Today we’d like to introduce you to Vaidehi Patel.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have spent most of my life growing up in suburban Chicago. While I was growing up, I have always been exposed to creative arts. My family always believed in having a hobby on the side while pursuing your career. When I attended college in the city, I was immediately intrigued by the city life and its unique architecture. Being able to walk around the city and explore something new was one of the main things that caught my attention. I started doing photography in the city in 2015 by taking pictures on my phone. Not only was I taking pictures in Chicago, but I also decided to include some traveling photography. Growing up, I have been exposed to traveling due to making yearly trips to India to visit the rest of my family. For the past few years, I have used that opportunity to explore some historical landmarks and include the architecture in my photography. Even though I was not using a real camera until 2016, I figured out a way to edit some of my photos on my phone by using some of the tools and filters.
That is how I started, and my journey still continues. I try to take shots in the city that are unique by locating different areas and angles. have recently started attending photography meets that are hosted by local Chicago artists on Instagram. It has given me the opportunity to meet new people, learn more about taking different types of shots, and explore some hidden gems in the city. When I travel, I try to find more historical and architectural spots and figure out a way to shoot them. By browsing through Instagram, you can see that many people have taken some unique city and traveling shots. It is important to explore and figure out a way to make your content stand out from others.
Please tell us about your art.
I have a photography blog on Instagram, which I have been doing a for a few years. I do photography as a side hobby where I am taking pictures as I travel to different areas worldwide or even in the city of Chicago. I specialize primarily in architecture, travel, nature and street photography. Anytime I get a chance to travel or go to the city of Chicago, I always keep my phone or Canon camera handy to take different shots. I take my time to go through my photos and decide which ones to add to my Instagram page based on the ones I feel that are unique.
I became serious about photography when I invested in a Canon camera. Before that, I was casually taking some photos on my LG G4 smartphone because it had a really good camera that would take clear and crisp photos. The world of digital really got my attention. In other words, it put me at a spot to determine what could be possible with photography. Using my LG G4 was very convenient to me because I was able to take it anywhere. I could take unlimited photos of anything I was interested in, which included a lot of photos of nature, traveling, streets, and architectural buildings. I remember being very enticed at my photographs that pertained to nature, traveling, street and architecture. By observing my photos, I felt that the details went unnoticed. Every photo was worth shooting, new and intriguing. From this point onward, I enjoyed photography because it gave me the opportunity to capture unique moments of my life to reminisce and study.
For those that are interested or even have a slight interest in photography should just pursue it. Anyone can start from any age, level of experience and use any camera that is convenient. Capturing photos is completely personal. One does not need a fancy camera or tools for editing pictures. I have seen a lot of crisp photos on Instagram that were only taken on smartphones. Doing photography is a healthy challenge. There are numerous ways of how people can challenge themselves with photography by being able to learn something new. There is no such thing as having a shortage of shooting from different angles, learning new techniques or doing new projects.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Currently, I do not do photography as a side job or business. However, my advice for those that going through some financial concerns is to ensure that there is a business plan. There are a lot of reasons why it is important to have one due to the fact that it will keep photographers on track once they start. Having a business plan will have a variety of information, especially the financial portion. From the business aspect to the marketing structure, using all of that business related information will potentially give photographers and overview of the outcomes of the future. Also, it is important to set a budget. Opening a photography business does not have to be costly, but there are expenses involved for it to get started. One must be able to determine which equipment and studio is worth investing in.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I currently have an Instagram page where I am posting photos of my latest work, whether it is from my camera or on my phone. I try my best to find time to work on my content and upload them more often. Anyone is more than welcome to view my page or even follow me (@vaidehi_24). I am open to feedback, new ideas on how I can take some unique shots and knowing about any local photography meetups.
Contact Info:
- Email: vaidehi24@gmail.com
- Instagram: @vaidehi_24
Image Credit:
All shot on iPhone X and Canon rebel
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