Click, flash, capture. From sports games and events to birthday parties, student photographers document the moments that shape the Chantilly community. Behind every shot is a student preserving memories and telling stories through their lens.
Junior Shantanu Karthikeyan
In his freshman year, Karthikeyan started his photography hobby, taking the class at CHS during his sophomore and junior year. He is the Photo Club’s vice-president and last year, he received the best underclassmen award for photography at CHS.
“I didn’t expect that I would be getting an award for my photography,” Karthikeyan said. “I am really grateful that my teacher nominated me for it and I appreciate being recognized for my photos and effort.”
Karthikeyan participated in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national program that recognizes creative work by middle and high school students in visual art and writing, and has won one gold key and four honorable mention awards.
“Our school’s photography class prepares us for Scholastics and helps us with submitting [photos],” Karthikeyan said. “When I first heard about the competition, I started feeling really artistic and started trying to take pictures with really unique concepts.”
Karthikeyan also runs a photography business, where he takes photos at birthday parties and concerts. Clients can reach out to Karthikeyan through his email [email protected].
He uses the money to purchase new equipment like cameras and lenses. Photography can range from a budget-friendly to an expensive hobby, with initial costs between $700 to $1500 for a beginner, potentially rising into thousands for advanced equipment.
“I would recommend photography if people are okay with buying a lot of stuff like cameras and lenses, or okay with starting with your phone,” Karthikeyan said. “You can always make mistakes and learn things later.”
Junior Ishant Khanal
By going to a soccer game his sophomore year with his friend, Khanal discovered his interest in photography, particularly in sports photography. Since then, he has continued building his skills while exploring opportunities as a freelance photographer.
According to The School of Photography, understanding the different types of photography can help when discovering passion and developing skills. Khanal encourages beginners to find their own style and focus on creativity.
“It’s a story that only you can tell and vision yourself,” Khanal said. “Meet people, go to events and don’t let anyone stop you.”
Khanal emphasizes that editing can be one of the most time-consuming challenges. For editing photos, he uses Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.
“One thing I wish I knew when starting photography is definitely learn how to edit and really take your time,” Khanal said. “Improving photo shoot after photo shoot, seeing the good and bad criticism, your weaknesses and your strengths — I love the hustle for photography.”
Those interested in hiring Khanal can reach out by directly messaging him on Instagram @shotsbyishant or through his email [email protected]. His galleries and work can be found on his website.
Sophomore Hansika Yakkala
After receiving an old digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera from her uncle, Yakkala developed an interest in photography at a young age. She started by experimenting with photos of her family and nature, and expanded into taking pictures for school events and outside opportunities, turning her hobby into a business through various gigs.
“At first I was definitely scared about trying to get into how to do photography, but I think going to more events, taking more pictures of different events and sports in the school and talking to people is always helpful,” Yakkala said.
Yakkala believes one of the main challenges of photography is adjusting camera settings quickly in manual mode, especially during fast-paced sports events. Keeping up with the movement of athletes while managing shutter speed and International Organization for Standardization (ISO), requires focus. ISO is a camera setting that controls the sensor’s sensitivity to light.
“You have got to match the pace of the player or your subject, and sometimes it’s really hard because their speed might be faster than yours,” Yakkala said. “That’s definitely a challenge that I’ve learned to overcome over time.”
Her work has earned recognition in competitions such as the Technology Student Association, where she is a national finalist and continues to compete in events such as Photographic Technology at the national level. In addition, her photography has been featured in news coverage of galas, summits and conferences, appearing in news articles such as the South Asian Herald.
“Introducing myself to different people and getting to know and interact with so many different people is definitely something I like in photography,” Yakkala said.
Yakkala takes clients through her Instagram @hansika.cr2 or through her emails, [email protected] and [email protected]. Her work can be found on her website.
