One of Pakistan’s top fashion and celebrity photographers, Mohsin Khawar is known for his original style, unique aesthetic, and signature bravado. The photographer behind some of the country’s most successful fashion campaigns, Mohsin is a dedicated young man who has worked long and hard to find success in the very competitive and crowded field of fashion and event photography.
In an exclusive interview for the Minute Mirror, Mohsin talks to Ally Adnan about his career as a photographer, his approach to event photography, his love for travel, his upcoming books, and a lot else.
How and when did you become interested in photography?
I have had a love for art and enjoyed photography ever since I was a child, but I became seriously interested in becoming a photographer when I joined the College of Art & Design, Punjab University. The institution opened new horizons for me and introduced me to a lot: pluralism, diversity, and multiculturalism along with the heterogeneity of our nation’s culture, history, society, values, food, art, and architecture. The new, very colorful world of the school was intoxicating, and I decided to capture its kaleidoscopic energy in my photographs.
Do you have formal training in photography?
Yes, I do. Photography was my minor in the College of Art & Design, Punjab University.
Is formal training necessary for becoming a good photographer?
No, it is not necessary, but it is helpful. The training teaches you the basics like lighting, composition, and exposure, and helps one become a competent photographer. True excellence in photography, however, requires a lot more.
Exactly what do photographers need to do to achieve true excellence in photography?
First and foremost, they need to put in a lot of effort, with unbridled energy, into their work. They need to learn to play with light and colour. They need to reflect to clearly define their goals as a photographer; not for others but for themselves. They also need to cultivate a unique, individual style. They need to experiment, practice, and take lots of photographs. Most importantly, they need to develop the ability to understand their subjects and capture their intrinsic truth in the photographs.
What are the essential attributes of a good photograph?
A good photograph tells an interesting story with honesty, emotion, and style. These are the essential attributes; everything else is secondary.
Why did you decide to specialize in fashion and event photography?
In Pakistan, fashion and event are the only fields of photography that are lucrative and allow one to make a decent living. There is also a little money in commercial, corporate, and family photography, but the field is very crowded. All other forms of photography – nature, sports, travel, documentary, architectural, et cetera – are best practiced as hobbies or secondary vocations. It is very difficult to make money in these fields.
Do you enjoy event photography?
Event photography is good business and, when I have the right client, I enjoy it a lot.
How do you define the right client?
In the context of event photography, it is one who does not want me to mimic photographs taken by other photographers and gives me the freedom to be original and creative. It is someone who wants me to focus on capturing the energy, spontaneity, and life of events as opposed to shooting picture-perfect scenes that, while beautiful, are fake, studied, and lacking in vibrance.
What are the attributes of good event photography?
Good event photography is natural, unrehearsed, and authentic. It is honest and captures the truth of the event. Furthermore, it tells a story that conveys the energy, mood, and atmosphere of events.
You also dabble in travel photography.
Yes, I do. It is my first love and my true calling.
I love to travel and take great pleasure in discovering new places and cultures. Travel photography allows me to indulge my love for the peripatetic way of life. I am in the process of compiling a coffee table book featuring my travel photography. It is titled ‘Mohsin on the Road’ and one of the three coffee table books that I have in the works.
What are the other two coffee table books?
They are titled ‘Men without Shoes’ and ‘Natural Beauties’; both books feature photographs of Pakistani celebrities captured in a manner that is new, original, and intimate.
Do you enjoy working with Pakistani celebrities?
I enjoy working with most but not all Pakistani celebrities. I do not like those who are arrogant, pretentious, and over-cautious; and love celebrities who are friendly and cooperative. The best ones are down-to-earth, adventurous, and willing to take risks. Audacity is the one quality that guarantees the success of a celebrity photoshoot.
Who is the most audacious celebrity that you have worked with?
Mohsin Abbas Haider, hands down. His courage, boldness and, yes, audacity bring out the best in me. He never says no and is always eager to push the envelope. Mohsin and I worked together on an editorial inspired by Charlie Chaplin. It is one of my most favorite photoshoots.
What is your greatest strength as a photographer?
I believe it is my ability to get genuinely close to my subjects and learn their truth. This allows me to capture their real persona without artifice, affectation, and pretense.
You have been one of Pakistan’s most successful fashion photographers for well over a decade. How have you evolved as a photographer over the years?
I have learnt to overcome my inhibitions, take risks, deviate from photographic norms, and break rules. I have learnt how to make my subjects comfortable and capture their natural personae without artifice, affectation and pretense. I am no longer as obsessed with getting the light, setting and composition right as I used to be and now focus on capturing my subjects with honesty and integrity. At the risk of sounding conceited, I must say that I have found a unique personal style where I use all elements of photography – conventional and avant-garde – to bring out the truth of my subjects.
And the evolution continues?
Absolutely. If I ever come to a point where I feel that I am no longer evolving as a photographer, I will give up photography and take up something else.
