Today we’d like to introduce you to Simran Modhera.
Simran, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m from South Plainfield, New Jersey—just a stone’s throw from the epicenter of entertainment. Growing up, I was deeply immersed in the arts: dance, performance, theatre, and more. In middle school, a friend introduced me to photography, and that moment sparked what became a lifelong passion for visual storytelling and camera technology.
I’ve always been a self-starter. For me, creating my own job has always felt more fulfilling than fitting into one. I began writing screenplays and poetry, then transformed them into short films and photo series. I learned to shoot, edit, and produce on my own, becoming a full production team of one. Nothing felt more natural than using the camera to reflect and reinterpret the world around me.
Driven by this passion, I moved to Savannah, GA, to study Film and Television at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). My time at SCAD pushed my talents to new heights and gave me real-world experience. Two of my proudest accomplishments are my 16mm thesis films, especially Paint Me a Picture—a story I first wrote in high school and brought to life years later in college. It remains one of my most meaningful projects.
During my junior year, I began working professionally as an Assistant Camera Technician. Since then, I’ve built a portfolio of notable projects: 1st and 2nd AC roles for New York Fashion Week live shows, camera operating for NBCU’s broadcast of Super Bowl LVII, and serving as Director of Photography for a Movado commercial.
Over the last three years, I’ve worked freelance camera work in Atlanta, with my passions evolving into the marketing and branded content space. Blending the structure of the film industry with the storytelling of brand work has reignited the excitement I felt when I first picked up a camera in 2014.
Currently, I work as a Creative Marketing and Brand Director, alongside my best friend and creative partner, Gbeke Fawehinmi. Together, we’ve built a company rooted in media and performance, helping brands create meaningful, viral content that resonates with their communities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The rewards I’ve gained on this journey wouldn’t hold the same meaning without the challenges that came before them. In 2022, just a few months before graduating college, I lost my father to illness. His passing left a deep void—how do you define yourself without a core member of your tribe? That same year, my family left our childhood home and relocated to Atlanta, GA to be closer to our extended family. These events forced me to look inward and ask myself: What kind of work do I truly want to put into the world?
My father was—and always will be—my greatest supporter. He never wavered in his belief in my creative path, and his encouragement continues to fuel my purpose. Through grief, I’ve come to understand the true meaning of family, especially the power of a chosen one. My close circle of friends have become my kin, lifting me from some of the hardest moments into a life I now feel deeply grateful for.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At heart, I am a storyteller.
From the moment I stood on my kitchen counter at seven years old, belting Hannah Montana’s “Nobody’s Perfect” to my entire family, I knew I was meant to perform, create, and connect. But over time, I discovered my true language: the lens. At my core, I’m a Director of Photography. My brain is wired to marry story and image, using the script as a blueprint for the visual language that brings it to life.
I specialize in shooting on film—a medium that, unlike digital, offers a tangible, tactile relationship with the craft. It demands precision, intention, and trust in the process. This love for analog technique deepens my technical fluency in camera systems and lighting design—tools that are ever-evolving, yet grounded in timeless principles.
But technical knowledge is only half of the equation. The true art lies in conceiving an idea and knowing how to bring it to life—whether it’s a branded photoshoot, a short film, or a commercial campaign. Many people have great ideas; fewer know how to translate those ideas into something emotionally resonant, watchable, and lasting.
That’s where my methodology lives: in using light, texture, composition, and movement to evoke feeling and tell a story that sticks.
What separates me from others is the way I bridge technical mastery with emotional storytelling. I’m not just a Director of Photography—I’m a storyteller first, someone who sees the camera not as a tool, but as a translator of emotion, character, and atmosphere.
I specialize in shooting on film, a medium that demands precision and artistry, and one that few creatives are deeply versed in. My experience in analog filmmaking gives me a foundational discipline that informs everything I do—whether it’s digital, branded content, or large-scale commercial production.
Where many people stop at a great idea, I go further: I know how to conceive, produce, and execute a full visual narrative—from story development to lighting design to post-production. My work lives in the intersection of aesthetics and intention. I don’t just shoot beautiful images; I craft visuals that evoke, resonate, and stay with you.
Additionally, I bring a unique hybrid background—blending performance, writing, photography, and filmmaking—which gives me an instinctive understanding of how different mediums feed into one another. My early roots in theatre, dance, and poetry give my visual work a rhythm, pace, and emotional depth that stands out in commercial and branded content spaces.
And finally, I’ve lived the reality of grief, transition, and reinvention. That life experience informs the depth of my storytelling, and gives my work a soulful lens—one grounded in gratitude, resilience, and truth.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I believe that the best content is never created in isolation. Film, by nature, is a collaborative art form—one that thrives when diverse, skilled individuals come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. I’m always seeking collaborators who are passionate about storytelling, innovation, and meaningful visual impact.
My mission is to partner with small to mid-sized businesses in the Atlanta area to help them develop compelling, efficient, and authentic online personas. By elevating their digital presence through high-quality, story-driven content, I aim to help these businesses gain traction, grow their influence, and amplify their contributions to the community.
Whether it’s through brand photography, video campaigns, or full-scale creative direction, my goal is to merge artistry with strategy—helping local brands be seen, heard, and remembered.
Pricing:
- Basic Package – Starter Presence : $350-600
- Standard Package – Growth Focus : $600-950
- Premium Package – Full Strategy & Execution: $1000-3,500
- Photo/ Video short form content bundle: $450
- Photo /Video long form content bundle: $900
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficial_sm/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simran-modhera/
Image Credits
just me!
