Inside Kushinagar’s third-generation photo studio adapting to digital change
A third-generation entrepreneur in Kushinagar continues a decades-old photo studio, adapting it to modern photography needs and everyday digital services while remaining rooted in the same neighbourhood.
Third-generation entrepreneur Sunil Kumar lives in Padrauna city’s Awas Vikas Colony in Kushinagar district. His workday unfolds inside a small photo studio that has served local families for decades.
Kumar has been actively running it for the past several years, building on what he learned by watching his father work and gradually taking on responsibility himself.
The studio, which began as a family occupation, handles everyday photography needs, from passport photographs and document work to wedding shoots. It also operates as a common service centre, helping residents with online forms and basic digital services.
Over time, these activities have made the studio a familiar stop for people in the neighbourhood, especially during wedding seasons and official documentation cycles.
Growing up inside the trade
Kumar describes the business as something he did not consciously choose at first but grew into. His father entered the trade in the early 1970s, and the rhythm of studio work became part of daily life at home.
After completing a computer course during his studies, Kumar began assisting with digital tasks and gradually took on more responsibility, combining photography with computer-based services.
For a long time, the studio ran on limited resources. Rising costs and changing customer expectations made it difficult to keep pace using only internal savings.
Kumar says there were periods when he had to turn down work, especially larger wedding assignments, because he lacked the necessary equipment.
Support at a turning point
Around six months ago, Kumar decided to seek outside financial support and applied under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM YUVA) Yojana. He learned about the scheme through social media and completed the application process on his own, drawing on his familiarity with online systems through the common service centre.
The assistance helped him purchase essential camera equipment and related goods, making it easier to take on larger assignments. He also attended a short training programme linked to the scheme, which he says helped him organise his work more efficiently.
“The loan made work easier and simpler,” he says, explaining that access to equipment reduced daily constraints.
As a result, Kumar has been able to accept more wedding bookings and manage customer expectations better. He noted that the support arrived at a time when inflation had made reinvestment difficult through regular earnings alone.
Steady work, familiar ground
Despite these changes, the core of the business remains the same. The studio continues to operate from the same locality, serving people who have known the family for years.
Kumar still relies on the routines passed down by his father, especially in dealing with customers and maintaining consistency in work.
Today, the studio feels more stable than ever before, not because it has expanded dramatically, but because it can handle demand without constant hesitation.
The early years of watching, learning, and managing with limited means have shaped how Kumar approaches his work now, grounded in continuity rather than rapid growth, and focused on keeping a long-running family enterprise relevant in a changing local economy.
What is CM YUVA Scheme?
Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath Ji, the state government aims to transform youth from job seekers into job creators.
To achieve this vision, the Directorate of Industries and Enterprise Promotion, under the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Export Promotion, is implementing the ‘Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan’ (CM YUVA) Yojana.
Under this scheme, young entrepreneurs are provided with up to Rs 5 lakh in 100% interest-free and collateral-free loans to start their industrial or service-based ventures. In addition, beneficiaries also receive a 10% margin money subsidy on the project cost.
CM YUVA is not just a financial assistance scheme; it also provides mentorship, guidance, market access, and essential resources to help youth become self-reliant entrepreneurs and generate employment opportunities for others.
Click here to know more about the CM YUVA Scheme.