Varun is a self-taught photographer who turned his passion into his profession. He currently trains budding photographers by offering basic and advanced courses in the field.

Varun Patel is a commercial fashion photographer.

Varun hails from Ahmedabad and has been in this field for the last fifteen years. Varun also trains and mentors budding photographers and has trained over 3,000 students across India.

Recalling his early days, Varun says he completed his schooling at St. Xavier's School, followed by his graduation in commerce. He then did his MSc in Information Technology and went on to start an IT firm. However, later on, Varun could not give much time to the company and handed over all its operations to his business partner.

Talking about his journey into photography, Varun says that he was always passionate about photography but lacked the basic knowledge of the field. So he started attending a few lectures and later decided to learn the art all by himself. It took him two years to learn the fundamentals of photography, and then he worked towards creating his portfolio. Soon, Varun started getting inquiries, and his photography journey kicked off. It was only after six years of learning and serving his clients that Varun began training aspiring photographers. Varun shoots both for local and international brands.

When asked about his mistakes, Varun says that the scope and appreciation one can get in the field of photography are better abroad as compared to India. He sometimes feels that he would have been better off working abroad, but since he wanted to stay with his family, he chose to work within the country.

When asked about his role models, Varun says he does not consider any specific person as his role model. However, he takes inspiration from international photographers who have achieved milestones in their work.

His success mantra is to work hard and stay focused. On that note, he advises the youth to identify their field of interest and then work hard towards it.

Varun advises young aspiring photographers to always have a backup option if they plan to enter this field.  He adds that it takes time to settle down in creative professions, and in case it does not work out, one should have a Plan B ready. Varun says that one needs to be financially sound too since the costs related to equipment and setting up a studio are on the higher side.