Meet Swat Kasham

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Swat Kasham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Swat, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

In a world that is filled with situations that can steal your joy and inspiration, I make sure that I fill my mind with imagery that reminds me of how I would disappear into magical stories and fantastical movies when I was a child. I spend time on Pinterest, looking at breathtaking images that other photographers have created. I go back to books like The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I listen to music that transports me to ethereal worlds. With all these, I imagine creative images in my head and they fuel my creative engine. Whenever I find myself losing that sense of wonder because the world is all to real, I go back to these methods, and I also go back to prayer – where all creativity begins for me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a creative/fine art portrait photographer. With my gift, I aim to take pictures of people in a way that presents them as the magical beings I believe we all are. I have really do not like ordinary in my work because I yearn to take people’s breath away when they see how I have captured their essence with my camera. What is special about what I do is that I help people feel seen and loved. The attention to detail that I bring into every photo session, and with every client ensures that they leave my studio with an added sense of self worth and value.

My brand and art is high end and high quality. This is not because I think I am better than others, quite the contrary. I believe each person I meet is and image bearer of God and should be treated with the utmost respect and care. This is the reason why I offer quality and custom experiences in my sessions. If you must have one piece of art hanging on your wall, let it be an art expression of you.

I am currently working on creating an education forum for those interested in learning the art of portrait photography. I hope to pass along what I have learned on my own journey with this art form.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. When I first started my photography adventure, I do wish I had been privy to the business of photography even before honing my creative skill. Gaining knowledge about marketing, pricing your work and selling your brand and product is far more important than the actual talent – if you intend to monetize your art.

2. Being a natural people-person, this quality made it easier for me to connect with prospective clients. This gift to “see” people and reach them beyond running a business, created the ability to capture people in a way that surprised even themselves.

3. Over-delivery. It has been advantageous to offer a service to clients and they come with certain expectation perhaps of an experience they have had with other photographers prior to meeting me. As my process unfolds, they are pleasantly surprised by their experience and the products they receive at the end of it all.

To anyone who wants to begin a journey of service, I would advice that they discover their “why” first – this will continue to fuel their passion. Learn the business of that service and how to deal with challenges that may come. Under-promise and over-deliver every single time. In the event that you make a mistake, offer to rectify the situation immediately, and always treat your clients with the utmost grace and respect.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

My ideal client is the individual or organization that knows, sees and values great expression of creativity, and is willing to commit financially to obtaining that service for themselves. Many times I have come across people who are drawn in by my work but believe I am too expensive. This just means they do not undertand the value in my art. My mentor Sue Bryce says, people will find a way to pay for what they believe is important to them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swatkasham_photoimagery
• Facebook: www.facebook/swatkashamimagery
• Other: https://www.artsbyadaa.com/shop/limited-collections/swat-kasham