Vivek Gupta Photography

I’ve set up Vivek Gupta Photography at 443/1 Mes Garden in Kolkata. It’s a decent spot for a studio because it isn't right in the middle of the loudest traffic, though you still hear the city. I spend a lot of my time cleaning lenses and checking my camera gear. There are bags of lights and tripods leaning against the walls in most of the rooms. I don't have a big staff, so I usually handle everything from taking the pictures to doing the editing on my old computer. The lighting in the garden area outside can be really nice in the late afternoon, which is lucky for me. I’ve lived in Kolkata my whole life, so I know how to find the right backdrops, but this is where I come to do the real work. The studio floor has tape marks all over it from where I tell people to stand. It’s a bit messy with props and backdrops that I’ve collected over the years. I don’t go for the high-end corporate look. I just want the photos to look right and capture the moment. People come here for portraits or to talk about shooting their weddings. We sit down, have some tea, and look at the old albums I’ve kept. It’s a very straightforward way of doing business. I like the independence of it. When I’m not shooting, I’m usually just here at Mes Garden, organizing my files and waiting for the next job to come along.