Interview with Lifestyle & Sports Photographer - Kabir

From Fashion Shoots to Fast-Paced Sports Photography 

This interview captures Kabir’s experiences navigating photography across fashion, wildlife, lifestyle, and sports. From assisting fashion shoots to capturing live sporting action, he discusses the learning curve, mindset, and preparation required to grow within different photography environments.

About Kabir

Kabir is a photographer whose work spans sports, fashion, wildlife, and lifestyle photography. Starting his professional journey with Runway Lifestyle as an in-house fashion photographer, he gradually developed a strong interest in sports photography through his love for capturing unpredictable live-action moments. His diverse experience across genres has also helped him blend creative lighting and storytelling techniques into his sports work. 

Q1 Where did you start your journey in photography? Which Company which genre (Sports/wedding/lifestyle/product)?

I had photography as a module when I was in post-graduation diploma and that's when I had my first professional camera. Prior to that, my experience with photography was with my cousin. He had an Nikon D5100 with which I started clicking and it sparked an interest in me. I started out professionally with an agency called Runway Lifestyle. I'm really grateful to them for giving me the opportunity. I was their in-house photographer for fashion and I met a lot of great models, actors, photographers, assisted in a lot of shoots. That phase taught me a lot of my work. Prior to that, in the lockdown, I was doing astro photography and wildlife photography because these were the only subjects available.

Q2 What Do you like most about Sports Photography? Which Other Genre Do you like the Most

What intrigues me most about sports photography is it's a live action event and there are no retakes in this and fast action means you have no second chances to capture the moment. If you miss it, you miss it. So you're always on your toes trying to capture the perfect moment and not miss out on something important. Also with sports, it's like more than five, six hours of work, that's it. And editing is most fun because you get to pick and choose the best photos, compile them, color grade them. About the other genre, I prefer fashion. A wedding is the toughest work, I guess, and there's a lot of hassle in clicking. Even there you can't miss any moment. And data collation is the toughest task for weddings. For me, after sports, something that I like would be concerts or clicking fashion models, actors, etc.

Q3 Any mistakes which you had learned the most from? Can be technical as well as Practical mistakes related to photography?

⁠Well, initially when you start out, you don't realize how fast sports photography is. You need to be very attentive, look around, capture every moment. People concentrate more on the sport, but you need to capture the audience reaction. You need to capture moments behind the scenes. It all really matters.

Q4 Any Tips for Sports Photographers Starting their Journey?

Pay attention to whatever sport you are capturing is because you don't want to miss the moment. At times it becomes very monotonous and repetitive and you feel that you know each ball or each punch or each move everything is same. But as soon as you take your eye off the camera in that split second you miss a moment. So the biggest tip is keep your cameras ready and be attentive. There is never a dull moment in sports photography.

Q5 Any youtube / Instagram Channels or Photographers You follow the Most?

⁠It’s all about immersing yourself in the visual language of the sports you love. Watching everything from the high-octane pace of motorsports to the precise elegance of equestrian gives you a massive mental library of composition and timing to draw from. Some people Kabir follows - bogdanivanovspb, Artur Parfenenko, Ryan Scudder, Rafael Lopez, Štěpán Černý, Robyn Goding, Filip, Martin Botvidsson, Lamine Mersch, and Karl Taylor

Q6 Any Financial Advice on photographers Struggling to Stay Afloat?

Just keep hustling, just keep trying, just keep looking for work. Initially, you will face a lot of downfalls and people rejecting you or asking to work for free. But what matters most is your communication, the way you carry yourself, the way your work is. If your work is good, next time the client will definitely ask for you and pay you for your work. So don't give up. And in your free time, try picking up other genres of photography as well. Even if it's small money, it will help you keep going.

Q7 Any Tips on How to reach the Big Leagues In Sports Photography? LIke IPL/ISL/Pro Kabbadi League/Indian Polo Season?

⁠Build a good portfolio and showcase your best work and email your work as PDFs to all these organizations and somewhere it might click for you.

Q8 Everyone Want reels these days? Do you Think Photography is no longer in Demand?

Well, as the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans. Honestly, I don't really like reels, but yeah, they are very captive and they grab attention really quickly. So, I feel there should be a balance between reels and photos, though I prefer photos more because without any visual movement, a photo tells you a lot about the story or whatever action is happening.

Q9. Since you work across both sports and lifestyle photography, are there any learnings or techniques from one genre that you’ve found useful in the other?

Still life in sports is one genre I like. Like when I captured Mr Uttarakhand and Mr India for bodybuilding, I used a lot of lighting setup I used for fashion and beauty shoots.

Final Thoughts

Kabir’s interview emphasizes that sports photography is as much about awareness and timing as it is about technical skill. His insights on staying attentive, building a strong portfolio, and remaining consistent through challenges offer a realistic perspective on growing within the industry while balancing creativity and professionalism.