ONE FAME AT A TIME

Captivated by the ability to freeze genuine moments in captivating frames, Sheldon Santos discovered his passion for photography at 18 while graduating. Over eight transformative years as Rohan Shrestha's assistant, he honed his craft and entered the commercial world. Sheldon's work, focussed on elegance and character, has adorned campaigns for brands like Adidas and celebrities like Ranveer Singh. Join us as we explore Sheldon's inspiring journey capturing not just celebrity allure but the essence of everyday stories.

- SANCHIT MISHRA

What initially inspired you to pick up a camera, and why did you choose photography as your medium, particularly focussing on celebrity and fashion photography?

Back in 2011 while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Mumbai who dropped a year in the 1st year at college for not being able to clear a few subjects. This led me to be overtly disappointed and disheartened. But little did I know then, this drawback would have led me to discover the magnificence of photography. Being unoccupied with any college obligations or exams, found myself attending an outstation wedding ceremony of a relative. Being one of the youngest adults around and of less help otherwise, a relative handed over his DSLR camera and asked me to keep taking candid photos of the ceremony. This was when I held a professional camera for the first time and was instantly fascinated. As the day went by, I found a group of relatives and friends giggling at me. After questioning why, they pointed out that I was much tantalised with the camera that I had missed quite a bit of the ceremony. This led me to introspect and realise that I had fallen deeply in love with this phenomenon of photography. Since then, the camera has intrigued me to such an extent that each time I find myself occupied with one, I feel content.

How do you balance commercial appeal with artistic vision in celebrity, fashion, and advertising photography for well-established brands?