Mediaplanet: Why did you decide to pursue photography as a profession, and what are the first steps you took to solidify your career path?

Raj Gadhvi: In 1964, my grandfather had started doing photography full time in India and later on, the same profession was continued by my Engineer father in the 1990s.From an early age I was surrounded by photos, and as a result, I built up a strange but beautiful affection with the photo world — the magic show.

I graduated from Fine Arts in India, Commercial Art & Advertising, in 2007. Afterwards I continued in the same profession as a full time photographer for five years.

The conversion of photography from film to digital played a big role to build my fascination and encouraged me to learn more and go deeper.

There is always a huge constant change in the photo techniques and industry, so it’s important to keep up-to-date. Standard theories, history, and some more knowledge of marketing and business can help you to achieve your desired career for sure. So, I took a course with a specialization in photography at Fanshawe College, in London, Ontario and graduated in 2014.

MP: What advice can you give to those who want to break into the photography and visual art industries?

RG: Since the photo and visual industry is globalized now, it has become more connected with the help of digital technology. I see talented people around the world getting the accolades they deserve, because now photography is viewed as an art. The first bit of advice would be to always believe in yourself, and at the same time, be a good learner. It is like imagining, observing, and painting the lights on the paper or a screen. With proper guidance, education, and a passion to discover the world through your lens gives the best result.

MP: Where do you see yourself, and the industry, in the future?

RG: I don’t know if there is any end, but a passion to capture moments and engaging in rewarding photographic experiments will definitely lead me along. I feel that I’ll likely be teaching photography in the future. I enjoy exchanging knowledge with photo enthusiasts online in Canada and overseas. In a nutshell, having unique skills to be able to create a picture is very positive and must be a required component.  That being said, good communication and marketing skills are a major part in the industry. The future of the photo and visual art industry is very bright and full of unlimited fun because it’s a great blend of art, excitement, a serious business now a days.