There are photo shoots that go as planned — clean, composed, technically correct.
And then some shoots start with a little confusion, a few laughs, and end up creating magic.
This one with Nayonika Gangoly belongs to the second kind.
At first glance, Nayonika is the kind of person who makes you forget that the camera even exists. She has this calm presence — a bit reserved, soft-spoken, almost poetic. But behind that serene expression hides a mind that sees art in everything — because she is an artist, literally. Her paintings and mixed-media work have earned her quite a following online, and that same creative spark flows right through her as a model.
But let’s rewind a bit — because the way this shoot began deserves its own story.
The First Few Minutes: Confusion, Coffee, and Camera Lessons
Every photographer knows that the first 15 minutes of a shoot are like a warm-up before a marathon.
Even the most confident model needs a moment to sync with the camera, with the lights, and honestly — with me.
When Nayonika walked in, she looked absolutely stunning, but she was also nervous. She had everything — the right outfit, the perfect hair and makeup — but when I lifted the camera, I could tell she was overthinking it. Her expression was sweet but slightly unsure. The body language wasn’t connecting.
And that’s perfectly fine — because that’s where the fun begins.
I told her, “Look, don’t think of it as posing. Think of it like acting for one second — express what you’d feel in that outfit, in that vibe.”
Still, it wasn’t clicking.
So, I did what I always do when things feel too stiff — I put the camera down, laughed, and said, “Okay, now let’s swap roles. You become me.”
I handed her the camera, showed her a few of the frames I had already clicked, and said, “See this one? Here, your eyes are perfect, but your shoulder is saying something else. This one — lovely pose, but expression missing.”
She laughed.
And then something clicked — not the shutter, but her understanding.
Within an hour, it was like watching a switch flip. Suddenly, her expressions flowed naturally. The stiffness disappeared. Her eyes started telling stories, her body language aligned with her mood, and the studio started filling with energy.
The Mother Who Knows the Frame: Smita Gangoly
While all this was happening, there was another unsung hero quietly watching the process — Smita Gangoly, Nayonika’s mother.
Now, if you’ve been around Kolkata’s fashion scene, the name Smita Gangoly might ring a bell. She’s been a senior model for years, having worked with brands like Utsav Fashion and several major traditional clothing houses. And you could tell immediately — her experience radiates calm confidence.
During the shoot, Smita didn’t just sit and watch like most parents. Oh no — she rolled up her sleeves and joined the set.
At one point, she was literally sitting on the floor showing her daughter how to hold a pose — where to place her hand, how to tilt the chin slightly, and where the elegance lies in simplicity. She wasn’t just a mom; she was a mentor in motion.
And honestly, I loved that. There’s something truly heartwarming about seeing generations of grace sharing one frame — the mother guiding, the daughter learning, and me somewhere in between, capturing that silent bond of art and love.
The Magic Touch: Nanda Majumdar’s Calm Craftsmanship
No fashion or portrait shoot is ever complete without one secret weapon—the makeup artist.
And for this project, that legend was Nanda Majumdar.
Now, let me say this—Nanda is one of the most senior artists I’ve worked with, and yet, one of the calmest human beings you’ll ever meet. Not a hint of ego, not a drop of rush—just quiet focus and extraordinary skill.
Throughout the shoot, Nanda was monitoring every detail—adjusting the hair when the fan blew too strongly, softening a highlight here, and fixing a fold there.
“Ranjan da, dekho, jodi hath ta ektu erokom dhore nite pare, shot ta kintu purow chissa lagba!”
His accent, half Bangladeshi, half Kolkata charm, made everyone smile.
Another time, he chuckled and said,
“Arre Nayonika, smile ta kom kom dao — natural lagba!”
I swear, the whole studio burst into laughter. That’s Nanda for you—making the atmosphere lighter and the output brighter.
But more than makeup, what makes him a gem is his understanding of posture. He knows exactly how a saree or lehenga should fall, how a traditional garment should “breathe” on the body. His guidance on ethnic poses was absolutely golden.
And when he gently corrected Nayonika’s hand positioning or explained how to carry her dupatta for that natural flow, she caught it instantly. It was beautiful teamwork in motion—Smita’s experience, Nanda’s finesse, and Nayonika’s fast learning all blending into one perfect rhythm.
He’s not just a makeup artist—he’s a true artist of vibes. The way he monitors a shoot is like a quiet conductor in an orchestra.
When the Frame Found Its Soul
As the lights warmed up and the last few tracks of music played in the background, we hit that sweet spot every photographer dreams of — when everything aligns.
The model becomes the moment.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Her expressions turned effortlessly graceful, her eyes alive with emotion. Every frame was telling a story — the kind of story you don’t need captions for. The posture, the fabric, the poise — it all came together like poetry.
By the time we wrapped up, I looked at the monitor and said, half-jokingly, “Okay, someone call Vogue already.”
The Aftermath: Four Photos and a Buzz
You won’t believe this — we published only four photographs from the shoot.
Yes, just four.
Two were shared on my page, Ranjan Bhattacharya Photography, and two from Nanda’s Instagram profile. That’s it.
No major campaign, no paid ads, no hashtags marathon. Just a few posts — and boom, the calls started coming.
And the most surprising one?
Anjali Jewellers, Kolkata.
They reached out the very next day, asking about Nayonika for a banner ad campaign. I couldn’t help but smile — that’s the beauty of authenticity. People can feel it through the frame.
There’s a saying — “Some faces sell glamour, some sell stories.”
Nayonika’s face sells sincerity.
More Than Just a Photoshoot
People often think photography is about light and lenses.
But honestly, it’s more about trust.
This shoot reminded me how important it is to connect — to teach, to explain, to let the subject breathe and discover their own rhythm.
Watching Nayonika evolve from that slightly confused first pose to delivering magazine-worthy frames in just an hour was a reminder that art isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.
And when you have a team like Smita and Nanda around, magic is inevitable.
Behind the Laughs and the Lights
Oh, and did I mention the laughter?
At one point, Nayonika tried holding a pose that looked elegant on screen but felt impossible in real life. She burst out laughing, saying, “How do you people do this all day?”
Smita joined in, teasing her — “Welcome to my world, beta!”
Moments like these are what make shoots memorable.
Not just the final images, but the chaos, the goof-ups, the shared jokes, the constant learning — that’s what makes photography so human.
A Little About the Artist Herself
When she’s not in front of the camera, Nayonika Gangoly is quietly shaping her world with brushes and colours. A student of Psychology at the University of Calcutta, she balances science and soul — studying the mind by day and painting its reflections by night.
Her art page, @nayoxart, is like a soft echo of her inner universe — where light, water, and emotion merge into something almost meditative. You can sense the same calm in her portraits — that unspoken rhythm between thought and feeling, stillness and expression.
And maybe that’s what makes her so rare — she doesn’t perform for the camera, she connects with it.
The Heart Behind Every Frame
Every shoot tells a story — not just through the images, but through the people, emotions, and tiny moments that shape them.
What began as a simple session with lights and lenses turned into something far deeper — a reminder of why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
Curious to see more of such transformations? Check out my Model Portfolio page.
When people ask me what makes a portrait stand out, I always say —
“It’s not about beauty. It’s about honesty.”
And this shoot had both.
It’s the honesty of a young woman discovering her comfort with the camera.
It’s the patience of a mother guiding her daughter with love.
It’s the humility of an artist like Nanda, adding quiet perfection.
And it’s the joy of a photographer lucky enough to witness it all.
So here’s to that —
To teamwork, trust, and the small stories that turn into something unforgettable.
