The Pakistani Photographer Whose Photographed Everyone From Mahira to Lady Gaga

It isn’t often you associate one name with the likes of Mahira Khan, Lisa Haydon, Lady Gaga and Sonam Kapoor. But Pakistani photographer, Shakeel Bin Afzal, has photographed them all! From photographing celebrities at the Oscars to editorial shoots for top designers, Shakeel’s portfolio knows no bounds.

Shakeel Bin Afzal did his Bachelors in Fine Art from Greenwich University. After graduating, he pursued filmmaking in the UK and has excelled at it ever since. He’s worked with Mahira Khan in London for the South Asian Film Festival, in Cannes for the Cannes Film Festival and, more recently, in Paris for Paris Fashion Week. His impressive portfolio, however, doesn’t stop there. Not only has he shot for the covers of Filmfare and Brides Today, he has also photographed several celebrities during the Oscars and Cannes Film Festival, including Rami Malek and Jennifer Lopez.

To say that Shakeel Bin Afzal is a man of many talents is an understatement. His brilliance is not just limited to photography; it has made its way to cinematography as well. He’s shot three short films, including Jumper, where he was the Director of Photography, which was the finalist at the prestigious American Pavillion at Cannes. He is also a member of the British Cinematography Society (BSC) and an Arabic short film that he’s worked on has been featured in Las Vegas and New York.

Mahira Khan X Shakeel Bin Afzal

Mahira and Shakeel started working together in March 2018 for the South Asian Film Festival in London. But that was just the beginning! Mahira has worked with him on every international shoot since then.

“He is professional, he is quick and he is one of the best I have worked with,” Mahira said.

The chemistry between the two is evident when you look at the work they’ve produced together. Shakeel describes his experience with her as “magical” and magic is exactly what they create together!

Other Celebrities Shakeel Has Photographed:

Along with Mahira, Shakeel has worked closely with many other international celebrities, including Sonam Kapoor, Lisa Haydon and Ranveer Singh. Take a look at some of his international work below.