Kamalakshi Saikia is an Indian artist based in Singapore and the founder of Kopou — a space where she designs and creates her own lifestyle pieces, as well as conducts classes. I’ve worked with Kamal over the years, creating content and building visual assets for her social media and website. In addition, we also filmed a brand story video where she shares the motivation behind what she does, featuring her work in her studio.

Whenever I film her short-form videos or photograph her products, I pay special attention to the colours of her pieces. Sometimes, due to lighting and other unforeseen circumstances, these colours can be affected, appearing slightly greenish or bluish. That’s why it’s important to light her space properly before doing anything. This is especially crucial for product photos on her website, as customers want to see exactly what they are purchasing — what you see is what you get.

At the same time, studios are often set up by artists as safe spaces for exploring creativity. This means some studios, depending on the artist’s preference, might be dark or have unique colour tones, and that’s what makes them special. Some of her videos are filmed this way — dark, cinematic, using only natural light — because we want her customers to experience what her studio feels like in real life if they choose to visit or attend her classes. In short, I always have to strike a balance between how the studio naturally looks and how it needs to be presented for product photography.

At the end of the day, my job is about making sure Kamalakshi’s work, personality, and space are portrayed as authentically and beautifully as possible, in a way that feels true to her.