For Sanket the idea of product photography was born while he was pursuing his Masters in Product Design at Industrial Design Centre, of IIT Bombay.
With an experience of working as a Car designer (CMFG) with TATA motors design studio, he further honed his astute visual sense of communicating finer product details using photography and lighting as a medium.
Taking his passion further, he is now working as a still life photographer based out of Mumbai.
He specialises in shooting products, food, lifestyle and architecture-interiors.
In a short span of time, Sanket has worked for renowned brands like Godrej, Raymond, Park Avenue, EBCO, Future Group, Medimix, Dainik Bhaskar, LivSpace, Futuring Design, SKYi Developers and iStudio Architecture.
His work has been acknowledged by an honourable mention by the IPA (International Photography Awards) for his personal project of Indus Pride Beer Campaign.
Why are you a photographer?
I have always been a visually sensitive person, tryst with photography happened long back when I got 2-megapixel camera at the back of my then Sony w700i. I soon realized lighting is my medium to capture the visual aesthetics that I observe and imagine, and thus camera became my tool of choice.
Do you remember any decisive moment when you felt ‘I want to be a photographer’?
Rather than a moment, there were series of incidences that have led me to this very present day. One such clear incidence I vividly remember is, on one of those corporate outdoor training sessions the course instructor was asking everybody where do you see yourself after 10 years etc., without hesitating for a moment my answer was ‘ I would like to have my own independent photography career in place ‘. I think the dialogue was going on internally for quite some time, it just needed an external provocation to come to the surface.
Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
To be honest, the answer is no.
What steps have you taken to train yourself in photography?
To begin with, I am a self-taught photographer, and I think reading the right content is the key. I have always trusted books written by well-known authors, at the same time learning from web-based content is also crucial to keep yourself updated with the current trends.
Who was the most influential personality on your career in photography?
Avadhut Hembade, I have always loved his work and appreciated his perfection in lighting. There is so much to observe and learn from his imagery.
How has photography changed over the course of the last couple of
decades? Is execution/art direction more important than it used to be?
It has been a big shift in photography as a field, especially in the way images are created and consumed. Recent years have seen key changes in advertising, the way focus is shifting from conventional advertising to social media advertising, promotions etc. More and more people have entered into the field of photography since the inception of digital media, but the creative vision of the person creating images still holds the same value as it used to be earlier.
What do you think of the current state of Print Advertising photography in India? Is it at par with the work done worldwide?
I think any social content be it photos, films, stage acts etc. is always a reflection of society. The same logic even applies to print advertising, we used to have brilliant Print advertising campaigns running in newspapers, magazines. As far as the current scenario is concerned, many viewers have shifted from conventional media to digital media, this has impacted at large the media industry. This has resulted in marketing budgets being diverted to digital media than conventional ones.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I follow certain international and Indian artists from the field of photography, design, architecture, and films. This list keeps on getting updated regularly, I strongly believe looking at the work from other fields gives you the freshest perspective. I am an avid cinema lover, there is so much to learn from films that hardly any other art field provides such scope – observing the cinematography, lighting scheme, composition of the scene, art direction, decor, costumes, style of storytelling, different cultural aspects, acting of characters list is endless.
Was there any time when you wanted to quit photography?
Never.
Any current work in Indian Advertising that you find exciting? Especially Print?
This is not from India, but the UK. Greenpeace campaign which shows PM Boris Johnson getting drowned in plastic waste was a masterpiece in terms of making social impact and awareness with advertising, I doubt we can have an ad campaign like that.
Do you get assignments where the photos are meant for Instagram?
Yes, rather a major chunk of shoot inquiries are oriented for social media platforms.
Whats your dream project?
Shooting perfume campaign for Chanel.
Who would you want to spend a dinner with?
If the venue is Paris, it has to be Peter Lippman.
Whats on your iPod? Spotify?
I listen to a mix of genres and a lot of techno, EDM artists. Can’t move on without mentioning some names – Bonobo, Paul Kalkbrenner, Ben Bohmer, Nora, Jain, Coldplay, Angus & Julia….
Mac or PC?
Mac – being a product designer, tend to have a fetish for good designs. So that’s the obvious choice.
Whats your Twitter Handle? Instagram?
@sanket.photos on Instagram
