Today we’d like to introduce you to Saif Syed.
Hi Saif, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When it comes to photography, I was introduced to it during my very first year in high school. What made me so intrigued was my uncle’s passion for photography. I gained my affection for photography by using his camera every chance that I got, until eventually, he gifted me my very first DSLR camera. I was so captivated by the idea that I could capture moments created by people, animals, nature, almost anything; I realized that I had the ability to create a story behind each image that I took. Ever since my freshman year in high school, I have been extremely active with photography, and with the added experience of moving from one city to another during my time in high school, I was able to see the country through the lens of my camera. This helped me grow exponentially as a photographer, as well as learn different cultures that reside within the nation. Overall I would say the reason that I am where I am today is because I was fortunate enough to experience living in many cities and meeting many people; With that, I was able to understand the art of photography and take it to a professional level.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There definitely were challenges that I had to face. I think my biggest challenge would be to wrap up being comfortable in one city and to be prepared to reside in another new city. It created such a challenge for me because I would settle into a city, start creating connections, friends, opportunities, a life basically, and I would have to be ready to leave that all behind and start fresh in a new place. But, with challenges comes strength and experience; I learned about so many cultures and norms in each city I lived in that I felt lucky to be a part of them since not many people get the chance to experience life like that. This was a definitely a big challenge to me, but it is a challenge I would not trade for a thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I am a traveling photographer originally based in Houston, Texas. I would say that I’m pretty versatile when it comes to what photography I do. I don’t just shoot events or portraits exclusively, but rather I do almost all types of photography (portrait, event, real estate, graduation, architectural, nature, animal, lifestyle, etc.) – I believe that it pushes my skills as a photographer, which I find extremely beneficial. As of this moment, I am known for my creative portraits that consist of a strong focal point on the subject/model and very vibrant colors, but my hope is that my niche expands. I would say that I am most proud of being able to adapt to every city that I have lived in and pursue photography in those cities/states as well. It helped me create the confidence I have in my work now. What sets me apart from others is my creative mindset, and what I mean by this is that I am a visualizer, a storyteller. I have many ideas of stories that I create behind each and every picture so that it builds an immersion towards the photos. I want the photos I take to represent the worlds that I create in my mind – from the character and their emotions to the setting, scene, and colors. To me, it’s much deeper than just another photo.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see my horizons expanding over the next decade. I am extremely passionate about film directing. Just like how I said I can use photos to tell a story of the worlds I create in my head, I think film directing would unlock that potential to show everyone my creative side in ways that photography can’t, and I’m excited for that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safsyxd/
Image Credits
Saif Syed
