"Photography is much more than taking photos," says portrait photographer and educator Sujata Setia

I was never formally trained, but art has always been my anchor. In 2013, after my daughter’s birth, I began using our Canon EOS 450D to photograph her. It became a healing act – an intimate theatre where we both played equal parts, free from the burden of authority. Photography helped me find balance. My practice is deeply autobiographical, rooted in identifying my strongest emotions and translating them into visual narratives that reflect my inner world.

Art is like language to me – more inclusive and democratic than words. I started my practice with works akin to magical realism – portraits of childhood, family, and elderly love set in utopian worlds, subconsciously erasing memories of my own traumatic childhood. Losing my mother in 2019 transformed my practice. I shifted to socially engaged work, starting with ‘Changing the Conversation,’ which interrogates beauty norms, and ‘A Thousand Cuts,’ which examines domestic abuse in South Asian culture. 

I will go through my artistic trajectory, showing how photography is much more than the art of taking photos. It can be meaningful, purposeful and a thriving full-time profession. I’ll share insights from my career building a successful family photography business and speak about gaining visibility and platforms for your work.

The session will explore the potential of photography as a career, offering practical tips on sustaining a creative practice. I’ll also discuss how photography can serve a greater purpose – allowing artists to give back to the wider community through their work.

Finding a voice comes from understanding that photography is more than just a tool – it’s a language. When you approach it as a form of communication, rather than a way to capture fleeting moments, your creative stance emerges. The ability to make that connection is what gives your photography a unique voice.