Mumbaikars strike their best pose for family portraits

Mumbaikars strike their best pose for family portraits

Western concept gains popularity in the city; many hire professionals to capture their cherished moments

Prachita Naik was in the mid trimester of her pregnancy when she decided to get candid in front of the camera. There was just one hitch — who would capture that cherished moment for Naik? "We all have cameras, but when we take photographs they just don't turn out the way we expect. Either the images are over-exposed or blurred," she says. After giving it a considerable thought, Naik decided to contact freelance photographer Deepa Netto. The concept of family portraits has gained immense popularity among people in the city. Many are opting for professionals to click those precious moments in their life, which can then be framed and kept in their living room or bedroom for posterity. "This trend is seen mostly in Sec A families, but there are others who are following suit. Family portraits are a common phenomenon abroad and this is one of the reasons why it has gained recognition back home," says photographer Badri Narayan. "Families no longer want to go out to a particular place or need an occasion to take photographs. They want the luxury of being clicked within familiar surroundings," explained Netto. Narayan and Netto both travel to their clients' homes. Netto recalled one such shoot where her clients wanted her to take their family's photograph on a couch worth Rs50,000. "They were keen to feature the couch in their portrait too, so at times you need to incorporate their wishes," says Netto. How do these professionals go about clicking photographs without making their subjects conscious? "Indian families are very camera-shy; for them camera means, 'say cheese' or 'smile please' or the worst of the all 'look towards the camera'," said Narayan. To make the process simpler and comfortable for clients, the best option is to interact with the family before the shoot, especially if a child is involved. Fatima Mozayan, mother of two daughters, admits that her three-year-old younger daughter is very naughty and stubborn. "Narayan was so good at handling her. Before the shoot he had a long conversation with her trying to explain to her how he would go about with the photo session," says Mozayan. The idea is to get as candid as possible. Like Netto once asked a husband to carry his wife on his back. "I knew he wouldn't be able to, but the shot I got was so natural. It was of him struggling to carry his wife, but he failed and the way they both laughed on the attempt gave me my shot." Ninety per cent of Netto's clients are families with children. "If the family has a baby, they prefer having a family portrait at every growing stage of their child's life," Netto said. She has a three session-a-year package deal. The rates per session is Rs4,000 per hour, and yearly package is for Rs12,000 but invariably the session gets extended to two to three hours. Vinod Cerian too has a professional camera, but preferred to get photographs clicked by Netto. The Cerian's have already had one session with Netto and are due for another shoot by end of the month. So, it's not just Shah Rukh Khan who can set up a special photo shoot with his kids at his residence. There are many others like him who want that picture perfect. Visit their sites to contact them: www.deepanetto.com www.badrinarayan.com