We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dhir Jakharia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dhir, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Wildlife photography in Kenya isnt that popular for locals – probably because wildlife is so abundant we take it for granted. Therefore, at a young age, I barely had any age mate that was interested in wildlife photography as much i was. Therefore, I’ve had a pretty lonely journey. That meant that I had to figure out a lot on my own; including networking with people more than twice my age; with absolutely no social skills.
However, with time, I began to understand that every person is on their own journey and they go through different stages at different times in their life. So I had continued working on myself and this is what helped me gain confidence in my self.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a wildlife photogtapher that is based in Nairobi, Kenya. I started wildlife photography at a really young age and it has now become my part time occupation – as I am currently a Business Admin student.
I fell in love with combining photography with animals in an artistic and unique way. I am really fortunate that I live in Kenya – which is the dreamland for wildlife photographers across the world.
I recently ventured into teaching, as I have started to host photography tours in Kenya for anyone who wishes to learn and experience a wildlife photo tour.
I also sell prints , and do some freelance work for some major brands.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Passion – to do anything in life, you’ll only be fulfilled if you have the passion for it. It’s important to fall in love with what you’re doing – before you make it your ‘career’. I believe no photographer becomes a professional before being a hobbyist.
Self belief – Photography is fun, but it comes with a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes you feel extremely enthusiastic, sometimes you’ll have weeks with no creativity. More than anyone else, It’s important to believe in yourself and your journey. That confidence alone will manifest into a lot of developments.
Consistency – Artists struggle with consistency because we do not necessarily feel creative every single day. However, it’s important to put yourself out there every single day and do something – even if its small. This helps build momentum!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Overwhelming can be in form of positive and negative.
When I am positively overwhelmed – this is when I receive tons of support from people, or when I land a dream assignment, etc.
When I am negatively overwhelmed – this is when I am not feeling creative, i am not hitting my goals as I hoped for, not getting clients, etc.
Regardless of both aspects – it’s important to stay balanced. Don’t let yourself be too happy and don’t be too sad either.
Being too happy is very distracting yet motivating at the same time. It may make you feel like you’re a king but you have to humble and remind yourself that there’s always a long long way to go.
Being too sad can take a toll on your mental health and can affect all areas of your life. It’s important to practice awareness and to remind yourself of how far you’ve really come – that should help you become resilient.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dhirjakharia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spotclickpost/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://ke.linkedin.com/in/dhir-jakharia-b18831206
