Behind the lens of Qhevika Swu: ‘I have found my calling in photography’

Vituna K Yeptho
Dimapur, Feb. 8 (EMN): Once reckoned to crack the civil service examination and become an officer by people close to him, Qhevika Swu took the road less travelled and grew up to become a photographer.

Initially, his decision was met with disapproval but that didn’t stop him from pursuing what he wanted to do.  

‘I was really good academically when I was a student. So all my family and relatives thought I would appear for (civil service) exams after my graduation, but when they discovered that I was committed not to appearing for any (competitive exams), I became a disappointment to them. During my initial stage of being a photographer, I got quite a lot of verbal discouragements. But I think I proved them all wrong now,’ the 27-year-old photographer told Eastern Mirror.

How the journey began

‘It all started in 2019. I was actually interested in music. I used to take part in church events a lot. I used to sing. During that time, I met two high school friends who were into photography. I would hang out with them when they were doing their job, for the sake of keeping them company, not because I was interested in photography.

‘One day, one of them handed me his spare camera and asked me to give it a try. So, with that camera, I started learning how to take pictures from YouTube and other online platforms,’ he said, adding that he learned everything about photography from the internet.

There was no stopping him since, as camera accompanied him wherever he went. ‘I also got a lot of support and encouragement from my friends. That’s how it all started,’ he said.

Swu said that he basically covers weddings and other celebratory events but is passionate about fashion photography.

He has collaborated with fashion designers and had done several fashion photo shoots.

‘I had no creativity. I would just pick up some random outfits, collaborate with some friends, take pictures and make a series of those photographs. That’s how I got into liking fashion. It just grew out of me,’ he said.

The calling

Photography is not a part-time job for Swu. ‘I think I have found my calling. It came out of the blue, but after photography came into my life, opportunities were just coming one after the other. Things really changed for me. The experiences I had, the people I met, the support I got and getting to travel to different places, I know that this is just the beginning but I definitely know that this is my divine calling. It took me just two years to get into the scene and become independent,’ he said.

‘I was doing photography as a hobby. I would post pictures on Instagram because I loved to. I didn’t even have a camera then. I would use my friend’s camera to take pictures. Then there was one time when I got a message from someone on Instagram asking how much I charge (for photography). I think that question made me realise that I had the potential,’ he added.

Swu said he was idle at one stage but always had a strong faith that there was something in store for him.

Spontaneity in photography

Swu considers himself as spontaneous when it comes to taking pictures.

“Most of my friends have very good knowledge about the technical side of photography. But for me, I would say that I am a very natural photographer. When it comes to taking pictures, the ‘rule of third’ is the only rule I know about photography. I use that sometimes, but most of the time, my photographs are raw. I love to create and capture moments that are present in the scene.

“I’m gradually evolving as a photographer, so I don’t maintain any theme. I do what is best for the photograph at the moment. I am a very spontaneous photographer, so whatever comes my way, I just grab it. I cringe at some photographs that I took in the past which I thought were very good during that time. But I like to embrace those moments and see myself growing instead,” he said.

‘Everyone has their own way of taking pictures. Some people prefer photos that are posed and arranged beforehand. So there’s no such thing as good or bad photos. But since I was interested in street and fashion photography beforehand, I already knew how to make people pose for pictures. So I use those tactics in my wedding photographs.

‘For me, it’s not only about taking pictures when it comes to photography. Before photo shoots, I get to know the clients first. I ask about their story, how they met and stuff to make them feel comfortable. Even in the midst of taking pictures, I interact with them or just hype them up. The idea is to capture genuine expressions and moments in the photographs. In future, whenever people go down their memory lane to check their wedding photos, I want them to remember that they were living the moment, and not just taking pictures,’ Swu said.

Skill and gears

Swu said skill is important in the profession though advanced gears are required for certain photography, including commercial industry. Meanwhile, some may use the most expensive gear, but if they lack skills, they can’t produce a good story, he pointed out.

On the number of wedding photographers increasing in the state, he said many were into such photography only as it has scope for earning as well as exploring their skills.

‘I am not discriminating against wedding photographers here. I am passionate about fashion but I do wedding photography as well to earn. One thing about wedding photography is that you can make use of your other passion in this field. If one is interested in portraits, they can make use of that in wedding photography, or if one is interested in storytelling, they can do that during weddings because in weddings, things are rapidly changing, so they can use that perspective as well. Weddings are basically a place or ground where one can explore one’s skills or passion,’ he said.

‘It was never luck but hard work’

Swu eventually became comfortable doing wedding photography in Nagaland but the urge to do something out of the box and his interest in exploring the fashion industry took him to Bangkok, Thailand, but it was not a cakewalk.

‘In the beginning, I struggled a lot. I did not do anything in the first month after moving to Bangkok. I would write on Facebook and other online platforms looking for projects. After a month, people started reaching out to me, and eventually I got to do a lot of TFP (time for prints or trade for prints) shoots and also collaborated with some fashion designers as well,’ he shared.

However, Swu has transformed into a professional photographer in less than two years.

‘It was all hard work. I am the most hardworking among my friends. Since day one, they have seen me working so hard. I started off very small on social media. Back then, photography was just at its beginning phase in Nagaland. But I had a strategy. I really took advantage of social media.

‘I started posting pictures consistently. I would go out every day, reach out to people, go where people were gathering and take pictures. I would reach out to well known people in Nagaland, do photo shoots with them free of cost and post them. All of that with a camera that wasn’t even mine,’ he shared about his journey.

‘When I started off, I had no skills, no camera gears, and no knowledge about editing software. I would shamelessly ask my friends for their camera and also edit pictures from my budget smartphone. I did that for a long time. I used what I had with me. But I was very much consistent with my passion.

‘People think that I am lucky because I made it so quickly. But it was never luck; it was all hard work. And of course, favour from God as well,’ he said.

‘I made a brand out of myself. It was not easy though. I learned photography, marketed myself, and got clients all from the internet. So, I would always advise the younger generation to make use of social media wisely,’ he added.

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‘I started posting pictures consistently. I would go out every day, reach out to people, go where people were gathering and take pictures. I would reach out to well known people in Nagaland, do photo shoots with them free of cost and post them. All of that with a camera that wasn’t even mine,’ he shared about his journey.

‘I started posting pictures consistently. I would go out every day, reach out to people, go where people were gathering and take pictures. I would reach out to well known people in Nagaland, do photo shoots with them free of cost and post them. All of that with a camera that wasn’t even mine,’ he shared about his journey.

‘I started posting pictures consistently. I would go out every day, reach out to people, go where people were gathering and take pictures. I would reach out to well known people in Nagaland, do photo shoots with them free of cost and post them. All of that with a camera that wasn’t even mine,’ he shared about his journey.

‘I started posting pictures consistently. I would go out every day, reach out to people, go where people were gathering and take pictures. I would reach out to well known people in Nagaland, do photo shoots with them free of cost and post them. All of that with a camera that wasn’t even mine,’ he shared about his journey.