The fabulous four days with Sherlyn

A very exciting 4 day shoot with the very hot and sizzling Sherlyn Chopra. This time I don’t have just my take on the photoshoot but also my dear friend, Sherlyn’s.

For her it was more like a crazy vacation! With 5 pre planned looks per day, she was extremely happy with the thoughtful execution. When asked if she prefers outdoor shoots over indoor, she says, “I personally love to shoot outdoor as I love the natural light. Also, I love being surrounded by the elements of nature which bring out the best in my body language.”

As a fashion photographer among many others in this industry, it is challenging to live up to each artist’s varied expectations. Sherlyn’s shoot left me with a sense of accomplishment. Over and above that to receive compliments is like the icing on the cake.

She said, “I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with Luv. He works at his own pace and does not rush which works quite well for me as I like to be given ample time to understand the moods required for different concepts. Generally, at the time of photoshoots, the make-up, hair and the styling takes a lot of time, leaving the photographer and the artist very little time to explore each look or concept. But, not so with Luv as he likes to indulge in meticulous planning that leads to the smooth execution of his creative thoughts.”

She spoke well for even my team, reaffirming their strong training and ability to handle shortcomings and uncertainties both at outdoor and indoor locations. To be a one man army is strength but to be a man with an army, that is good, is a bigger achievement I feel.

 A smooth shoot overall. Believing in quality and not quantity is something that surely went down well with Ms. Chopra’s shoot. Effortless and organic, is what Sherlyn’s thinks it was. Infact we are also planning to do a 5th day shoot soon.

At the end of the day, what works well with them works better than well for me! In other situations, I continue to learn. 

A myth broken is a story told..

Past one month I have stopped all my photography work. I have been concentrating only on a project for an NGO known as Mann. I got involved with the foundation because Megha, my sister had taken up the responsibility to shoot a video for them. But she could not fulfill the same since another assignment came up that needed her attention. She simply said ‘bhai please go and do it…’

I entered it on a very professional level to just go and shoot it on behalf of Megha. But that one day that I went and shot with these kids, was very different. This kid that I was working with, Brian, who has now gone on to becoming the face for Mann, I became friends with him. I thought it will be extremely challenging to direct him, but it wasn't so at all. He was very sweet. Although by the end of the day he got tired after a point because we were shooting in the sun. As he was the lead hero, he was required in every frame of the song. But it was not tough. I was under the dilemma that it is a special kid and how will I make him act and how will he understand what I’m looking for from him.

In my head I had pictured him to be very indifferent. But I was wrong. A special child is exactly like any other child. He heard me and did exactly what I wanted. So the respect for a special child totally changed. How these people are and how when the day ended every kid made friends with me, hugged me and thanked me so much. They made me feel special. For them it was a very different and eventful day. They are usually sitting in a classroom but they came outside in the park for the shoot.

We finished the shoot. They said they wish to release it within 15 days. I got the edit done and it was all set to be released. When the entire team, founders, trustees and music director came to see the video in the office, they all had tears welled up in their eyes. That’s when I also realized and was shaken that my video could make people cry. It sprung tears of hope.

I pushed the idea with the support of the director Mr. Kashyap that we should not release this in a small manner.  Let’s make it big.  So yesterday (24^th April, 2015) at St. Andrews Auditorium, Bandra, we had a fun filled event for the kids. We had Farah Khan coming and launching the video. Shekhar Ravjiani with his amazing performance, to flute away the audience, Mangesh Desai with his unique comedy magic and Jitendra ji came in too. A lot of media, celebrities, pr, social media activities are still happening online. We had an article in the Times of India for the same 2 days back.

So it’s my directorial debut. I was already 10 years into photography, first year of doing a calendar. Considering the marriage plan coming in, I was looking at something bigger to jump into. I was at a stage of deciding my life plan from here on. So that’s why I put all my work on a hold for almost a month. I've literally sat everyday with these people for 5-6 hours. So I am not a trustee for namesake but I feel like I am a part of Mann as equally as the other trustee’s involved. The difference is that they have put in 4 years where as I have only just one month to it.

What I really learnt from them during this course was the kind of passion they have. These guys put their life towards it.  I went all out and invited as many celebrities as possible for the event. I am very kicked with the whole thing. The purpose behind me trying to promote it is that, people have myths about special kids, which has to be broken. He is not different, he is special. We all as humans are greedy we all do things for a reason. They don’t. They don’t even remember what happened yesterday very often. So they don’t keep grudges with you. So they are special. What is special? Special is that they are better than you and me. That is what I want to communicate to the world by asking people to join the cause.

Hitansh Catalogue: The Another First...

Another first....

Yet another Hitansh catalog with the very gorgeous Karishma Kapoor. On the 23rd of this month we shot an exclusive range of saari's for Hitansh Fashions' up and coming catalog, The Royal Collection. I have been wanting to shoot a catalog out of Mumbai specially with Hitansh for a long time now. We finally did exactly that. This time our very esteemed client said, 'Let's do something grand'. 

We conducted a recce, looking for something to match our taste and also that would help compliment the grandeur of his niche traditional range of designer saari's. We knew it had to have a 'wow' factor to it. It had to be something high end. Having Karishma on board again made it so much more important to look for and find some place that could enhance her already existing aura and take it to an untouched level in our books. 

Competition is best when had with oneself. It is what makes you grow by leaps and bounds. 

Eventually our wish got granted a little away from Mumbai, a beautiful resort built like a palace. It seemed like we were in the pink city of India, Jaipur. The extravagance of the venue was enthralling.  We had around 16 garments which we shot at 16 different locations at the venue. With the lovely cooperation of Karishma, we managed to pull the shoot off in 1 day instead of the estimated 2 days. Everytime I shoot with her, it's been great because she has been an amazing support. I had a team of 40 people with me working on it. We started shoot early morning and went on till late at night. 

It was an effort but the result was extremely satisfying. My post production team is working on the edit currently and we are all waiting to see the final catalog. But before that, I have for you, a few behind the scene pictures..... Hope you enjoy them..

Check Out our more work at www.luvisrani.com Also you can visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/luvisraniphotography 

12 months in a year, 2015

It has been long since I have been wanting to do 2 things. One, write my new blog and the other, make a calender with my photographic skills. So here is a combination of both.This year, 2015, I complete 10 years of being in the photography industry. A good reason to showcase my photographic skills to the masses. I wanted to take my work to the next level. So I thought what better a way than to have a calendar to portray exactly that. 

This calendar is an amalgamation of my work over the past year. It is a string of female celebrities in their traditional avatars. When asked why I chose to go Indian instead of glamsham, I have just one thing to say, to be grounded and rooted to our culture is something I wanted to bring out from my calendar for 2015. Indian women dressed that way, look the most appealing to me. Not that the western blingy diva is not my choice but yes, preferences' still lie deeply in the draped bhartiya naari. 

My calendar has few of my favorite female actors from the industry. They are not just celebrities, but are also good friends today. I have also used designer ethnic garments from Surat based brands and other designer collections too. Each shot clicked has been special to me. Trying to add a zing to every snap has been my motive.

Every month has a new role to play in one's life. With 365 days in a year you have that many memories that you want to make and etch in your hearts for the rest of your life. Hoping that this calendar is a motivation to go out there every day and make it a fruitful one with fun-filled experiences and loads of learning and growth.

Hoping that with each month's release of my calendar page, you unfurl a new aspect in your life too. Wishing you great success, happiness and prosperity in the year that has only just begun and is soon flying, 2015.......

The Special Day....

I have been wanting to pen down my thoughts since a few days but there is so much in this little head that I don't know where to begin. What I am feeling is what I want to share. I'm happy, I'm excited, I have never felt like this before, I have been waiting for this for a while. Infact more than me, mom dad and Megha have been waiting for this day to come. So let me get to the point. This is the first step towards the beginning of a beautiful new journey of togetherness. I can't say I'm nervous as I know what I'm getting into, but first time I have butterflies in my stomach. Ever since I was a teenager Megha and I would talk about this phase of life, and we would build castles in the air that when I grow up this will happen and that will happen. From a kid to a boy and now turning into a man.

Being in the wedding profession I would interview couples and ask them how they met and how their love story began. Hearing their love story turn into a wedding, I would wonder when will it be my turn to share my story.

One drunken night January 22,  2014, Komal Manoj's after party that's where the story took off. After having 2 left feet I danced all night, and in no time I knew she's the girl.

HEMALI TURAKHIA is the girl that I want to marry. I always called her princess I want to spend the rest of my life with u. Yesterday I took the first step towards this responsibility. I have always been insensitive to everyone around me and have taken things and people for granted. But from today I take a pledge to be more responsible towards everyone and every activity around me.

I have made a few promises to her and I know god will help me live up to them. I want to thank my family for the unconditional support they have given in making each and every dream I have, come true. I am now looking forward for every new day with the addition in my family, my life partner.

And the wait is over, Vivek Oberoi it is!!

The long wait finally came to an end for me when I shot the very humble actor, Vivek Oberoi at Filmcity in Mumbai on October 17, 2014. We shot for my client, Shera banyaan. To work with a star like him is such a blessing and a teaching at the same time. So genuine, approachable and down to earth, Vivek in his free time when not in a shot actually chatted all the people up at the set. By the end of the shoot he had gathered news of most of the staff present on the set, their families and everything else about them. An extremely patient celebrity for who a 12 hour long shoot was surely taxing but who choose not to let that be a hindrance to some quality work. 

Since it was outdoors, beside a lake that we shot, there was no studio. I had put up a tent that I converted into a little studio. Mr. Oberoi was extremely appreciative of that gesture since we were aware that it is one of the hottest days Mumbai would be seeing. One more eminent face of the industry I tick off from the list of famous one's I want to shoot.

Although that is not all...... Just when we were packing up, he also left me and my team excited for another coming up next project that he said he wishes for me to shoot him for. So watch out for some more tales of me with Vivek Oberoi soon.... On this note, signing off looking forward to doing another stint with the Saathiya heartthrob..

THE CHARISMA OF KARISHMA

There is a special kind of charisma that surrounds Karishma Kapoor. We have all gotten to see that in the bollywood movies. She is that someone who represents dignity and a myriad of style statement. She has been a model of action for many. Karishma just knows when to get all the nuances right and everytime when she is in the limelight she can grab others attention to their delight. How much ever highly we speak about her may seem less.

On the day of the shoot I went in the morning and carried the previous catalog we worked on for Hitansh itself and showed it to her personal hair and makeup team. They loved it. When Karishma came on set I showed her the same and she too liked it a lot. In fact, she even took that catalog from me and now I am left without a copy for myself.

Anyway, so since we had done a good job and received great response for our work, this time the challenge was to do something that supersedes the previously created mark. We started brainstorming 10 days prior to the shoot. The client, Mr. Manoj was after me to come up with something nice and was getting worried cause we were at a 2 day countdown without a clue of the final set for the shoot. Now the problem was that Karishma was the same, Luv Israni was the same, Hitansh was the same. The only thing that could have been played with was the décor.

So here came Megha, my sister with the idea of using a grandeur filled set of a European white wedding. We had real white flowers and it all looked extremely pretty. Since Megha has her wedding photography and cinematography company, with her help, instead of a set designer we had on board one of the top wedding decor companies to make our set. Lolo usually does only a 7-8 hour shoot but we shot for almost 10 hours this time. It’s a compliment and a source of encouragement when a star loves your work so much that they put behind the biggest factor in their life i.e. time.

It's amazing to capture sexiness and elegance of a star and I am glad that I got to do both. We experimented with some lengths while the shoot and different angles with Karishma in focus and that was made easy because she understands and gives importance to flexibility. There were a lot of happy moments and times when we exchanged a lot of smiles. I have had the pleasure to work with this pretty lady for two catalog shoots now. Each time it was a very delightful experience of its kind.  Signing off on this happy note; until next time that we shoot together again.

Sari's on my mind

The month of July, August and the start of September have been very fulfilling. I have been so flooded with garment shoots that most of which have been sari brands. My mind is saturated with Sari clad ladies –all related ideas come to mind and I try to be as creative as I can with them. Over the past few years doing uncountable portfolios and running campaigns for various garment brands have helped me gain solid confidence and that is going to stay as my forte. 

In the past my perspective used to be that a Model would help me take and make a good click. Now, it's twisted to a format of basically looking at garments. Over the past 2 months I have been breathing more of garments, more of sarees. I've been looking at sari's also in such a manner that I wake up in the morning and think that if I look at any girl in a sari on the road, the thought of her would give me some new ideas that would be essential to put it to work. I am just trying to be innovative and seeking better ways with a very dynamic approach to what I love to do.

This was never the case in my life, I mean I would only look at a model and get confined to all technical aspects only, but now I think of creative ways to do a photo shoot with her, make a portfolio etc. And when I would look at a girl, then I would look at her expressions and think of how to accentuate her smile, her eyes, her face, her hair. Now-a-days, I look at a model as that special object to be shot by the camera, as that someone who can be an important source of giving grace to all my respective work. But what’s even more important to me is How Sari’s can bring all the extra elegance and grace that she actually needs. There is a focus shift over here. My interest has been diverted towards stylish sarees and authentic garments that come in different combinations and patterns. Shoots with models wearing Sari’s have taken a peak in my career. So the diversion now from looking at how the girl was – as in the earlier case, has now moved to the product. Today i look at everything as a potential product even when i do a model make-over. I believe models need the recognition that they should get, whether its a model, who has to be absorbed for a TV serial/Ad shoot so to say. If it’s a sari - i look at it in that way, if it’s a shirt - i look at it in the perspective of suiting and shirting's. I try to work with a lot of creativity whilst giving my undivided attention to things- sometimes its a model portfolio, sometimes it’s a saree, sometimes its a model in shirt, so i am very much tuned to a lot of versatility. The way I see it, we have too many 'photographers' and not enough 'Innovative thinkers'. I even did a shoot for the brand Ramesh shirting's. There are a lot of great opportunities in the photography industry as a career, the different styles in garments and sarees gives me a lot of opportunity that I can use it to my benefit. Looking at sarees has broadened my horizons. And these two months have made my usual tendencies go in for a 180 degree flip. Today, selling the product in the best way possible through my photography has become my prime focus.

It's so funny when I think of how the brain gets atuned to few things if repeatedly trained. Maybe that is what conditioning is all about. A few nights ago I was in a club for a party, and there was this woman dancing in a sari, immediately that raced into my thoughts and seeing what I did I had an idea that sparked in my mind - I can actually have a girl in a club dancing in a sari as a concept. My latest apprehension has been about using the setting of a Ganpati idol for my next shoot that immediately caught my attention during Ganpati darshan. All my friends think that I am gone crazy and these thoughts may not seem right to them but this is the only thing that is real- that's how my mind is working. My Profession is my Passion. This is what I love to do. I have become so pre-occupied and inquisitive with such thoughts around saris and so much aware of the presence of this garment called sari in my life and environment that it is almost like an alarm, it rings a bell in my system. So if you have some fun concepts that you could share with me, I'd be happy to hear them, and who knows I may just really love your idea and use it too. Until then I will go back to spending my days and nights draped and cuddled in sari's instead of bedsheets.

When a day is Preity Sunny for a shoot..

So this one is about the shoot for Santoor me and my team did with the very cute and bubbly Preity Zinta and the very macho and strong Sunny Deol. It was a lively 3 day shoot at Whistling Woods.

A print shoot of a very different level. I wondered initially how it would be meeting them and then clicking them. Specially, when they are contrasting personality types on screen.

But Preity bowled me over by her dedication and gracious presence.

For a celebrity to actually extract time from a TVC shoot and come for a print ad shoot is indeed a big deal. I'd like to use this platform to thank her for being so sweet and adjusting.

A few instances that I recall from this amazing experience is that after the First day of shoot I got my staff to get a blow up of one of her shots that I took showing her dimple off to the best I have ever seen closely.

She loved it.. And I loved that..... To be appreciated for your work is something one’s ears are always yearning to hear. And when you get to hear it straight from the very pretty Preity, it is like cloud number 9 that you are on.

One of the most direct questions I've ever been asked has also been from Miss Zinta. Looking at my most recent hairdo, she asked, “Why the choti behind Luv, is it some sadhu trait?” To which I had no option but to reveal some truth that “Aagey baal thode kum hain, toh isiliye socha ki peeche thoda zyaaada baal uga lu.”

On the whole of very fun-filled 3 day shoot, It was a fab experience not only with Preity and Sunny but also Shakti Kapoor, Avtar Gill, Pappu Kanghi, Puneet Issar, Yash Tonk, Bobby Darling, Delnaaz Irani and her followers.

 I’m already counting down the days till my next opportunity to work with Preity and Sunny again. Until then, the wait is on.....

A Camera gives birth to a Photographer

There are so many beautiful things in life that make you get out of the bed in the morning. You take a walk in the garden or a park and you can find so many things that can catch the interest. As a child I was always inquisitive about things and the happenings around me. With such great curiosity and passion that connected with this child in me - Photography found a place in my heart at a very young age, since then I have been wrapping my camera in a cloth just like a baby when it is not in use.  And use it like the strongest weapon when I put it to use. With every picture that I click I try to make it a masterpiece. Its important that every picture that is clicked tells a fascinating story. It became a way of expression and a way of life to me.

It all started when my Dad gave me a Camera as a gift. That was at an age when I was learning to fly. While I was a novice, I had my first encounter with the Camera. I didn’t know how to use it. On the first Day of holding the Camera in my hand, I confused myself with the technical aspects of inserting the card and other features of the camera, didn’t see it function the way I thought it would. In fact, I even thought that it was a faulty camera, having some serious technological defect in it. But what was really an eye-opener to me was knowing that I was at fault for not placing the card in the right manner. Man makes mistakes and mistakes make us perfect…we learn from our experiences in life, I learned by this incident that the card inside the Camera was incorrectly placed. This became a prophetic experience that aroused my interest in Photography. Making a big difference in my life. It triggered the essence of becoming a photographer. Today I have shot over N number of celebrities and can use all the latest technology. This journey has been fabulous and the experience so far has been reviving and the relationship with the Camera has also grown stronger with time.

Creativity comes from within and every successful photographer begins with being an amateur at first. Aping the influence of other photographers don’t really bring out this natural art in you.  You will meet people from time to time who may want to put you down - you just have to THANK them for that push. They might tell you that you are on your own and won’t make a difference with a camera. You might also think that there are million other people who can capture the same things – Just Grab the Camera and use it as a weapon of choice –then you Go Pro like One shot-one kill. Have a passion that can burn like battery acid, Let your work speak for itself. If you can bring the scene close to the eyes of the people and touch hearts your job is pretty much done.

I realized that Its often the small things in life that go on to make the big things. This became like a prophetic line to me. So I leave you all with that message and let me just re-iterate,

For those aspiring to make a living from photography, it's a sad fact that the boring shots and the little mistakes that one makes as they move to the process are going to make you money.

The Makeover

Nine years back photography for me started off with child portfolios. Slowly moving on to model portfolios both male and female. During the course of this journey from then to now, my relationship with my profession has matured.

Although model portfolio's haven't evolved as much. The set procedure still remains. A model comes from a small city with a dream to become an actor or actress. So we photographers offer a typical 5-6 looks package. Of which one would be say a glamour look, another would be a bubbly one, a third an office look and so on. So now I have made a few amends in work I do. 

I have my assistant photographers who handle these generic portfolios. Personally, I for myself have new concept. I do Model Makeovers.... Wherein I meet the model, understand their basic personality and over a month with my grooming team work out a transformation plan and by the end of the month I execute a difference. 

A difference totally unrelatable. A world of a difference I'd say. This fresh wave is working well for me and I am hoping to be able to make it the new trend of Fashion Photography.

Zoya and Sakhi.. What a combo...

Here comes another story straight from the lens of my camera and the heart of my body.

On the 12^th of last month I shot with the Pond’s Femina Miss India International 2013, the talented star of movie ‘The Xpose’, Zoya Afroz,

This time around she is going to be on the cover of the magazine Sakhi. This was the third shoot with her I have done. I must say with Zoya, each time it just gets better than the previous. The first time we shot was three years back. And then again recently about six months back. She is just such a hot personality that to portray her any different becomes a challenge. I love capturing this radiant damsel in a traditional avatar. Her mother in fact insists that all her daughters pictures in Indian attire clicked by me are the best she has ever looked in Indian. Thank you aunty, it is her hidden inner beauty that touchwood I manage to bring out through my pictures.

On a personal note, I think we get along really well, Zoya and me. We are more friends than just two people working together. All the shoots with her have been more of fun than work. In an environment of this sort it becomes easier to work and the inflow of creativity is so much free which eventually the outcome is amazing and satisfying always.

For this shoot, for the cover of Sakhi magazine, I've tried to give her a red carpet look. I have used a maroon backdrop to add to the grandeur. A cover is the first impression one has of the magazine and is the only bit that a buyer will look at and get convinced or not to buy it. Hence to be able to appeal to that view, I’ve added steps to pull in the audience into the whole feel of being at the Oscar or Cannes. So this is something that I perceive Zoya, ki jab woh Oscar main jayegi, toh she'll be dressed something like this. For me this is her superstar look that she will I’m sure adorn soon at International award functions.

Yet another waow experience. So Zoya, see you soon for the fourth adventure??

Glam Sham te Luv Israni

My first share with my followers. I thought it should be dhamaakedar. So planned to narrate one of my recent encounters. The Dil Toh Pagal hai ki jhalli, the Raja Hindustani ki bade baap ki pyaari beti, the very scintillating Karishma Kapoor.

It was a catalog shoot. Indeed I was very nervous because the lady has an aura that can make even the strongest of men fall weak in the knees. But to my utmost surprise it went off so smoothly. Im guessing my face spoke my hearts racing beats out to clearly and she effortlessly smiled me to calming down.

The shoot with the diva was surely a treat. It was an all day shoot for a Surat based garment company called Hitansh. Karishma has endorsed a number of Sari catalogues. So my team and me tried to add a little difference to it, a Music theme. We shot with a grey background which was eventually photo shopped to add the grandeur. We used a lot of musical instruments like a Harp, a Piano, a drums set, a violin and music notes on a stand. Playing with these came very naturally to her and it seemed like her touch brought all of them to life. We shot with 15 Hitansh sari’s in all, each one so unique. The collection itself spoke volumes, lending themselves into our Musical theme. The combination of different fabrics and unusual borders was very satisfying for my camera to capture. Overall it was an amazing experience.

Karishma has a very strong personality and anything she wears she carries off so beautifully. I’d love to work with Karishma again in the future. I hope she is listening..

Thank you so much dearest Lolo for creating such a gorgeous memory and incredible experience for me and my career.... Three cheers to Karishma Kapoor.. hip hip .. hurray ...

hip hip .. hurray...

hip hip .. hurray...