“Some dreams whisper to you for years before they finally become your life. Mine started long before I even knew what a career was.

Fashion has fascinated me ever since I was a little girl growing up in Chennai. It was never just about clothes. It was about expression, confidence and telling stories without saying a word.

My mother loved dressing me up and clicking photographs while I happily posed like a model. She still insists she planted the seed for my career, and perhaps she did, but somewhere deep inside I always knew fashion was my purpose.

As I grew older, my curiosity shifted from standing in front of the camera to looking through it. During college, I borrowed cameras from friends because owning one was not an option. Around the same time, Facebook was becoming popular and everyone wanted photographs. I grabbed every opportunity I could to learn.

I also became part of a photography community in Chennai where every weekend we explored the city’s streets with our cameras. Those walks changed everything for me. The colours, the chaos, the people and the tiny moments hidden in everyday life fascinated me endlessly.

Every frame felt like discovering a new story.

Soon I began collaborating with seniors in college. One project remains close to my heart even today. I convinced my senior, a Bharatanatyam dancer, to pose on the streets of Mylapore at sunrise.

The blend of classical dance with the city’s heritage created something magical and the series received tremendous appreciation. That recognition gave me confidence that I was on the right path.

Like every graduate, I attended placements and secured a job in an IT company. It seemed like the safer choice until another opportunity knocked on my door.

Mangayar Malar magazine wanted me to become its very first photographer!

The salary was almost ten times lower than my corporate offer, but some opportunities are too meaningful to measure in money. I chose photography without hesitation and unknowingly stepped into the life I had always been meant to live.

That decision became the beginning of a journey that would constantly challenge me, surprise me and ultimately redefine who I was.

What do you do when success finally arrives but your heart tells you there is still something missing?

After joining the world of photography, I naturally ventured into wedding photography. Candid photography was also becoming immensely popular and many clients loved the idea of having a ‘woman’ photographer to capture their moments.

What began as a one-woman journey soon grew into a busy team of freelancers and, before I knew it, every Muhurtham on my calendar was fully booked. Financially, life was comfortable, but I still felt incomplete.

That was when I returned to my first love, fashion. I began with model portfolios and personal projects before gradually working with brands.

Fashion photography challenged me in ways I had never imagined. Every campaign demanded creativity, direction and collaboration, but that process pushed me to become a better storyteller with every shoot.

Around the same time, my husband, who worked in event management, our partner Rahul and I decided to build something of our own.

Together we started ‘Brand Mascots’!

I led photography, my husband managed events and Rahul handled advertising. What started with just three people slowly grew into a thriving agency with its own team and office, and today we proudly celebrate seven years of building it from the ground up.

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But life tested us. During the pandemic, while I was preparing to welcome my baby, we had to shut down our warehouse. With events coming to a complete standstill, everything felt uncertain.

Instead of giving up, I began teaching professional photography online and that was a big hit. Somehow the company survived through it.

As the world reopened, social media expanded rapidly, bringing exciting brand collaborations and opportunities to work with celebrities.

Looking back, I know none of this would have been possible without the unimaginable support of my family and my husband, and the belief I had in myself.

If there is one lesson my journey has taught me, it is that success belongs to those who stay patient enough to outlast every obstacle.

This generation is fearless and ambitious. Keep going, keep learning and never lose sight of your purpose because the life you imagine today may one day become the story that inspires someone else.”