New Delhi: StudioBackdrops, a platform for photography, videography and audio-production gear, has announced the launch of SBD Creators, a nationwide mentorship programme designed to equip aspiring photographers and videographers with practical industry knowledge through guidance from experienced creators.
The initiative formalises StudioBackdrops’ mentorship efforts, which the company has supported since 2020, by bringing together creators from across fashion, wedding, cinematic and advertising photography under a structured community-led learning platform.
With professional content creation equipment becoming increasingly accessible, StudioBackdrops believes the industry’s next challenge lies in helping emerging creators build practical skills, understand workflows and make informed creative and business decisions. Through SBD Creators, participants will receive mentorship on equipment selection, lighting techniques, creative workflows, client management and career development, regardless of their social media following or digital reach.
The programme also reflects the company’s continued focus on expanding opportunities beyond India’s metropolitan centres. Having worked with creators across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets for more than five years, StudioBackdrops is now formalising its regional outreach through SBD Creators. The initiative will feature creator-led content in multiple regional languages, with collaborations already underway in Assamese, Bengali, Marathi and Gujarati, while additional language partnerships are planned. The company aims to onboard at least 100 creators by the end of 2026, with representation from all 28 states.
Commenting on the launch, Archisman Misra, Founder, StudioBackdrops, said, “India’s creator economy is moving beyond the pursuit of better gear. The real gap today is know-how, understanding the right setups, making smarter equipment investments, avoiding common mistakes and learning the workflows that often take years to develop. With SBD Creators, we intend to create a space where experienced creators can pass their learning forward, openly and generously, to those who are just starting out. This is also how we see StudioBackdrops evolving: from an equipment marketplace into a meaningful enabler of India’s creator community.”
Sharing her perspective on mentoring emerging creators, Gowri Nair, Creative Director, Ernakulam, said, “One of the most important lessons I have learned is that authenticity lasts longer than trends. It is easy, especially at the beginning, to feel pressure to create what everyone else is making. But the work that truly connects comes from your own perspective. Consistency is not about posting every day; it is about consistently creating work you are proud to stand behind.”
The mentor network at launch includes Ipshita, a Mumbai-based celebrity and advertising photographer; Satinder Pal Singh Kalra, fashion and cinematic photographer; Nitish Bajaj, photographer; Maulik Patel, fashion and wedding photographer; Manish Linga, fashion photographer; and Kirandeep Kaur, photographer, educator and Nikon India brand ambassador. More than 25 creators are participating in the programme at launch, with StudioBackdrops continuing to invite experienced creators from across the country to join the initiative.
Through SBD Creators, StudioBackdrops aims to evolve beyond its role as a marketplace for photography and videography equipment to become a long-term enabler of India’s creator ecosystem. By expanding access to mentorship, practical learning and peer collaboration, the company seeks to empower the next generation of visual storytellers and contribute to the continued growth of India’s creator economy.
