Thulirkal, Impressions by Annuj

11182049_10101053307945951_3330515232388603148_nCTYA’s Blog has started a new Feature on Fridays, Thulirkal. Thulirkal meaning bud reflects the young Tamil youth  we will be featuring. These youth are the buds of our community, and are growing into strong, achieving young  men and women!

 This week, we’ve brought you Annuj Yoganathan!

Annuj Yoganathan was born in Jaffna and immigrated to Canada when he was four. He finished his undergraduate degree in  Finance at Ryerson University and was a Senior Accountant for four years.  He had always had an interest towards photography and  pursued it as a hobby. After sometime as he was considering taking up photography, it was hiis wife Tanya is the one who encouraged  him to pursue his passion.  A few months after his first shoot, he quit his job and was able to take up photography as a career.

Today Annuj is one of the most popular Tamil photographers not only within the Canadian Tamil community but also on an international level. He was also named one of the top 30 under 30 Canadian wedding photographers and has won multiple WPPI and  Fearless awards.
 CTYA Blogs: So let’s get warmed up. Ok, now don’t think, just say what comes to mind first. 1,2,3…
Coffee or Tea?
Tea
PC or Mac?
Mac
Checkers or Chess?
Chess
Adventurous or Cautious?
Adventure
Black and White or Colour Photography?
Depends on the photo

CTYA Blogs: Tell us about your journey in establishing the Impressions by Annuj branding.

Branding is a long journey and it took Tanya and me a while to get into the right groove and figure out what it is that our brand conveyed.  Your brand changes as you evolve as an artist and as a entrepreneur – you learn find out what works for you and your business, but at the same time not sacrificing your vision.

CTYA Blogs: What are a few fun facts about you that your fans on social media don’t know?
I have a huge interest in fashion and decor, though I think I’m even starting to show that a bit more on my Instagram account.CTYA Blogs: What are the pros and cons of being a wedding photographer?
The greatest thing about being a photographer is doing what you love.  It’s so rewarding to think that I get to be a part of the biggest day of my couple’s life up until that point; I think that because I never lose sight of that privilege, I always push myself to work hard for every client that chooses to work with me.  I also get to work with great people – I have heard a lot of horror stories from friends in the industry, but I don’t know, I feel like Tanya and I really do get great clients who truly trust us.  It’s a great feeling when you get to work with awesome people, and also humbling to think that my work will be a part of their family history for generations to come.
CTYA Blogs: In your portfolio of photographs, what is the best example of the expression – “a picture is worth a thousand words”? 
This is a picture of one of our couples, Annu and Rajeev.  I love this picture because I feel it perfectly depicts what is one of my favourite parts of a wedding.  The tying of the Thaali is the pinnacle of a traditional Sri Lankan Thamil Hindu Ceremony. The couple’s nearest and dearest come up on the stage, flowers clenched between fingers, ready to shower the couple with blessings as the band starts to play and the priest chants their blessings. Before all of this, the bride makes her way down the aisle towards her patiently waiting, soon-to-be husband, ready to embark on the rest of their lives together.  The excitement and anticipation is what truly makes it such an emotionally charged moment.
Question 6
CTYA Blogs: If you could provide three names that reflect inspiration in your life, who would they be and why?
Tanya, Tanya, Tanya.  My wife is such a huge inspiration for me.  Not only her outward beauty, which is evident to all, it’s who she is.  She is so creative, so many of her ideas astound me.  She is the heart of our business – ask any of our clients who help guide them through the whole process and it’s her; our clients love her.  And she is the most hard-working person I know – she has a full-time job, runs our business, shoots with me, and is my own personal chef – all with a smile.  I don’t know how she does it.
CTYA Blogs: What advice do you have for youth who are interested in pursuing photography?
Continuously learn. With the advent of Google and YouTube, I feel like there’s no excuse for not knowing or being able to learn about anything you want to.Practice is the best way to truly hone in on your craft and help you figure out what your style is. It helps you determine what works for you and how to work well with clients.  You can learn whatever you want by reading about it online, watching it in videos, or attending workshops, but you’ve not got much until you go out there and put it into practice.
CTYA Blogs: Finish this sentence. “To me, Tamil youth are…”
making their mark.
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Instagram: @impressionsbyannuj
Twitter: @imprssnsannuj

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