By Michel Outridge

I am sure I am not the only one who has done a double take at Saajid Husani, or at his hairstyle, rather.

It turns out that it’s all part of his plan, his marketing strategy. I found that out when he opened up about his career path, having all but dumped his degree in Environmental Science.

“My hairstyle is all about marketing me; I sell me and it is good for my business which is very lucrative and I do not see myself doing any other work that photography since I aspire to be one of the best in the Caribbean” he told the Guyana Chronicle in a recent interview.

His lofty plans belie who he actually is. He comes across as an unassuming, simple, down to earth guy.

Husani aspires to become one of the best international photographers in the Caribbean in a few years, and to kick the adventure off, he takes up his first overseas job in the Dominican Republic this August.

He has been in the private photography business for about three years.

His interest in photography started when he started to observe the work of photographers three years ago; and so he thought he could do similar work.

He has a Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Guyana (UG) but has strayed from that career path with no regrets.

When he was two years into his university programme, he left his countryside West Coast Demerara home and moved closer to campus and has been residing at Industry, East Coast Demerara since.

“A photo shoot is a work of art from you to yourself, just as a painting or a sketch would be.”

With Husani, a lot of discipline and dedication goes along with his work. His shoots are planned, whether the photos are of people, landscape, weddings, or fashion.

He is not in the habit of just picking up the camera and deciding there and then what shots would work best.

In any case, he doesn’t feel safe carrying around his camera after an incident earlier this year when he was robbed of almost all his equipment

It was a difficult time for Husani having to start back from scratch, but he bounced back eventually.

Husani works on call and his clientele ranges from middle-class to high end customers.

He basically works from home every day, and so if he is not doing photo shoots, he is editing videos and photos, working more than 12 hours on any given day.

Husani, aged 22, does every aspect of photography and is also starting surreal photography.

Husani is all about being unique, and that explains why his hairstyle caught by attention a recent event at the Marriott.

“A photo shoot is a work of art from you to yourself, just as a painting or a sketch would be,” he explained.

And so, for Husani, taking a photo is not about filling a frame with an image and clicking; it’s about putting effort into producing a collection of memories.

Husani’s method to photography is very simple: “Talk less, shoot more” since he is of the opinion that a camera doesn’t make you a photographer but it is rather the photographer who is ultimately responsible for a stunning image.

And from images Husani has taken thus far, I’d say he is an excellent photographer.