Suraj Nayak, a young and versatile person had his interest in clicking pictures since his school.
Photography is one such field in india where people have excelled themselves. be it any category – fashion, lifestyle, wildlife or corporate, the photographers have made a niche for themselves today. suraj nayak, a young and versatile person had his interest in clicking pictures since his school. he started as an amateur photographer and became a pro at it by learning things online and watching photography tutorial videos on youtube.
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while in college, he brought a cell phone for himself and started clicking random pictures of places. later, suraj got a professional canon camera for himself and clicked pictures of his friends in college. it was during this time he learnt the a to z of photography like photoshop, clicking pictures from different angles, adjusting lighting, shutter speed and much more in the camera. through his self-learning, he became a well-known photographer and did a lot of wedding shoots, model shoots, indoor and outdoor shoots. apart from this, he also got an opportunity to click some of the well-known political figures of India.
“i imagined a picture in my mind and made it a reality. when you learn the art of photography, you get complete exposure to be a photographer. i have also been learning to make films and it is a great learning experience”, he has his presence almost everywhere on the internet including facebook, instagram, twitter, snapchat, linkedin, youtube and tiktok. i
Suraj Nayak also highly savvy on social media, with his presence noted on almost every platform, be it Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or, the (in)famous TikTok. That is one of the reasons why his marketing agency is going great guns. As a photographer, he has helped a large number of local brands to gain a reputation online. Without doubt, being active on social media helps him in excelling in his work as well.
He opens up to Yolodaily sharing his inspiring journey of pursuing his dream career.
What gives you energy?
Embarking on a new photographic challenge gives me a rush. It can be a destination, culture, or species of wildlife; I’m energized by the prospect of a new story to tell through my images.
What is your time-saving trick for the morning?
I write the emails I need to send in the morning the night before, and schedule them to go out first thing.
Tell us about your relationship with your phone. Does it sleep with you?
It’s a love-hate relationship. I have my phone with me a lot. When I’m home, I often put it in another room, so I don’t reach for it. I love gadgets and technology, but there’s no doubt my iPhone has become a crutch. I look to it when I’m anxious, bored, or have difficulty focusing, which is ironic since it further distracts me. It’s an easy out. Knowing this, I’ve been trying to reduce my screen time. I’m not always successful, but I have faith I’ll get this.
How do you deal with email?
I respond pretty quickly. I don’t know how people don’t become overwhelmed with dozens of unopened or unanswered messages.
When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
It was a couple of years ago, before I changed professions. I’d had a very successful career in PR and communications, both in-house and as a freelancer. For 90 percent of that time I absolutely loved it, but my enthusiasm was waning and PR was how I earned an income. I lived in Delhi; it’s not cheap. How could I possibly think about stopping?
During this time, my passion for photography blossomed (I’ve always loved travel), and I was generating some exciting opportunities. I’d started my blog and began contributing to a few publications, but the pay was minimal at best. I was torn. For a few years I juggled the two, knowing I wasn’t doing either justice. As a perfectionist, it was an untenable situation. When I was home, I dreamt of traveling. When I traveled, I was worried about servicing my clients. It was exhausting, and during it all, photography took a back seat.
Two years ago, I’d allowed my roster to dwindle to a single client. I had had no enthusiasm to pitch for new ones. Then the business was acquired, the company no longer needed me, and I was without an income. Dutifully, I began to network for job and client opportunities, and with every new discussion, I felt engulfed by sadness. I was trapped. I realized PR was no longer for me, and it was terrifying. My work had always been my rock. I wanted to stop, but I believed I didn’t have a choice.
My healing began when I finally let go — when I stopped obsessing over what I should do as a pragmatic adult (stay in PR), and realized I could do what I wanted (go after a career in photography and travel). I was able to get to that point because I had a good therapist, I went on medication to curb my anxiety and negativity, and in turn, I was able to view my prospects more objectively. I took the plunge, and here I am. I have a long way to go, but I’m tenacious.
