But sometimes, these incredible creatives live only within the grid—admired in likes and comments, with their stories left untold.
Off the Grid is our way of changing that. In this editorial photography interview series, we take the names and faces you know from Instagram and bring them into the spotlight here on our blog. We sit down with industry photographers to explore their vision, uncover their inspiration, and share the craft behind their work with the rest of our community.
The latest photographer we interviewed is Kunal Dewan, whose work draws a sharp line between sleek, client-ready polish and something darker, moodier, and a little bit gothic. It’s a balance shaped by years of shooting, from weddings that honed his instincts under pressure to sets where he now threads his own signature through every brief.
The Tumblr Kid, A Canon Rebel, And Fashion Sets
So where did Kunal’s journey start? Like many young Gen Z kids, it began during the height of the Tumblr era in the early 2010s (does anyone remember the platform?). He was captivated by the visual culture of the time: high-flash photography, dreamy filters, and carefully curated feeds that defined a generation’s aesthetic. Armed with a Canon Rebel, he brought his camera everywhere, documenting friends, experimenting, and teaching himself through constant trial and error.
His skills sharpened in the wedding industry, where fast-paced environments demanded instinctive technical decisions. Moving between ceremonies and bright outdoor receptions taught him how to adapt in real time. Weddings gave him confidence and discipline, instilling the mindset that every shot counts. These experiments solidified his ability to anticipate those fleeting moments, quickly read a scene, and make split-second adjustments.
Eventually, Kunal shifted his focus toward fashion—the space he had always envisioned for himself. Transitioning from weddings to editorial and commercial projects gave him the opportunity to explore aesthetics more deeply. Fashion sets allowed him to combine technical skill with creative vision, and over time, he developed a style that balanced client needs with his own artistic instincts. His background gave him the versatility to handle polished luxury campaigns while still weaving in moodier, more personal undertones.
Today, Kunal operates at the intersection of client clarity and personal voice. His approach is polished but never sterile, work that meets the professional standard while retaining an unmistakable edge. The combination of a Tumblr-inspired eye, the rigor of wedding photography, and the creative freedom of fashion sets has shaped him into the photographer he is now.
Building Confidence and Over-Delivering
Kunal is still early in his career, but after some years navigating both weddings and fashion, he has already shaped a work philosophy that blends confidence with reliability. When he first started, he felt the need to please, saying yes to every direction, even when it meant sidelining his instincts. Over time, he realized that clients weren’t just hiring him to press the shutter; they wanted his perspective, his eye, and his ability to see beyond the obvious.
“Being direct came from confidence. Even if you think you might be wrong, say it, you open the room for it. That’s how you find your voice.”
That confidence now drives how he manages shoots, and delivers final work. Instead of treating projects as one-dimensional assignments, Kunal builds in processes that create security for the client and space for his creativity. He shoots multiple variants, ensuring no one walks away wishing a moment had been captured differently. He starts with mood boards that give everyone, from stylists to clients, a shared roadmap, reducing friction once the cameras are rolling. And when it’s time to hand off the work, he doesn’t just send files; he packages RAWs, JPEGs, and an edited selects folder that shows his interpretation of the brief.
This system has become his safeguard against both burnout and missed opportunities. It also builds trust; clients know they’ll get what they asked for, and often a little more.
“Underpromise, over-deliver. Give them what they want, and add what you believe should go in. It’s a win-win.”
By leaning on structure and preparation, Kunal has created room for confidence. He can push back when necessary, propose alternatives, and trust that even if not every suggestion is taken, his voice is being heard. It’s a balance of professionalism and conviction that many photographers only arrive at later in their careers, proof that his years in high-pressure environments have already left their mark.
Inspiration From Mood Boards and Movies
Kunal describes himself as a “mood board-first” collaborator. Before any shoot, he builds a visual foundation that guides both himself and the team. These mood boards pull from a mix of sources—cinema, photography, social media, and the deeply ingrained aesthetics of the Tumblr era that first shaped his eye.
The cinematic influence runs deep. Films are more than entertainment for him; they’re blueprints for atmosphere, lighting, and storytelling.
“I’m always at the movies. Coraline gives me that eerie, haunting tone; even the soundtrack fuels creativity. Everything Everywhere All at Once reminds me that less is more, you can do so much with minimal tools.”
At the same time, those formative years on Tumblr taught him how to curate an aesthetic—how a collection of singular images can come together to evoke a mood or story. That early training in online culture, paired with the constant feed of inspiration from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, gives him a hybrid library of references that feel both nostalgic and contemporary.
For Kunal, film, photography, and social imagery aren’t separate silos. They form one continuous story engine, each reference sparking the next.
“Everything is inspired by something before. It’s all storytelling.”
What makes his approach distinct is how he takes these inputs and distills them into work that feels both polished and personal, bridging high fashion and street-level authenticity.
Gen Z and the Push for Realness
Kunal sees younger creatives reshaping the visual landscape by embracing a less-is-more approach that prioritizes honesty over hyper-curation. For him, Gen Z aesthetics are defined not only by style but also by a shift in attitude.
“People want it to feel natural. Minimal, lifestyle-driven, authentic. Not overly constructed.”
He points to a broader move away from pristine, curated feeds and toward lived-in moments that feel relatable. The result is imagery that communicates intimacy and authenticity rather than spectacle—photos that feel like fragments of real life instead of polished advertisements.
“I see a lot of shoots now that lean into simplicity—clean styling, intimate settings, or just two subjects in a natural environment. It feels more like part of their life than a staged moment.”
Nostalgia plays a central role in this movement. Old digital cameras, Dutch angles, and retro references resurface not as gimmicks, but as tools for evoking a core memory and emotion.
“Everyone is trying to get back to the roots. Whether it’s grainy point-and-shoot cameras, or old editing styles, it’s about feeling something familiar—even if you weren’t alive when that aesthetic was popular.”
He cautions, though, that overuse can flatten nostalgia into cliché.
“I like retro touches, but they have to be intentional. If you lean on them too much, it stops being special. You want to use them in ways that feel purposeful, not just trendy.”
For Kunal, what’s most exciting is how Gen Z is influencing the fashion industry from campaigns to social media presence. Minimalist fashion shoots that blend lifestyle authenticity with luxury polish are examples of how this generation is leaving its mark.
“Younger generations are pushing for clean and timeless visuals. They don’t want to feel sold to; they want to feel seen. That shift has changed how brands and photographers are approaching everything.”
Trends: What’s In, What’s Out?
Kunal is constantly observing shifts in style and technique: what resonates, what feels fresh, and what has simply run its course. For him, trends are tools, not rules. They’re worth embracing when they bring new energy, but equally worth discarding once they tip into cliché.
Keep: Motion in product and editorial
The rise of subtle motion—micro videos, cinemagraphs, and moving stills—is one of the most exciting evolutions in fashion photography, in Kunal’s view. Built for mobile platforms, these formats show clothing in action and create a dynamic presence on social feeds and websites.
“Those moving images give me Harry Potter portrait vibes. They translate beautifully on mobile and show how garments actually move.”
Coming Back: Soft, faded edits
Echoing the early VSCO era, a softer, washed-out edit style is finding new life. When used sparingly and intentionally, this aesthetic offers a sense of calm and timelessness, qualities that younger audiences increasingly crave in contrast to hyper-saturated, overproduced visuals.
Time to Move On: The blurry slow-shutter effect
Although once a novel way to add energy to an image, Kunal feels that this technique has been overused.
But for him, chasing trends is never the point; it’s about understanding what serves the story. Some tools evolve into timeless techniques, others fade into visual noise. His philosophy is to use them consciously, always asking: Does this add something real?
If you want to keep up with Kunal, connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram.
If you want to see more work from photographers in the industry, check out our Pixelz Instagram, and keep an eye out for the next Off the Grid feature.