Over the last few decades, people have been breaking stereotypes and are willing to experiment in almost every possible way they can and Wedding and Portrait photographer Aamir Beigh is a perfect example of this. Aamir first picked up the camera in 2011 where he wanted to capture the mesmerising beauty of Kashmir through his lenses and inspired by that he started posting his photos of Kashmiri life, vistas, people and their stories under the handle @Kashmirinmylens on Instagram. He started getting love from not only Kashmir but from all over India and globally.
When asked Aamir said ‘Ever since I was in school I loved photography and wanted to be a street photographer. I wanted to show the version of Kashmir I love, to people. Instead of letting them draw their conclusions from official reports and media, I wanted to tell the story of my home as it is. Unfiltered and Raw. Life however, had different plans. Due to financial problems I had to defer my dreams for a bit.
I realised over time that I loved the celebratory element of weddings and the brilliance of nature. By then I had honed my skills as a cinematographer, filmmaker and a storyteller. I then built a team with some of the most talented creators from the valley and we’ve worked as a unit ever since. All of us have grown and improved our skills both as individuals and as a tight knit team.
Aamir also added ‘Ever since the boom in the wedding industry, the pricing of wedding photography had shot through the roof. When the craze for elaborate weddings came crashing down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the photography business suffered like other industries as well.
Getting back to business in the unlock phase for wedding photographers was difficult but along with the others in the industry, I have slowly found a way back to figuring a manageable way out of the challenge.
This however is not the first time that our work has been interrupted. As you are aware that in 2019, Kashmir, after the abrogation of Article 370 saw a communication blackout like no other. Seven months was how long it was before I could put out my work again for the world to see. As a business owner this created hurdles with regard to reaching out to potential and existing clients, communicating effectively with them, dealing with logistics and even economic transactions.
All I will say to conclude is that I’m grateful to the almighty who granted me strength to overcome and battle these hurdles. I hope the coming days are smoother but in my heart I’m thankful for the strength and the resolve I now have.
