Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agency
Dimapur, January 31 2010:
Photography in Nagaland, unlike other places, is believed to be a profession with not much of a return financially.
In fact, it has been looked upon more as a leisure activity.
Those who have said that, take back your words, for times are changing for the better, regardless of the attitude of the people towards photography.
In truth, it is turning out to be a profession with promising returns these days.
People especially of the current generation are gradually breaking away from the long held belief that "a government job is the only dependable and secure job".
Still, the advantage with photography is that one can take it up as a hobby or a part-time job and yet earn good money.
All one has to do is invest in a good camera and back it up with quality lens.
Nagaland may not boast of a glamour industry where an art such as photography is thought to be the handiest and most productive.
However, the state still has the winter season.
And winter means the festive season and tons and tons of beautiful white weddings.
Everybody wants such a special occasion as a wedding day frozen in frames for posterity.
That's when the need for gifted shutterbugs with an eye for the right angle of beauty arises.
Winter is also that time of year when people in the profession 'make the most hay'.
December and January, and some parts of November and February, are the months when photographers are the most active.
In Dimapur, a photographer for a full wedding session (ceremony and the reception) would charge Rs.8000-9000 including the printout.
Minus the printout, they charge anywhere between Rs.5000 to 6000.When video as well as stills are involved, it comes to around Rs.7000-8000 .
Generally, local photographers charge depending on the number of hours.
It is said that for a whole day, the charge is Rs.9000 when two photographers are involved.
If you think that's expensive, in other places they charge much higher.
The rates charged by professionals with years of experience are still higher.
Some may still think that this is quite expensive for our part of the world.
Well, buying a camera is one thing, getting a respectable lens is a completely different matter.
A photographer worth his or her salt would literally spend a fortune finding and buying equipment, and technology keeps on upgrading by the day.