I have always been frustrated by people’s simplistic view of photography, and over time, the act of photography itself no longer fulfilled me. However, I found that staged photography is more than just taking pictures; it’s akin to making a movie, involving the same costs, elements, and equipment. The key difference is the final output— a series of photos instead of a film. The process of narrating, staging, costume design, directing models on how to pose, and lighting in staged photography captivates me. Stage management and directing, while challenging, is the most enjoyable experience I’ve ever had.

My inspiration primarily comes from cinema and filmmakers rather than photographers, which drives my passion for creating staged photographs. This interest led me to explore staging within commercial photography. For my practical thesis, I decided to delve into staged photography, leveraging the knowledge I gained during my master’s degree to bring my imagination to life. Despite the lack of sponsorship—something necessary for staged photography much like filmmaking—I successfully completed this ambitious project under challenging conditions in my country. This project marks the beginning of my professional photography career, and I am already planning future endeavors.