Ismail Sirdah is a photographer from Miami who owns a professional studio as well as a school of photography. He started running his business when he was only 20 years old which enabled him to gain experience while still being young. Most of his customers are couples who are looking for a qualified expert to take photos of their weddings. After starting his venture in 2012, he is now also known as a reliable photographer that people frequently use to get family, nature, or public event shots. In his free time, Ismail Sirdah dedicates time to teaching people about all the various aspects that play a role in getting a perfect photo.
What is your favorite thing about traveling?
Traveling enables me to see areas that I never thought I would reach. Moreover, when you work as a photographer, you eventually start to view the world through a camera lens. Although this may seem to carry a negative connotation, it helps me find the best in people and cultures. I strive to see the positivity and traveling enables me to capture new areas that I can then showcase to those who may not have an opportunity to experience them.
Is traveling a hobby or a lifestyle for you? How did you get started?
It is more of a hobby. My lifestyle is photography, so everything else tends to come second. When I travel, I do so in order to get to a client engagement like a wedding or a local address where they want to get their pictures taken. Also, I had a few trips that I solely took for the purpose of getting photos that may appeal to some travel magazines. After all, your career needs to have as much diversity as possible and moving around is the best way to satisfy this criterion.
Do you have any exciting travel dates planned for the future?
Not at the moment. I do go around Florida almost every month. This includes trips to Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and a few other notable places where some of my clients reside.
What are some travel tips you’d give to someone inexperienced?
There are three unwritten rules that I try to obey. The first one is to book everything related to the travel long ahead of time. This includes things like the flight, hotel, car rental, and so on. That usually enables me to get better offers and I do not have to worry about it later. Second, I make a detailed schedule that includes everything from the time that I will head over to the airport to the time when I will end my trip. It took a few unsuccessful trips for me to discover that the best way to save time is by planning out every minute and following an agenda. Lastly, I have a rule that every trip needs to include at least one fun activity. If I am traveling for work, it is very easy to get distracted and spend the entire time working. Those type of trips are usually not the most interesting or joyful ones. Thus, I do my best to always do at least one fun activity like going out to some local bars, seeing a performance, or visiting some of the tourist attractions of the area.
Where would you like to go?
I always wanted to visit South America and go to countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Some of my friends were fortunate enough to go to these destinations and they had nothing but positive things to say. I also believe that it would be a great opportunity to take some breath-taking photos.
Where would you like to revisit?
Surprisingly, there are no countries that I would try to revisit at the moment. Not because I did not have many positive experiences, but because I prefer new things than doing something that I have already done.
Do you travel alone? Why?
Although it is not a hardcore rule of mine, I usually travel alone. The main reason for the lack of my companions is because I generally travel for work. This means that I have a strict schedule to go by and people who may want to come with me would not have much fun just waiting for me to get done with my obligations.
If you could pick the top 3 places every person should go, what would they be?
I do not think that I can give a specific answer that will name a certain location. Nevertheless, everyone should visit one place that is popular in the world, one place that is unknown yet beautiful, and one place that they wanted to see from an early age. In my case, those three places would be New York City, Corfu Island in Greece, and any city in Brazil.
Do you travel light or do you pack up the house?
I pack up the house. My cameras alone tend to consume the entire space of my checked baggage. Thus, I often have to purchase additional bags to fit my clothing and any other equipment. I got used to this by now, however, so I have no problem with the amount of bags that I have to carry. Certainly gives me a workout since everything adds up to hundreds of pounds!
