We recently had the chance to connect with Raj Bose and have shared our conversation below.
Raj, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
The most surprising thing I’ve learned is how deeply personal photography is for so many of my workshop participants. Some come to reconnect with themselves, some are healing from a loss, others are fulfilling a lifelong dream. I’ve come to realize that the photos they take are not just about the subject in front of the lens—but something within them, too. The other fact that amazing is that everyone sees the world differently. Even though we stand in the same location, using similar gear, every participant captures something different. That has been both surprising and inspiring. It reminds me that photography isn’t just about technique—it’s about your perspective, your story, and what draws your heart. The other aspect that I learn from my photography workshop participants is about friendship. One thing I never expected was how strong the bonds between participants would be. Strangers at the start, they leave as friends, sometimes even planning their next trip together. The shared experience of chasing light in wild, beautiful places creates connections that go far beyond photography.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Raj Bose – a photographer, storyteller, and founder of Raj Bose Photography.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to travel across the world—leading photography workshops in Indonesia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Norway, Argentina (Patagonia), Scotland, Iceland, and beyond. Each of these places holds a special part of my heart—not just for their beauty, but for the people I’ve met and the unforgettable moments we’ve created together.
For me, these workshops are more than just learning how to take better photos. They’re about connection, joy, and transformation. I’ve seen people arrive unsure of themselves, and leave not only with incredible images—but with confidence, peace, and new lifelong friends. The experience is what matters most.
Whether we’re chasing golden hour light in Amboseli, exploring rainforests in Costa Rica, or walking through temples in Bali at dawn—what drives me is making people happy, helping them slow down, see the world differently, and feel something deeper.
This is close to my heart because I truly believe photography can heal, inspire, and awaken something within us. Every trip is a new story, and I feel lucky to share those stories with others who are curious, open, and ready to explore—not just the world, but themselves.
Right now, I’m working on a documentary project that shares my personal and professional journey—including my transition from music to photography, the founding of Raj Bose Photography, and the incredible stories of people who’ve joined me along the way.
If you’re someone who believes that photography is about more than just the image—it’s about the experience, the people, and the feeling behind the frame—then I invite you to join me on this journey.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a dreamer. A quiet observer. A kid who found magic in music, light, and silence. I was the one who loved sunsets not for the color, but for the feeling. I didn’t know about fame or success or timelines—I just knew what moved me.
Before the world handed me labels and expectations, I simply loved creating. First through music, where I found rhythm and soul. Then, over time, I discovered the camera—a new instrument, a new voice. And with it, I began to see the world—and myself—more clearly.
Now, through photography and the journeys I lead, I feel like I’ve come full circle. I’ve returned to that original version of myself: someone who creates to feel, to connect, and to bring joy to others. I didn’t become someone new—I remembered who I always was.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be this:
“Trust your path, even when it doesn’t make sense yet.”
There were moments when I felt lost—stuck between expectations and dreams, between what I was supposed to do and what I truly wanted. I didn’t know that all the turns, the failures, the quiet moments of doubt—they were leading me somewhere real.
I’d tell my younger self:
“Your passions are not distractions. They’re clues. Follow them. The world may not understand your journey right away, but you’re not here to follow someone else’s map. You’re here to draw your own.”
And I’d remind him:
“One day, you’ll look back and realize—you were never lost. You were just becoming who you were meant to be.”
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in this industry is the idea that **gear defines talent**. There’s this assumption that the better the camera, the better the image. But I’ve seen extraordinary photos made with the simplest tools—and forgettable ones shot on the most expensive gear. In fact I have sold images taken with mobile phones. It’s never been about the camera. It’s always about the *eye*, the *timing*, and the *story* behind the frame.
Honestly, it gets exhausting when someone compliments my work and follows it up with, *“You must have an amazing camera.”* As if the camera pressed the shutter on its own.
Another common lie is that **success is measured by followers, awards, or magazine features**. But the real success? It shows up in quiet, powerful moments—when a participant tells me a workshop helped them see differently, or when someone reconnects with their creativity after years of doubt. That’s the kind of success that matters.
And perhaps the biggest lie of all?
That **this is a solo journey**.
In truth, photography—especially in the way I live and teach it—is about *connection*. It’s about sharing sunrises, celebrating small wins, laughing through the chaos of travel, and lifting each other up. Again and again, I’m reminded: this journey is better when it’s shared.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they say I made them feel seen. That I listened. That I cared not just about the photos they took, but about who they were becoming behind the lens.
I hope they remember me as someone who gave more than he took. Who shared light—literally and figuratively—and helped others find beauty in themselves and the world around them.
I hope they say I created experiences that stayed with them. That our time together—on a dusty road in Africa, in the rainforests of Costa Rica, or waiting for sunrise in Bali—was more than just a trip. That it was a memory, a turning point, maybe even a moment of peace.And above all, I hope they say I made them feel happy. That I helped them believe in their own creativity. That I encouraged them to live fully, to see deeply, and to feel something real.
Because in the end, it’s not about the images I leave behind—it’s about the lives I touched along the way.
Contact Info:
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- Website: https://www.rajbose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajbose_photography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajbosephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajbosephotography/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rajbose7050
Image Credits
@Raj Bose Photography
