Riyaz Ahmad: Freelancing Gave Me the Freedom to Say No (Filmmaker, Professional Colorist, 175K Followers)

 "Freelancing allowed me to make myself better while working on the ground"

Q. Your visuals often feel quiet yet powerful—almost like a pause in a noisy world. When did you first realise that silence could be a storytelling tool for you?

So basically, I started as a musician. I was a guitarist for quite a long time, but it was just a hobby. I was not like I'm gonna do it for the rest of my life, so with time, I left music and got a bike, Royal Enfield Himayalan,  that's around in 2018,  started exploring places. 

So, for memory i started taking pics and video, then slowly I got more interested in capturing moments and all, then I upgraded my phone, then moved to GoPro, then got an iPhone and lastly got a good camera from which I learned the whole thing.

Q. As a certified pro colourist, how do you decide when to stay true to natural tones and when to stylise a frame for emotional impact?

So basically, I'm a DoP, a colourist and a drone pilot as well. I'm an independent filmmaker. So I shoot myself and grade, so basically I do everything myself.

While shooting, I already have in mind what I'm gonna do with it in post-production or before shooting everything I visualised. If I'm doing a paid project as a colourist, the director gives the vision of what they want.

Actually, you have to go with the demand and emotions of the video, the frame and justify it with a grade.

Q. Kashmir is not just a backdrop in your work; it feels like a character. What responsibility do you feel when visually representing a place that’s often misunderstood?

When I was still in the learning phase i noticed nobody was grading or creating content in the right way due to a lack of technical knowledge. It's just people buy a camera and put cinematographer in their profile without knowing anything, which didn't show the actual beauty of Kashmir, so I took matter in my own hands.

I tried to find if there is anyone good where I can learn from within India, but didn't find anyone of that standard. Then I did a diploma in colour grading from London. 

I felt like now it's my responsibility to show people the real beauty, and that's very important, as we know how people have shown Kashmir in a bad way, like in movies and all, so I have to show them the real, better and beautiful Kashmir in the same quality.

Q. Many aspiring creators chase gear upgrades. Looking back, what skill mattered more to your growth than any camera or drone you owned?

So firstly, I believe your taste matters a lot. What kind of taste you have as a creator, you would try to replicate or take inspiration from that, so having good taste matters a lot. My skill of being a very quick learner helped me a lot. 

After doing a diploma, the skills I acquired helped me to become a pro. Technical knowledge of how to shoot. Then, how to grade it properly? Even if I don't have a very good camera i can still make things look good as a colourist.

The skill of being a good observer has helped me a lot as well. Whenever I go, I just see good frames everywhere.

Q. Freelancing in visual media can be creatively freeing but mentally demanding. What’s one lesson freelancing taught you that no film school or course ever could?

As a freelancer, you learn more than anything; you're free to do whatever you want with your creativity. Fail and learn from your failure. You get creative freedom, and also, if you are not a freelancer, like you're working full-time somewhere, you can't say no to anything, you're just bound. Being a freelancer, I have the choice to say no. If I'm truly not interested in any project i can say no to it.

You actually learn on the ground. Even after doing the diploma and all, I still made a lot of mistakes. Freelancing allowed me to make myself better while working on the ground.

Q. If Kashmir had a colour grade preset designed by you, what would it be called—and what emotions would it highlight?

If I were to design presets or LUTs, I wouldn't make just 1 I would make 1
1 for winter, 1 for summer, 1 for spring and 1 for autumn. 

It always amazes me how beautiful Kashmir looks in all different seasons. The LUT or preset of 4 the pack would be called as " The Heaven Look Pack "

Bio

Riyaz Ahmad is a Srinagar-based visual storyteller, certified professional colourist, drone pilot, and filmmaker. Working across photography, film, and aerial cinematography, his visuals are known for their emotional depth, subtle storytelling, and strong sense of place. 

Deeply rooted in the landscapes and everyday realities of Kashmir, Riyaz focuses on mood, light, and tone to create frames that feel honest and intimate rather than loud or over-stylised. As a freelancer and Director of Photography, he continues to craft stories that rely on patience, realism, and visual sensitivity.

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Interviewed By Tarunanshi Sharma