Gautham Dharmaseelan of Detroit on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Gautham Dharmaseelan shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Gautham, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I love to keep myself active. love to go to the gym

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Gautham, the creative mind behind dglenscraft_ a visual storytelling space where emotion meets aesthetic. My page is all about capturing raw, honest moments, blending portraiture with cinematic tones that evoke feeling and depth.

What makes this journey special is how personal it is — I started this page not just to showcase photography, but to create a connection through each frame. Whether it’s a candid street shot, a quiet portrait, or an editorial-inspired concept, I aim to bring out a story behind every image.

I’m currently working on expanding into more themed shoots and collaborations, with a focus on merging minimalism and emotion. The response from the community has been humbling — and it’s that ongoing support that keeps the vision evolving.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just a photography brand. It’s a journal, told through light, shadows, and moments that speak.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that everything had to be perfect for it to be valuable — whether it was a drawing, a school project, or even how I showed up in the world. I carried this quiet pressure to get things “just right,” thinking that perfection was the only way to earn praise, approval, or even a sense of worth.

But over time — and especially through my journey in photography — I learned that it’s the imperfect, unpolished, in-between moments that hold the most beauty. Now, I believe that vulnerability, authenticity, and growth matter far more than flawlessness. Creativity is messy, and that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.

So today, I create with freedom. I don’t wait for things to be perfect. I show up as I am — and that’s been the most powerful shift.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there was a moment where I seriously considered giving up — not just on photography, but on the idea that my creative work had any real impact.

It was during a phase where nothing felt good enough. I was constantly comparing my work to others, engagement was low, and I started questioning whether anyone really saw or felt what I was trying to express through my photos. I felt burnt out and invisible — like I was pouring so much into something that wasn’t reaching anyone.

What pulled me back was a message from someone who said one of my photos made them feel seen — that it captured something they couldn’t put into words. That one message reminded me why I started: to connect, to feel, to make others feel.

Now, I remind myself that even if something I create only speaks to one person — that’s enough. That’s impact. That’s purpose. And that keeps me going.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real — but it’s not all of me.

What I share through my photography and presence online is a true reflection of my eye, my emotions, and my creative vision. The way I frame a moment or edit a photo comes from a deeply personal place. So in that sense, yes — it’s very much me.

But like anyone, there are parts of me that stay off-camera — the doubts, the quiet battles, the days where inspiration is nowhere to be found. Social media often captures the highlights, the curated glimpses — not the full journey.

I think we all carry layers, and the public version is just one of them. It’s honest, but it’s not the whole story. And that’s okay. The people closest to me see the rest — and the art I create is where I pour all those hidden pieces.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my clients and community would miss the feeling behind the work more than anything else.

Of course, they’d miss the photos — the lighting, the tones, the storytelling — but what really stays with people is how I make them feel during the shoot. I’ve been told it’s the comfort, the calm energy, the trust I bring that helps them open up and be seen, not just captured.

It’s never just about the pictures — it’s about creating a space where people feel beautiful, understood, and emotionally connected to the final image. That’s what I hope they’d miss most — and maybe that’s what would last the longest, too.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dglenscraft_/

Image Credits
its just me and the models