Rourkela, Aug 19: From expensive high-end cameras and advanced lenses to drones capturing breathtaking moments from the sky, photography has undergone a remarkable transformation in Rourkela. With artificial intelligence, smartphones and digital technology becoming an integral part of everyday life, photography has emerged as a popular passion as well as a thriving business among the younger generation.

Today, customers no longer need to spend hours waiting at a studio. Instead, photographers are taking their studios to customers, travelling to homes, wedding venues and other locations according to demand. High-quality cameras, drones, modern lighting equipment and instant colour printing have completely changed the photography experience.

Photography has become an essential part of weddings, thread ceremonies, birthdays and other social events. Families are increasingly willing to spend lakhs of rupees on professional photography, particularly for weddings. Photographers offer attractive packages covering pre-wedding shoots, wedding ceremonies and post-wedding sessions.

The photography scene in Rourkela, however, was very different in the past. In 1988, the city had only around 15–20 photography studios. At that time, taking photographs was considered a relatively expensive affair and was often associated with an elite lifestyle.

Photography was then done using analogue cameras and film rolls. Negatives had to be developed before photographs could be printed. A postcard-sized photograph cost around ₹20, which made photography expensive for ordinary families. People often had to wait for days to receive their photographs and carefully preserved them in albums.

Keeping photographs in wallets was also a popular practice, while people often took passport-size photographs in advance for future requirements.

The arrival of digital photography brought a major change. Modern cameras and advanced lenses made photography faster and more convenient, while digital editing and colour printing significantly reduced waiting time. Today, photographs can be printed within minutes.

Rourkela now has more than 1,000 photographers, many of whom operate their own studios or work on location. Apart from weddings and family functions, photographers are increasingly hired for political programmes, rallies and other public events.

Interestingly, traditional studio photography has declined considerably. Most customers now visit studios mainly for passport-size photographs, while professional photographers travel to clients for events and outdoor shoots.

The traditional photo album is also gradually giving way to digital albums and social media. Photographs from events are now shared instantly across social media platforms, while customers increasingly prefer digital collections that can be stored and accessed easily.

Despite these changes, the photography business in Rourkela continues to grow. With demand for wedding shoots, drone photography, pre-wedding sessions, digital albums and event coverage rising, the city's photography market has grown into a multi-crore industry, providing year-round employment and income opportunities for hundreds of professionals.