Name: Aarush Behra
Grade: 11
Fine Art: professional photography
Years of Experience: two
Wingspan: How did you get into photography?
Behra: “When I was really little my dad bought a really expensive camera for no apparent reason, and I just ended up using it a lot, so slowly I built a habit and I ended up liking it.”
Wingspan: How long did it take you to become a professional photographer, and what was that experience like?
Behra: “I built it more as a personal hobby for a solid three to four years, but I had someone teach me for about two years. They trained me through the basics, and how to use a camera. I started two years ago because I felt like I was ready to start properly selling my service, and it went well for me. I’ve done photography in total for about eight years. It’s enjoyable, but it’s a lot of work to continuously move around at events and take photos for a really long time, but it pays well.”
Wingspan: What do you enjoy most about doing professional photography?
Behra: “I really really like how my photos turn out, and I like the fact that the people I take photos of really like them too, so for me the most enjoyable part is the ability to create memories with people.”
Wingspan: What is your favorite event that you have attended to photograph?
Behra: “I’ve been to a bunch of weddings, parties and such, but my favorite was probably this farewell party that a kid had, because everyone wanted to take photos since he was leaving for years. It was one of the most wholesome and emotionally satisfying events I have ever photographed.”
Wingspan: Do you plan on continuing professional photography as an occupation in the future?
Behra: “Maybe as a side hustle during college, but as my full pledge career choice, probably not. It pays well, but it doesn’t pay well enough for me to sustain a living, so I do not intend to continue it as a full time occupation, but part time, it is a very enjoyable hobby.”
Wingspan: What is the hardest part about being a professional photographer?
Behra: “You have to work for a really long time, and if events are like weddings, it’s hours of you standing and taking photos, videos and following people. You have to make sure this person gets that photo, that person gets this photo, it’s just very fast paced and very long.”
Wingspan: How do you balance school, personal life, and this occupation?
Behra: “My school and personal life are pretty straightforward as that of a normal student, but when it comes to this occupation, it’s not that hard to handle because I usually plan things months in advance, and a lot of events are done on weekends and holidays, so it doesn’t really conflict with things I do in the first place.”
Wingspan: What kinds of cameras do you own, and what camera do you currently use?
Behra: “My cameras are pretty old, I have a couple Canon Powershots and digicams, but for my main photography camera that I use professionally, I use a Nikon D3000. It’s nine years old, but it does a really good job with photos, and I would say most of the quality comes from editing afterwards, but the raw photo quality is very important.”
