Chandni Chotrani, photographer and founder of production house Light Jar Photography, on how she turned her passion for photography into a business.

What do you do?

I started my journey as an ambitious photographer with a great passion to capture stories within images. Most recently, I launched Light Jar Photography to expand from being a freelance photographer to running a full business as a production house.

How does your business work?

We create delightful imagery and artfully capture your best moments, all while providing a positive experience. We offer services for photography and videography, in addition to directing brand creatives and managing social media content.

How did your business get started?

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I started freelancing so that my passion for photography would take off. Then I found myself fully engaged in a full-time role as a product photographer at an online luxury consignment store. After two years, I realized I wanted to explore commercial photography more. Over time, I slowly started setting up the components of Light Jar and before I knew it my vision had become reality, and the company was founded.

Who are your clients?

We have a wide client base that ranges from families to corporates. We mainly specialize in brand representation and event photography.

What’s a day in your working life like?

I love to start my day with a warm cup of coffee and a good read. This allows me to imagine photographs in my head with a clear mind. Work never feels like actual work for me as I love what I do! So once I get started with shooting and researching new ideas, it’s hard to put an end to it.

Where do you see your business in the future?

With a vision of growing our clientele, I hope to see Light Jar work on a wider range of projects in our very own studio space in the near future. Other than that, it would be a dream come true to see Light Jar take on international projects with a bigger team.

An elevator convo with Chandni Chotrani. See here for more from our Next Up series.