex Institute, Delhi.
He notes heart-breaking instances when his dad broke his first camera and later on urged him to leave the house and be an independent man. Soraisam’s father was an army man and did not understand how a career in fashion photography is a good idea. Evidently enough, Soraisam proved his father wrong by succeeding with flying colours. He was announced as a Canon EOS Influencer by Canon India earlier this August!
Exploring Fashion Photography in Manipur
Soraisam’s photography journey started in 2013 when he took a part-time photography class in the morning during his BBA years. Therefore, his advice to all is “Follow your dreams but also listen to your parents. I didn’t give up on BBA till I was 100% sure about photography.” After completing a professional fashion photography course in Delhi, Soraisam came back to Manipur and worked as an assistant for 5 years with a local fashion photographer.
In 2017, Soraisam got his first independent project and opened his studio in Manipur. From then till now he has done various fashion portrait shoots and his Instagram is proof of his versatility in every shoot. In the future, he plans to travel all across Manipur, capture different shoots, and convert it into a magazine.
Don’t Fear High Competition
Soraisam’s journey is hurled with criticism not only through his family but also by professionals who constantly urge him to take up wedding photography projects. As the fashion photography market is a niche the competition is automatically very high. Soraisam battles these struggles to date and works all by himself from designing the shoot to capturing it and finally editing it. He says “hard work and passion is the key!”
