MAHESH BANSA
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE UBERTALENTED PERSONALITY BEHIND THE LENS – MAHESH BANSA
Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life – is what young, talented and versatile Mahesh Bansa did when he turned his passion in photography into a fulfilling career. In an era where learning the art of photography is only a few YouTube tutorials away, photographers are pushed past their limits to stand out from the ordinary. It is understood that being a photographer goes beyond merely knowing how to use camera and related equipment. The role requires having a keen eye, creativity and dedication to capture moments to last a lifetime, more so for photographers in the Wedding Industry where all that is left after the wedding are the wedding photographs.
To understand the nitty-gritty of a being a professional wedding photographer we reached out to the main personality behind Beyond Destiny’s lenses, Mahesh.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your childhood and teenage memories.
I am 26 years old and grew up in Moratuwa as a child. I schooled at Prince of Wales College right throughout and played an active role in numerous extra-curricular activities in school. I believe I could say I’m a good basketball player, although I wasn’t the best when it came to studies.
In your opinion, which three words would describe you best?
- Down to earth
- Friendly
- Visionary
How did you get into photography, and particularly into wedding photography?
I’ve been pursuing photography professionally since the age of twenty two. After leaving school, I worked at a company that specialized in event photography. Gaining exposure from there, I took on work as a freelance photographer, covering my first wedding as an independent photographer in 2015. I then worked for a few wedding photography studios before ultimately following my passion of starting my own company and to this end forming Beyond Destiny in 2017.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration in a few local and international brands, so I’m not limited to one source of inspiration in particular. I observe those whom I believe are more experienced and successful than I am and understand that they were once where I was, starting from the very bottom rung of the ladder of success. It also reminds me that to reach great heights you need to be self-motivated.
Share with us how Beyond Destiny came about and how you chose its name.
Simply put, being passionate in photography from a young age, founding Beyond Destiny and having my own photography brand had always been my dream. I observed and put in a lot of effort in studying not only the art of photography but also the wedding industry, gaining enough exposure and experience before embarking on my own journey. As for the name ‘Beyond Destiny’, credit is due to my fiancée, who named it.
Tell us about Beyond Destiny’s dream team.
The Team and Beyond Destiny consists of just over 10 employees with us at the moment. I always believe that I have the best crew with me, without whom Beyond Destiny would not have been what it is today.
As an entrepreneur, I always believe that one does not have to be the smartest person in the room to succeeed. Instead, the secret is to surround one’s self with a dream team where each member specializes in each of their roles and can bring unique insights and the right skills to compliment the skills of the team and to reach its ultimate goals. I should also add that products don’t build companies; people do!
What does it take to be a “professional” wedding photographer?
I personally feel that what makes one a good photographer is not formal qualifications but it comes down to having a good eye, being creative and possessing technical ability, which are the most essential skills. It is also very important to be extremely committed to what you do, when you’re a professional photographer.
What impact has the COVID pandemic made to professionals in the wedding industry?
This pandemic has hit everyone in the Wedding Industry hard, forcing a lot of couples to delay their weddings, and leaving most service providers and vendors at a loss. It has had an impact both on personal lives and on the business front. However, there is no denying that we live in unprecedented times and are all learning how to adapt to and overcome new challenges all the while trying to adjust to the new normal.
How would you describe your type of work and style?
Well, I’d say our style is Fine Art Wedding Photography.
What is/are your favourite camera equipment to use?
My favourite camera equipment are the Nikon D850 and the Nikon 58mm.
How do you manage your work and personal life and what would a typical day-off look like?
I always set aside time for myself which I consider to be very important. I have learned to focus on my calendar and set days aside for my personal life that cannot be compromised at any cost.
Tell us about the recent photo that went viral, garnering 5200+ likes and nearly a thousand shares.
This picture is one of my personal favourites. It was taken from the outside of the Kingsbury Hotel, where we captured the entire building and highlighted only two rooms – the rooms that the Bride and groom were getting ready in.
I would also like to mention Kusal Mendis’s Preshoot album, which also had a really positive response, with over 2000 shares for that album.
If you were to pick a wedding you’ve covered as your favourite, which one would it be and why?
A very hard question! Actually it’s really hard to pick one, and it’s safe to say that I like all weddings which I have covered.
What type of wedding functions do you enjoy covering the most?
I really enjoy covering destination weddings, however I love any type of wedding I get to cover.
What’s in store for Beyond Destiny’s future?
Haha so many new and exciting things! Let’s wait and see!
What message would you give to all hopeful brides and grooms to be?
In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of a marriage celebration is the wedding photography. Once the celebrations are done and dusted withy, the Wedding photographs is all that’s left freezing memories, where generations afterwards would be left with to look at it. My advice to couples would be to think carefully before choosing your photographer for the big day, in order to have lasting memories of your important milestone.