Meet Rubina A Khan | Independent Journalist & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rubina A Khan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rubina A, how has your background shaped the person you are today?

I am from India and I was raised by my maternal grandparents, Dr Mohammad Zaheer and Anwar Zaheer. Both of them were extremely accomplished individuals with exemplary academic backgrounds. I owe my lettered curiosity and artistic discernments to my Nana and Nani, sharpened further at prep school and at Harvard University, USA. I have only known inestimable love from them, through them and for them. My late grandfather, Dr Mohammad Zaheer, an honourable and eminent Indian bureaucrat, esteemed in the country for his inherent intellect, governmental accomplishments and books on archaeology, was an impassioned photographer outside of his bureaucratic world. He shot on an Asahi Pentax camera and processed his photographic prints himself, in a custom dark room, at home. Cleaning his Pentax lenses, holding on to the lens caps carefully whilst he shot, setting apertures for family auto shots on the tripod, I learnt the nuances of framing and photography early on in my childhood. I inherited my creative leanings and smarts from my grandparents.

I was always encouraged to study and be an independent individual from my childhood. They chose the best schools and universities in the world for me and I am indebted to them and my teachers for shaping my brain and thought processes. I was treated as an equal in all matters at home, and gender was never a deterrent in whatever I chose to do. They trusted me implicitly as did I, and that has carried forward in my professional life as I work with transparency and honesty in all my projects.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I was a bright student, fascinated by words in every form – spoken, written and read. My Nana’s exhaustive collection of books made up the library at our home, ranging from classics to magazines to psychology to law and fiction, where I could always be found rummaging around for reading material, much to his chagrin because I never put them back in their designated spots. I never read them in the library though either, always in bed. Reading and writing make me immeasurably happy to the day, leading me to my calling as a journalist. My Nana always told me to take up journalism, and it happened. I write features and editorials for international publications on films, fashion, food, travel, art and real estate. Writing about an unwritten idea and something new thrills me. Because I read extensively everyday, writing is a tad easier to start with, but it is sticky terrain till you find your own voice and style. Once you are identifiable with your way with words in features, a style emerges that needs honing every time you write, depending on the publication you are writing for. You have to up your own game, always.

During my jobs as a journalist, I started taking pictures of my subjects and during my travels for my features, which I started enjoying immensely, leading me to Getty Images Europe in 2014. That changed my entire perspective on editorials as I now had visuals shot by me accompanying my words. It empowered me further to take on commercial and editorial assignments as a photographer across the globe, which were wonderful and exciting in every way, not to mention very financially viable too. I recently shot Christian Dior’s pre-fall 2023 runway show held at the Gateway of India in Mumbai on the 30th of March, 2023. It is the most delicious memory, not to mention the excitement and adrenaline that came pre and post the show! And, I shot this fabulous show in March, the birthday month of both my grandparents. I couldn’t be happier.

Every job in the world comes with challenges and so does photography. Since I started out as a journalist, it was difficult to position myself as a photographer with a fee structure, because people were used to being written about by me without any financial exchanges. They were reluctant to pay the fees for photography but eventually came around. What I learnt in that phase was that if you stick to the financial number you deserve for a photography job, people will eventually see your work and pay you what you ask for. And over time, you can command your price.

Persevering in what you believe in with all your heart and staying confident through the varied high and low phases will make you successful and happy in both, your professional and personal life. Your inner self always knows the right way forward – you need to listen to yourself in silence, eliminating all the voices around you. I always listened to my late Nani – I miss her wisdom and simple to-do’s that always enhanced my life. I cannot believe it has been a year, almost, since she passed away on April 26th, 2022. She was 103-years-old. The job you do becomes your public identity, but your repeated success in the job comes with your steady character and personality. I believe that your raw, inherent nature drives you forward in the world, but you need to sharpen your skills as you go along. I have based my personal brand identity on punctuality, discipline, honesty and hard work and I take immense pride in myself for being known for these very attributes in my business. This is what I want everyone to know about my story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I love making itineraries for my friends! Food is one of the most seductive ways to get to know a place, followed by museums and park trails. If I had to make a New York itinerary, I would start off the week by walking 20 blocks in Manhattan from midtown, to breakfast at Sarabeth’s, after which we’d walk back towards the Upper East Side to the MET for the day. Then we’d do a late lunch at the MET’s cafe and go to Central Park afterwards to lay on the grass and look up at the clear skies. Then we’d walk all the way back the many blocks to the apartment / hotel in midtown. And a meal or brunch at ABC Kitchen is a must!

I’d make sure the person gets to eat their favourite foods at the newest hot spots, and tries out some new cuisines too, checks out the 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue shopping, sees a Broadway play, takes in a New York sunset from the Empire State building and the Top of the Rock on the Rockefeller building, tries out cocktails at the best rooftop bars, checks out the Apple Store on 5th at 2AM, and also try to squeeze in a quick trip to the Hamptons and Boston. They also have to eat a NY pizza slice, a pretzel and a hot dog, and the lamb rice from the street carts around Park Avenue.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe everything in my life to my Nana and Nani, and three of my SFF’s – sacred friends forever.

Website: www.rubinaakhan.com

Instagram: rubinaakhan.inc

Image Credits
All images have been shot by Rubina A Khan.