We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ankur Maniar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ankur below.

Ankur, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

As a fashion photographer and stylist with a background in painting/drawing, I’ve always considered myself a multidisciplinary artist. Over the years, I sought out a diverse set of professional opportunities, all of which taught me more about myself.

In college, I worked with sustainable fashion nonprofit, Remake, an organization that advocates for fair wages, human rights, and environmentalism across the global fashion supply chain. This experience shifted my perspective on luxury fashion from the very beginning and inspired me to work with conscious brands that uplift people and the planet.

Once I arrived in NYC, I found myself on-set as an assistant producer and casting agent. My first job, producing an editorial for Vogue, quickly evolved into years spent producing advertising campaigns, motion content, and e-commerce shoots for a variety of brands. This was an optimal way to network, learn from senior creatives on major sets, discover freelance opportunities, and take time to expand my skillset through personal projects.

In between, I also worked in account management, fine art, and fashion PR, while shooting and styling for sustainable brands. It was important to explore all aspects of the industry so I could learn the business while I perfected my craft.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a photographer and stylist with a background in on-set production for luxury fashion/beauty advertising. I offer clients end-to-end services from art direction and creative execution to casting, location scouting, budgeting, project management, and retouching.

As a producer, I’ve had the opportunity to work with incredible clients like Tom Ford, Fendi, Neiman Marcus, Condé Nast, and MAC Cosmetics. As a photographer/stylist, I’ve collaborated with Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vogue, and more.

It is interesting to see how my relationship with fashion has evolved over the years. I will always be a photographer at heart, but I am now expanding into fashion sourcing as I prepare to launch a vintage luxury archive with rare and sometimes one-of-a-kind pieces.

Whether it be clothing or photographs, my aesthetic is unique. It will speak to some and not to others, but this is what makes my work special.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When working on professional projects, my goal is to capture a product beautifully while communicating the brand narrative authentically. For personal projects, my mission is to explore and discover.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but making the decision to attend Columbia Business School for my MBA (Master of Business Administration) was a pivotal moment that has shaped me as both a manager and entrepreneur.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ankurmaniar.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/encoreankur
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/ankurmaniar

Image Credits

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