Retro, grounded and ever evolving -- that’s Dabboo Ratnani. Bollywood stars swear by him and the list of those who refuse to shoot without him is steadily growing. The success of his latest 10-year anniversary calendar speaks volumes about his stature in the glamour world. However, a few words with the star photographer and you are pleasantly surprised to discover his down-to-earth demeanor. Dedicated to his work, Dabboo believes in constantly evolving with time as he told us in a one-on-one.

What is your take on the success of your 2009 calendar?
It’s great to see how well the calendar has been received. The format of the calendar has been much appreciated. This was my calendar’s 10-year anniversary and I wanted to do something special. The calendar features 48 stars from our film industry… something, which has never been done before and makes the calendar a one-of-a-kind. It was something that people did not expect at all and which is why I feel completing this calendar was a great achievement in itself.

Did you get into celebrity photography by chance or was it a conscious decision?
I started my photography training under Sumeet Chopra, who is an established fashion photographer. However, my first assignment was for a film. At that point of time, film photography was not very popular and many warned me against entering this field. They recommended that I should stick to the advertisement industry. However, my first film shoot got good response and I was offered a lot more projects. I really enjoyed my work so I decided to continue in the same line and created a niche for myself in this industry. In the years that followed, celebrity photography picked up big time and I found out that the guys who had once condescendingly termed this stream as filmy were also doing film photography now.

How would you best describe your style of photography? Are you spontaneous or are you a meticulous planner?
I think I am a mix of both. I think it is important for a photographer to strike the right balance between the two. My style of photography depends on various factors like the type of shoot, the location and the clothes. If it is an ad campaign, you know what is expected from you and that the shoot has to go a certain way. This is when I am at my meticulous best. On the other hand, when we are talking about a celebrity shoot I am a lot more spontaneous because it is all about how you feel at that point of time.

Whose work do you respect and admire?
I love the work and style of Sante D’Orazio, a Spanish photographer and the great Herb Ritts. When it comes to Indian photographers, I admire Bharat Sikka for his work.

What would you regard as the highlight of your career so far?
I think the highlight of my career has been the fact that I have consistently churned out good work and am constantly evolving with time. I keep up with the latest in technology and am always updating my equipment. Moreover, I push myself to get the best out of this new equipment because it inspires me to better my work. I like competing with myself as it keeps me going and does not let me stagnate. Moreover, I have always been clean in my business dealings and share a good rapport with all the stars that I have worked with.

What is your thought process when it comes to conceptualisation of your photo shoots.
I get my inspiration from life in general. I always keep my eyes open and study different situations that life presents you. I treat every day like it is my first day at work, that I have not achieved anything yet and there is a long way to go.

What is your craziest shoot?
Hrithik and I decided to do an outdoor shoot at Madh Island in Mumbai right after the release of his first film, ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’. We started shooting at around 7:30 in the morning and we could not do any more than two shots because of the mob, which had gathered to see Hrithik. It did not strike us until that point of time how popular Hrithik had become right after the release. We had to pack up and rush to my studio to complete the photo shoot and the ride back to the studio was also quite crazy with people following us all the way to the studio. It was a clear sign that Hrithik had arrived.

What other type of photography do you enjoy the most?
I have never tried my hand at it yet but sometime in my life I would like to shoot wildlife. I would love to go on an African Safari and get some great shots of leopards. There is something about leopards, which I love. I want to travel like the guys on National Geographic and capture beautiful shots of leopards, lions and tigers. 

When you move from being behind the lens, what do you enjoy?
I am a movie buff and I enjoy watching all kinds of films. I am especially fond of the mafia films… ‘Carlito’s Way’ starring Al Pacino is my favourite. It is the sequel to Scarface, which is another movie I love. Of Hindi films, I like Rang De Basanti, Dev D and Rock On to name a few.  My other hobbies include collecting music, driving cars and riding motorcycles. The bike I currently own is a Yamaha Dragster, which has been customised to give it a more retro look. 

What do you have in store for the rest of the year?
Well I have recently finished working on the publicity shoots for the Shahrukh Khan and Kajol starrer, My Name Is Khan and another movie called Fox. Advertising projects include the Idea campaigns starring Abhishek, Hero Honda ads with Hrithik and Emami shoots with Mr. Bachchan (Amitabh) and Madhuri Dixit. I am also doing publicity shoots for Hello! magazine with Tabu and People magazine with Preity. Other projects with Preity include ad campaigns for Dabur and Fem.

Is there a celebrity you haven’t yet worked with and would love to shoot. Why?
Among the new faces, I have not worked with Imran Khan and would love to shoot him because he can look simply superb and has the potential to give some great shots.

Speaking technically, is expertise in Photoshop an essential part of a professional photographer’s repertoire today?
No, I don’t think so, because I think you should let the professionals do what they are good at. When it comes to my photo shoots, I do not argue with my makeup artists about why they used a particular lipstick! They are the pros in their field and if they feel that a certain look will suit the shoot, I trust them. So it is great if a photographer knows how to use Photoshop well but he will never be as good at it as he is at photography. So in my opinion, it is best to let the Photoshop professionals do what they do best. 

What kind of advice do you have for photographers who want to get a foot into the industry?
Do not get into it for the glamour and money. Enter this field only if you love photography and if you are passionate about it and it runs in your blood. This field demands a lot of hard work and a lot of investment. You also have to constantly evolve and always strive for better pictures. And remember that as long as you are talented, there is always enough work for all. So there is no need to backbite.

What is your success mantra?
Innovate and evolve. I keep telling myself that there is a lot more left for me to achieve. I strive to always be consistent with my work and give 100% for all kinds of shoots. As a professional photographer you cannot come up with bad pictures at any cost and should be willing to put in those extra hours to prevent this from happening.

When you print your photos, what are the various aspects you look out for?
After photoshopping the photos, I check every detail by viewing them closely on one or two monitors. I proof check one or two prints but overall I trust my printing labs to do the job for me.

What printing equipment do you use at your studio?
I do not have any printing equipment in my studio. I get my printing done from different labs.

	Quick five: Your Favourite Camera- Canon 1 DS Mark3 Your Favourite Printer- Epson Your Favourite Shoot- My Calendar Shoots Your Preferred Location- New York Your Ideal Day- Blaring music, stunning models, outdoor location and brilliant sunshine.

Photos by Dabboo Ratnani | Fotosocial