An Interview with Kunal Malhotra, Canon Mentor & Photography Teacher with 400k+ Subscribers on YouTube

WallMag: What has motivated you to become a photography mentor while you were a digital marketing professional?

Well, working as a digital marketing professional has helped me polish myself as an individual. I always say that photography is not all about clicking great images, you must also know how to market your work in this digital era.When I started clicking photos in 2010 I was lucky enough to learn the basics of photography while I was pursuing mass communication. In a couple of months, I even managed to purchase my first DSLR camera, because in college we only used to get 4 cameras to share among 60 students.One fine day while browsing photography videos online, I realized that there are hardly any resources available in the Hindi language. How about I start sharing my knowledge with photography enthusiasts by making videos in Hindi, I questioned myself.In 2017 I was at that stage of my life where I have to make a decision, either to work 5 days a week helping brands grow their digital presence or quit my job and help budding photographers across India learn how to capture amazing images.I hardly had any savings, no backup plan for regular income, but the passion for sharing knowledge with others gave me the courage to quit my job. If you are passionate about something, things work out for you sooner or later.

WallMag: You have conducted many workshops on street, architecture, wedding, and portrait photography, which among these fields is liked by you the most, and why?

Personally I love clicking multiple genres of photography as you get to learn a lot more about the art of creating images. Street photography helps you understand how to play with available light and improves observation skills, whereas fashion/portrait photography lets you understand the use of artificial lights.If I have to choose, I would love to click street and landscape photos for hours and hours. It excites me when I am clicking photos with the sunlight changing frequently and every moment is candid. As photography I love to go out of comfort zone and challenge myself to capture better photos than my previous ones.

WallMag: How would you describe your photography style? What would you compare your work to?

My photography style has changed a lot over the time. I started by clicking photos of various monuments here in Delhi, during our weekend photowalk sessions between 2011-2013. Lucking I got the chance to assist my mentor Mr. SPS Kalra for 2 years, where I got to know a lot about fashion and product photography. Later I did commercial assignments for few clothing and jewelry brands, along with fashion and fitness shoots.Currently I have stopped taking commercials work, and I try to capture the nature and candid moments in a way that our eyes don't see.

WallMag: What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a Photography Mentor?

As per the feedback on my videos and social media, my way of explaining things in the easiest way possible and in a language that connects directly with the viewer. Trust me, this strength of mine was my biggest weakness few years ago. I used to be introvert and could hardly speak in front of the camera, but with practice things changed over the years.Photography is all about capturing moments using your camera, but for that you must understand your camera and know what makes a good image. My style of sharing knowledge about photography is very simple and I never hold back any secrets. I share every single camera setting and openly talk about the ethics of photography which connects with the audience as they find me genuine.

WallMag: What, in your opinion, is most important to consider while shooting portrait pictures?

How you use the available/artificial light makes or breaks a portrait. No matter how good the model is with the poses or how perfectly you have set the exposure, if the lighting is not good you might end up with a normal looking portrait.Before even switching on your camera, look around and study the nature of light. Decide whether you want hard light or soft light on the face. Examine how the slightest change in the angle of the model or the camera changes the contrast of the light.

WallMag: What tips you would like to give to budding photographers regarding photography?

Everytime you visit a place/location for the first time, keep your camera in the bag and take a 360 degree round of that area. Look for unique frames and elements that you can include in your photos to capture something different. There must me 10 people clicking photos of the same subject from the same angle, how cam you capture it in a unique way.Never start clicking photos the moment you enter a new location, it limits your creative though process and the ability to think out of the box.

WallMag: Everybody seems to have different definitions of "street photography". Do you adhere to rigid rules, or something broader? What is your definition?

According to me street photography is all about capturing candid moments as and when they happen. If you are staging something for a photo, do not categorize it under street photography. There is nothing wrong in staging a photo, but simply call it a portrait, travel or any other genre of photography but not street photography.I see a lot of budding photographs clicking photos of beggars/poor people in the name of street photography, this needs to stop. People need to realize street photography is not all about showing poverty in your photos.As a street photography enthusiast one must learn to observe and study human behavior, work on fishing technique of photography and most important of all study the light. Composition and perspective plays a major role too while you are out clicking candid moments.

WallMag: If you were told that you could only keep one camera and lens combination, what would it be and why?

I would love to carry my Canon EOS R mounted with the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens as I like shooting at this particular focal length range on a full frame camera body. The 70-200mm is an all-rounder lens, I can use it for portraits, fashion shoots, events and what not. I switched to a mirrorless camera last year because of better video features and better optics.

WallMag: What apps or tools do you use to bring out best in a photograph?

I am a big fan of Adobe Lightroom, a photo editing software that I always use to edit my photos on my laptop. But I make sure I fine tune my photos before uploading them on Instagram or facebook, using Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed apps on my smartphone to match the colors and exposure.

WallMag: What are the best ways to be an effective photography mentor?

A good photography mentor must have years of practical experience, book knowledge itself is not sufficient to teach about a visual art form. A mentor goes through various ups and downs in his/her photography career, and that experience is what a mentor shares with the budding photographers.A mentor must ensure that he/she is sharing factually correct information with others, one wrong information can confuse the students for their entire photography journey. Last and the most important quality of a mentor should be to never stop learning new things and update as per the trends.

WallMag: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

Observe more, shoot less. We as a photographer must not simply press the shutter button as and when we visit/see something interesting. Observe your subject, think of a unique way to capture that shot, look for interesting frames, and then click that shutter button.

You can follow Kunal Malhotra on Youtube and Instagram to stay updated with his work.

You can also visit his Website .