Raffealla Fernando - I am Best Fashion Photographer Of The Year At The IAA London (Photographer From India)

                                                                        

Talking about my journey, Fashion Designing and Photography is something I've always wanted to do since I started dreaming about a career with the right mind. This is my 14th year as a designer and my 12th year as a photographer.  I followed my dream and here I am.

                                                                   

                                                   

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Well, talking about my background, I come from a very simple family, my father is a businessman, my mother is a housewife, I have a sister who is a french lecturer and I am married to a post-production artist and a digital consultant. My background is where I am rooted and my family is where I am rooted from my heart and soul. 

Talking about my journey, Fashion Designing and Photography is something I've always wanted to do since I started dreaming about a career with the right mind. This is my 14th year as a designer and my 12th year as a photographer.  I followed my dream and here I am.

My parents have always been so supportive of all the decisions I made professionally and personally. When I look back I feel great and currently, I work both locally and internationally as a celebrity and fashion photographer, stylist, fashion designer, fashion lecturer, consultant, and creative director. 

The turning point was winning 3 fashion awards on the same night at Sri Lanka's upcoming fashion designer of the year 2010. The next turning point has to be working internationally in countries like England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Maldives, and India. Showcasing at the London Fashion Week, Cannes Film Festival, New York Fashion Awards, BEFTA Awards UK, and IAA awards in the UK  are definitely the highlights of my journey.  By now I have 13 fashion and photography awards. I am very grateful for my journey. 

2. How and when did you realize your passion for photography?

This is all I wanted and dreamt of since I started dreaming of a career with the right mind. I have always loved fashion since I was a kid. My mom tells me that I used to pick my own clothes and I used to pick very different color combinations for myself even when I was a kid.

 I believe my grandmother had a lot to do with it too, she was a diva and a true fashionista, and of course, it could be the genes but I have always been very serious about getting into the glamour industry. 

When I was about 13-14 years old in school we were asked what we want to become when we grow up and the entire class had written Doctor, lawyer and etc. I was the only kid who wrote a fashion designer and I remember getting punished in school for not taking my career seriously but now when I look back I realize that I was very clear about my dream job.

Passion for photography came way after but since school days itself, I was in the school photographic society too and I was very passionate about photography. 

3. What are some tips you would like to share with amateur fashion photographers?

Be passionate about what you do, do not get into the industry because your best friend is in it. Love what you do. Also love what we have here in our country, our art, and our artisans because we all need to move forward together. Keep on practicing your skills, the industry is growing and developing every day, keep yourself updated, be innovative and make a very strong and solid portfolio. As photographers, our work will speak for ourselves. 

4. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful photographer?

Creativity, patience, the urge to practice and create, passion, understanding of light, eye for the art, artistic skills, good communication skills, ability to work under pressure, and attention to detail. 

5. Fashion industry is often considered women-centric and stereotypes men? What's your opinion?

As a female photographer, the most challenging has to be convincing people and making them believe that female photographers can be as good as male photographers. When I started 12 years ago I was always questioned, many clients use to look at me with doubt because back in the days there weren't many female photographers in the Photography scene because it's considered a male-centric industry. 

It's exactly the same for men when it comes to fashion like you rightly mentioned because the fashion industry is looked at as a female-centric industry. But we are definitely practicing equality I feel the tables have turned, times have changed, and now people are recognized for their talent, not for their gender. There are so many talented men creating magic in the field of fashion and it's amazing to see that growth.

6. Which is your favorite book and why?

I love reading and it's very hard to select one book for what it has given me, but I'd say " the secret" because it really changed my life for the good and I am so grateful that I was introduced to that book. 

Bio - 

13 fashion awards 

- Best fashion photographer of the year at the IAA London (international           achievers awards) 

- BAFTA best photographer of the year, 8th place world rank. 

- New York fashion awards finalist. 

- CEO of RAFFEALLA and Raffealla Fernando photography, founder of the Bridal company and co-founder of Finc, fashion lecturer, fashion designer, celebrity stylist, creative director, fashion journalist, artist, and a concept developer. 

- Worked as a photographer and designer in countries such as England, France, Italy, Switzerland, India, Singapore, and the Maldives. 

- The first Sri Lankan to showcase at the London fashion week and first Asian to showcase case showcase at the Prince Charles royal trust fashion show. 

- Designed for the 69th and 71st Cannes film festival.

- I've was featured in some international magazines, including New York times, fab UK magazine, Paris fashion news magazine, chic magazine Singapore, Miharu Maldives, and planet Goa India.

- I showcased at the Asian European fashion week in Paris. 

- 1st Srilankan to get an invitation at the Nolcha new york fashion week. 

- I was interviewed by Nancy O'Dell the compere at the grammy awards red carpet.

- I was interviewed by Marie lewis for her let's talk curvy plus size fashion program on sky tv in London.

- I was interviewed for Pakistan in vogue.

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Interviewed by - Nimisha Dutta