Perfecting Commercial Art

As an advertising photographer, do you prefer to shoot fashion or automobiles? Why?

- Andrea Rodrigues

I am a person who likes challenges. I like variety. I am always itching to do new things. I don’t have a preference – my only criterion while taking up a shoot is “Is it interesting enough?”

As for fashion and automobiles, both have their own fun. I love shooting people. When you are doing fashion, you are working with a lot of people, including models, make-up artists and stylists. There is always a buzz on the set, which I find very energizing. Shooting automobiles, on the other hand, is very technical. Getting the right angles, lighting, reflections on the car or bike body, these are very critical. They take a lot of time, and it is a game of patience. Here, I feel, it’s your internal energy which drives you.

The best is when you shoot people with bikes, be it racing shots or lifestyle shots. That is when you have to apply all your knowledge and experience, and that is the most satisfying.

What were the problems you faced in the early stages of your career?

I started in 2002. At that time, people shot on film cameras. You couldn’t see instant results, so the agencies and the clients didn’t want to take risks with new photographers. A lot of money and time is involved in advertising shoots, so their hesitation is quite understandable. The other problem is the same that young photographers face today also. Clients do not give you work because you do not have experience, and you don’t get experience because clients don’t give you any work. It becomes a catch-22 situation. The solution to this is to do some fantastic work personally, and then approach agencies or clients. If they see even a small chance of getting something extraordinary from you, you have a good chance to get work.