Meet Ishmeet Singh | South Asian Photographer & Tech Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ishmeet Singh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ishmeet, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The decision to start my own photography business wasn’t exactly part of a grand plan, or even planned at all. It was more of a series of fortunate accidents that led me down this unexpected path back to a passion I discovered as a middle schooler in her first photography class.

It all began in late 2022 when I was unexpectedly laid off from my job as a product manager at Wells Fargo. At first, I was devastated. I had poured so much of myself into that job, and suddenly it was gone. I felt lost and unsure of what to do next. Amidst the uncertainty that came with job applications, interviewing, and networking, I found myself burnt out and looking for a break from my then-monotonous lifestyle.

Every morning while picking out an outfit, I made eye contact with my most recent camera purchase, a Nikon D750 that I had been excited to get out and around town with after my 9-5. Months later, it felt taunting to look at. Everything I’d imagined for my life was nowhere to be found.

I’d put on my outfit, then go right back to job applications.

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In summer 2023, I finally decided I had nothing to lose and texted my friend I was hanging out with that night- “Bring a cute outfit, I’m finally taking my camera out for a ride.” Hours later, I dusted off the camera, went to Golden Gate Park, found a cute location and started snapping photos of her. What was going to be just a fun hangout idea for a few hours ended up keeping me awake until 3 a.m. editing the photos, excited to do more fun shoots around the city. That same night, I created my handle, @ShotByIshie.

Realizing I couldn’t make every hangout with friends a photoshoot, I posted in a local Facebook group, The Little Brown Diary, asking if anyone wanted a free mini photoshoot so I could start creating my portfolio. The next morning, I woke up to an overwhelming response of over 60 DMs from group members.

Little did I know, the photos I would take over the course of the next few months would change everything.

One day, while on one of these free shoots, another client with an artistic eye, impressed with my eye, insisted on paying me. I was flushed, flattered, and so excited to hear the compliments, and in that moment, I decided to try and begin pricing my work. I hadn’t considered myself a professional photographer up until that point, but I felt that I could begin to explore the idea.

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From there, things snowballed. Word of mouth spread, and before I knew it, I was getting inquiries for photoshoots and events. It was overwhelming at first, but I embraced the challenge. Drawing on my background in product management, I set up a website, managed bookings, and honed my craft.

Looking back, I realize that starting my own business was never part of the plan. But sometimes, life has a way of pushing us in unexpected directions. Losing my job was a setback, yes, but it also gave me the opportunity to rediscover my passion and turn it into something more.

So here I am, running my own photography business and loving every minute of it. It’s not what I had originally envisioned for myself, but sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey as a photographer has been an incredible adventure filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve discovered what sets my art apart is my perspective, and that’s what I’m truly passionate about.

My unique approach to photography is shown in the way I strive to capture the essence of the moment. I’m not just interested in taking pretty pictures; I want to tell stories. It could be the joy of an engagement, the love of a family, or even the beauty of everyday life. My goal is to capture the emotions and atmosphere and tell a story in a way that transports my audience.

Since the beginning of my journey as a photographer, I’ve also found inspiration in picking up a topic I’m passionate about, and compiling a photo-project around it. My first and most recent is titled “Jit Jamme Rajan (From her, kings are born)”. This beautiful photoshoot served as awareness about infanticide and became a message of gender equality (more to come!).

It wasn’t easy to form the connections I did with my clients, or fellow collaborators, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see the joy on their faces when they see their photos. Visions come true and memories are cherished for a lifetime through the photos I take, and it’s something I’ll forever be proud of myself for

I’m most proud of the connections I’ve made with my clients and the trust they place in me to capture their most precious moments. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the joy on their faces when they see their photos and know that I’ve been able to preserve memories that they’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Getting to where I am today professionally hasn’t been easy. Starting my own business from scratch was daunting, and there were plenty of challenges along the way. From learning how to market myself effectively to managing the logistics of bookings and shoots, there were many times when I felt overwhelmed, but I stayed determined and persevered with a willingness to learn.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is the importance of adaptability. The photography industry is constantly evolving, and being able to pivot and embrace new trends and technologies has been crucial to my success. I’ve also learned the importance of never being afraid to ask for help or seek out mentorship from those who have more experience.

Ultimately, what I want the world to know about me and my brand is that I’m not just a photographer; I’m a storyteller. I believe that everyone has a story worth telling, and I’m honored to be able to capture those stories through my equipment. Whether it’s a grand occasion or a quiet moment, I strive to find the beauty and emotion in every scene and share it with the world. Even more, I want to use my creative visions and lenses to create powerful messages and evoke feeling, one image at a time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting San Francisco for a week, I’d plan day-long itineraries through all the different neighborhoods in the city (this is my forté!).

We’d start off close to home — in the Mission and Hayes’. Brunch at a Mission staple like Tartine Manufactory, Stable Cafe, or Kitchen Story. From there, we could take the bus or walk over to Mission Dolores and spend the day people-watching or playing with the dogs all over the park. Towards evening, we could grab a drink at Woods right by the park, then head over to Hayes’ for a fun evening plan. Around Hayes’, we could grab a nice dinner at a spot like Dumpling Home, a Mano or Elephant Sushi, keep bar-hopping at Anina, Smuggler’s Cove, Hazie’s, then grab a nice scoop of ice cream at Salt & Straw before heading in for the night.

In North Beach, we could grab a breakfast burrito from Il Canto Cafe (the best I’ve ever had), then continue on to the new Compton’s Coffee House location and hang out there for a few hours. We could find our way to Coit Tower for the views, and grab a nice glass of wine at Bodega after. Of course, dinner at Tony’s, Flour + Water, or Trestle, then dessert at Lush Gelato!

The Nob Hill/Fillmore day has to be my favorite. A morning coffee at Saint Frank, then our day begins! We could check out Moody Goose Vintage for thrifting, then take a quick bus over to Fillmore St. Home to Diptyque, No Rest For Bridget, Isalis, Sézane, and so many other boutique shops, we’d definitely make our pockets hurt after this one. We could grab some yummy Mediterranean dinner at Noosh, grab one of Balboa Cafe’s iconic espresso martinis, and spend the rest of the night out in Cow Hollow and the Marina.

The next day, we could make our way over to the Sunset and Ocean Beach – Laundromat Bagels or Devil’s Teeth for breakfast, a yummy Snowy Plover coffee at Andytown on the beach, and take a nice walk on Highway 1 or by the water. On the way back, stop by Black Bird Bookstore + Cafe, check out the shops around, and dinner at Hook Fish Co.

It’s impossible to cover all of San Francisco’s charm and beauty in a week– I haven’t even begun to cover Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, Haight-Ashbury, the hikes and trails, the beer scene, and so much more. However, I do think this Itinerary is a pretty good start to have some fun days out in the city. And of course, we can’t forget the farmer’s market at the Ferry Building!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutouts to everyone that had a hand in helping me get to where I am today– my mom, who has her own business, dad, leading by example throughout his career, and brother, who just turned 18 and is about to embark on his university ventures. I would not be here today, being able to share my story without their support and mentorship throughout the years. You three have been the reason I have grown into myself and achieved so many of my dreams. I would also like to give a huge shoutout to my best friends that have supported me every step of the way in terms of photography– from being my first focal points, looking at my edits I’m unsure about, reviewing every detail on my website, to even nominating me for this interview. My final shoutout goes to all the people that follow my account and support me; I’m so grateful to have all of you in my corner.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbyishie/