Danish Iqbal

Danish Iqbal is the lead photographer at Taj Mahal Photography in Agra. He holds the Ministry of Tourism photography permit that allows professional camera equipment through security at the Taj Mahal, and he photographs the sunrise, couple, pre-wedding and group sessions himself rather than subcontracting them.

Danish is at the East Gate before it opens most mornings of the year, which is the only way to know what the light does in a given week — when the fog lifts in January, when the marble turns amber rather than pink, which positions are already taken by seven.

He works handheld and close, directing as he goes, because most guests have never been photographed professionally and need to be told where to look and when to walk. The frames people end up framing are usually the ones taken between poses.

The permit he holds is what lets a tripod and a second lens through the security belt at all. Without it the equipment goes in the cloakroom, whoever is carrying it.

Licence

Photography permit, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

Issued by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The licence number is shown at the gate on request.

Languages

English · Hindi · Urdu

Based in

Agra, Uttar Pradesh

• Taj Mahal photography
• Sunrise and low-light photography
• Pre-wedding and couple portraiture
• Group and family portraiture
• Mughal architecture
• Archaeological Survey of India monument rules