Priya Juhel: The Eye of the Concert

Published by Le Dimanche Hebdo

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 14:00

Priya Juhel, a concert photographer and founder of Priya Juhel Studio, captures the energy, light, and emotion of Mauritian stages, revealing the soul of artists to the audience.

As a concert photographer and a rising star in the Mauritian music scene, Priya Juhel represents a generation for whom passion and perseverance triumph over obstacles, including those faced by women in a challenging and predominantly male industry.

During the day, Priya works as a photo retoucher at BWRM Limited, honing her attention to detail and aesthetic sense pixel by pixel. In the evening, she dives into the pits, camera in hand, capturing the raw energy of concerts. Two sides of the same talent, driven by constant demands for excellence.

Priya’s journey is built on solid foundations. After completing her secondary education, she furthered her skills at Focus Ltd, taking two essential courses: Fundamentals of Digital Photography and Fundamentals of Photoshop for Photographers.

However, she soon realized that theory alone was not enough. Concert photography is unpredictable and demanding, where light, movement, and emotion cannot be tamed by manuals. So, Priya made a bold choice: volunteering her time, sometimes for years, to learn, test, make mistakes, and improve.

"I had a dream: to become a concert photographer. I knew I had to dedicate time to it, even without pay. Every free shoot was a lesson in light, movement, and, most importantly, in how to capture genuine emotion." Years went by without a salary, countless concerts followed, and hours spent standing in the pit adjusting and learning. For her, it was the price to pay.

2023: A Turning Point

The year 2023 marked a turning point. Priya landed her first major professional opportunity through Ajay Deora, CEO of Ticketbox, a key player in the local event industry. This moment propelled her from passionate amateur to recognized collaborator in the industry.

Collaborations followed one after another. DJ Emran (Emran Limbajee), Ejilen, and other local artists entrusted her to immortalize their performances. Her goal became to be a privileged witness to the stage’s energy. Over the concerts, Priya also encountered music giants: Atif Aslam, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal, Adnan Sami. These significant encounters confirmed that she belonged where music thrived.

Behind the lights and euphoria, the reality is harsher. Priya does not hide the difficulties she has faced. "Being a concert photographer is not an easy job when you're a woman," she states candidly. The obstacles are not just technical; they are also social, cultural, and sometimes insidious. Constant questioning, doubts cast on her abilities, attempts to discredit her. The criticisms have been numerous, and some even tried to bring her down.

But Priya stands firm. "I’ve been through it all. I learned to be strong, to assert myself, and above all, to let my work speak for me." Her images are not mere stage memories; they are a statement, proof that authentic talent knows no gender or ceiling.

Today, as she develops Priya Juhel Studio, this young woman paves an inspiring path for Mauritian artists, especially young women who still hesitate to enter perceived inaccessible fields. She also expresses her gratitude. "I thank everyone who believed in me. A special thanks to my mom, who has always been by my side."

And her message is clear, universal: in the pursuit of dreams and goals, gender is not a limitation. What truly matters are passion, dedication, hard work, and opportunities. Whether girl or boy, everyone should feel free and legitimate to pursue their ambitions and bring their light to the world.

One goal, one stage, one vision. Priya Juhel does not just photograph concerts; she captures the audacity of a generation.

Yaniish Engutsamy