Winners Recap: Rooful Ali
Since last year's awards, he has photographed Fashion Weeks in London and Dubai, and even captured royalty with a photograph of Prince Charles at Oxford University. Everything from Culture to Fashion, Rooful stresses the importance of networking and getting your fingers in as many pies as possible.
Sat at the reception of Splento offices in Piccadilly, a gentleman enters the lobby, his vivacious energy brightening the grey drizzle of a London winter day.
We had the morning to sit down with Rooful Ali to learn more about his endeavours over the past year, since winning the Wedding category and Runner Up overall the 2017 Event Photography Awards.
Watch Rooful's full interview above.
As he gets mic'd up by the collar of his noticeably well-ironed shirt, his slick, formal appearance seems more fitting of a corporate office. In fact, Rooful spent more than a decade in accounting, working for a global firm before swapping his calculator for a camera and venturing into a more creative line of work.
"Your stereotype of an accountant is, obviously, we're a bit square," he admits."But I've always been 50/50 as a mindset, as in logical plus creative. Even as an accountant, I used to look at branding, look at the creative side of things and I looked at imagery."
He encourages the next generation of aspired photographers to "work on the creative eye" in an age where - technically speaking - anything is possible and iPhones capture images like SLRs, Rooful stresses the importance of this balance. It is this unique marriage of seemingly opposing sensibilities that make Rooful's work so captivating. His winning photograph from last year's competition “Love is in the Air” is a perfect display of the photographer's technical prowess and creative eye.
Above: 'Love Is in the Air' Rooful's winning photograph from last year's Weddings Category, and Runner Up overall
Great photography is all about telling a story, and Rooful's own story intrigued us. Like many, photography started as a simple hobby. Snapping friend's weddings and charity events, it was the feedback he received during this time which inspired his career change, travelling the world to find new opportunities within this passion.
"Be culturally aware and be a people person,"
his top tip for aspiring photographers.
Since last year's awards, he has photographed Fashion Weeks in London and Dubai, and even captured royalty with a photograph of Prince Charles at Oxford University. Everything from Culture to Fashion, Rooful stresses the importance of networking and getting your fingers in as many pies as possible.
It is one of many rewarding aspects of being involved in the Event Photography Awards; there is a wide range of experience levels and varied backgrounds from hobbyists and professionals alike as can be seen by last year's winners on the Event Photography Awards website. The competition has become a stage for budding photographers to be recognised for their passion, removed from the politics and exclusivity of other major European platforms. This level playing field has blossomed some outstanding talent and shone the spotlight where it matters - the photographs.
Entries for the 2018 Event Photography Awards are open until 25 February. ENTER NOW!
