Nitin Rai (Born 1969) is an acclaimed Indian photographer and son of the legendary photographer Raghu Rai. He started photography at the age of 13 as a freelancer and started doing assignments for Target children’s magazine brought out by India Today group and The Times of India’s Sunday section.He began professional photography in 1987 working for a new newspaper, Sunday Mail.
In a career spanning three decades, he has done Life & Documentary, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Fashion, Interiors, Food & Product and Industrial photography. His work has been featured in prominent international magazines such as TIME Magazine, Der Spiegel, Stern, Figaro, Facts, Tattler, The Sunday Telegraph and The Independent. He has worked for corporates such as Aditya Birla Group, DLF, MGF, Ansal API, Bhartia Industries, Oswal Industries, NTPC and Modis. He was recipient of the prestigious NIKON International award in 1993.
Currently he is combining teaching photography as Director of the Raghu Rai Center for Photography with doing professional assignments for a range of clients, corporates and publishing houses.
Work Experience
Freelance work
Some of his prominent assignments were with:
• Photo Documentation of People living with HIV/AIDS in different states of India for Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi AIDS Foundation
• Covered the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya and the picture featured on the cover of TIME Magazine
• Photographed Indian troops at the freezing heights of Zoji La Pass during the Kargil war for Der Spiegel Magazine
• Covered earthquake in Gujarat in the year 2000 for Der Spiegel and Time Magazine
• Photographed for a travel guide on Rajasthan for Times Books, Singapore
Some of Nitin’s corporate clients include:
• Aditya Birla Group, DLF, EMMAR MGF, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Oswal Industries, Bhartia Industries and Imperial hotel and Modis.Best fashion photographer in India, best fashion photograpehr in Delhi
• Aditya Birla Group: temples for their yearly diary and photographs for their Coffee Table Book on Corporate Social Responsibility.
• EMMAR MGF group: Metropolitan Mall and Mega City Mall in Gurgaon and City Square Mall in Delhi
• DLF group: Cyber Greens Building, City Centre Mall, Grand Mall, Mega Mall, Ship Building- Gateway Tower, DLF Golf Club in Gurgaon, Emporio Mall, Promenade Mall, DLF Place Mall Saket
• Photographed Miss India models as well as creations of top fashion designer Rohit Khosla
BOOKS
• A coffee Table book on India called “India 24 Hours”, put together by a select band of 16 leading Indian photographers. It was a bestseller. It is now being reprinted abroad as “A Day in the Life of India”
• Photographed a travel guide on Rajasthan for Times Books, Singapore
• Coffee table book on Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India, along with 16 leading Indian photographers
• Coffee Table Book on the beautiful coral islands of Lakshadweep with Raghu Rai
• Coffee Table book on IIT DELHI, which was conceptualized, designed, photographed and published by Nitin Rai for IIT Delhi in 2015.
• Currently working on Coffee Table book on India
Exhibitions
• September 2009, first solo exhibition of photographs at the Triveni Kala Sangam titled “India Continent of Circe” hosted by Ebrahim Alkazi of Art Heritage
• Participated in a group show organized by Art Elements in 2010. The work was featured along with artists such as MF Hussain, Ram Kumar, Raza, and Raghu Rai
• Curated and participated in a show of Photographs of 13 national and international photographers for Global Buddhist Congregation at Visual arts gallery on 22 November 2011
• 16 January 2012: Joint Photography show with Raghu Rai, titled Father and Son, hosted by SINGH AND THAPAR PROJECTS at Dhoomimal Gallery.
Full Time Work Experience
• Director and Founder- Raghu Rai Center For Photography (2012 to Present)
He runs and teaches at Raghu Rai Center For Photography, an institute for photography. http://www.raghuraicenterforphotography.com
• Director, Nitin Rai Photography (1990 to Present)
He leads a team of photographers to give top quality images for clients. Apart from photography he visualizes, designs and prints coffee table books, calendars and diaries and gives clients a complete package.
• Former Head of Department, Creative Photography, Sri Aurobindo Center for Arts and Communication. (2007 to 2011)
He was involved in teaching creative photography and training students to hone their artistic skills and enter the world of professional photography.
• Former Consulting Photo Editor, Business Today (1999 to 2000)
The job entailed editing visuals of eight junior colleagues, creating covers for the magazine, taking pictures for the magazine and doing photo stories.
• Former Photo Editor, ASIA TIMES (1995 to 1996)
As Photo Editor (South Asia) with ASIA TIMES, an international newspaper brought out from New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok, he covered the South Asia region.
• Former Photo Editor, Sunday Magazine (1988 to 1995)
Worked with Sunday Magazine for eight years and covered stories across India. Led a
team of 4 photographers, did the covers of the magazine and photo stories.
Nitin now leads a team of photographers to give top quality images to clients. Apart from photography, the team visualizes, designs and prints coffee table books, calendars and diaries.
As Director / founder of Raghu Rai Center For Photography he teaches photography and runs it with his team of experts.
Photography 