When life offered little support, resilience became my greatest strength ,and every challenge became a step to wards the life I had always dreamed of.
– WRITTEN BY SIDDHARTH MALLA
My name is Siddharth Malla, and I come from a small, remote village in Nepal. Like many children, I had dreams, but unlike many, I learned at a very young age that dreams require sacrifice. I moved to Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, during my childhood in search of a better education and a better future. By the time I was in Class 8, I understood that if I wanted to continue studying, I had to support myself. I sold newspapers in the mornings and gave tuition to younger students after school. While many children received care and support from their families, I learned to survive by taking responsibility for my own life. Looking back, those difficult years didn’t make me bitter they made me stronger, more disciplined, and more grateful for every opportunity that came my way.
In 2008, another chapter of my journey began when I cleared the Government Engineering Entrance Examination in Tamil Nadu. It was a dream come true, but it also meant starting over in a completely new place. I continued to fund my education by working part-time and teaching school students while completing my engineering degree. Those
years taught me resilience, time management, and the importance of never giving up, no matter how challenging life became. After graduating, I joined Siemens as an Automation Engineer in the project
team. The corporate world introduced me to professionalism, teamwork, and responsibility, but something unexpected also entered my life. As part of my work, I documented project progress by photographing construction sites, industrial
structures, and architectural details. What started as simple documentation slowly became a passion. I found myself fascinated by symmetry, light, lines, and the beauty hidden within everyday structures. Even with a small point-and-shoot camera, I discovered a new way of seeing the world.
By 2023, I reached one of the biggest turning points of my life. Leaving a secure corporate
career was not an easy decision, but I knew I had to follow what truly inspired me. I joined a
Ranchi-based wedding studio, FOTO ME, hoping to gain practical experience in photography. My
corporate background naturally led me to contribute to studio management, where I introduced systems to improve daily operations. I also had opportunities to photograph weddings and events, but deep inside, I felt I was still
searching for something more a stronger creative foundation and a clearer direction. I wanted to understand photography beyond taking good pictures; I wanted to understand the art, the technique, and the responsibility of visual storytelling.
At that stage, meeting Rajesh Goyal Sir became a defining moment in my journey. He patiently answered my questions, guided me with honesty, and encouraged me to think beyond immediate success. I spent countless hours watching his “Let’s Talk Photography” sessions on YouTube, researching the industry, and understanding what it truly takes to build a meaningful career in photography and cinematography. In August 2025, I joined the Dual Diploma in Photography and Cinematography at the Indian Institute of Photography (IIPA), New Delhi. Those months transformed the way I looked at photography. I learned about lighting, composition, exposure, cinematography, post-production, visual storytelling, branding, marketing, and the importance of building a professional identity. More importantly, I learned that a camera is only a tool what truly matters is the vision behind it.
Today, I stand at the beginning of a new journey with confidence, gratitude, and a clear purpose. Every challenge I faced from selling newspapers as a child to changing careers as an adult has shaped the person and photographer I am today. My dream is not simply to create beautiful photographs but to create images that carry meaning, preserve memories, and tell stories that people can connect with. I remain deeply grateful to Rajesh Goyal Sir and all my mentors at the Indian Institute of Photography for believing in me and helping me discover my true calling. This journey has taught me that success is not defined by where we begin but by the courage to keep moving forward. And for me, this is only the first chapter of a much bigger story waiting to be told.
