Thursday, February 13, 2025
Raffealla Fernando’s 2025 celebrity calendar

“Research, update yourself, and keep on practising…”

Raffealla Fernando

by damith
January 19, 2025 1:10 am 0 comment 805 views

BY ANURADHA KODAGODA

Raffealla Fernando, a rising star in the world of fashion photography, is making waves with her latest celebrity calendar for 2025.

Her humble journey began as a featured artist in the Youth Observer, and over the years, she has evolved into an influential figure in the industry.

Raffealla’s celebrity calendar is a fresh addition to popular culture in Sri Lanka and is highly anticipated by industry professionals as well as her fanbase. This year’s calendar showcases 27 artistes, including renowned names from Bollywood, celebrating both diversity and creativity.

A star-studded line-up

Speaking to the Youth Observer, Raffealla outlined the exciting line-up of celebrities in this year’s calendar, featuring an exciting mix of actors, actresses, singers and social media influencers. Notable participants include the likes of Jacqueline Fernandez, Mahendra Perera and Urmila Mathondkar, alongside local icons such as Fallon Andrea, Adani Premadasa, Shalini Tharaka, Channa Wijayawardena, Sarath Kothalawala,

Michelle Dilara, Tarindi Fernando, Saranga Disasekara, Kanchana Mendis, Pabodha Sandipani, Samanali Fonseka, Sangeetha Weeraratne, Sachini Ayendra, Randika Gunathilaka, Sankha Dineth and A.D.K.

“I think that is a very interesting combination to have. Take Wild Cookbook, for instance, he’s not only a chef but also a social media influencer who’s generating quite a buzz. During my tour to India last year, I witnessed firsthand the immense love and appreciation he receives, even internationally.” Raffealla said, highlighting her intention to shine a light on the diverse talents within the industry.

Inspiration and creative process

Raffealla shared her inspiration for creating a calendar featuring Sri Lankan celebrities, stating, “Thirteen years ago, during my travels, I came across an international calendar and was struck by its beauty. I thought, why can’t we do something like this in Sri Lanka? We have incredibly talented celebrities who deserve to be showcased.”

She began her journey with a collection she already had, and as the project evolved, she aimed to change the narrative around how these artists are portrayed.

“In Sri Lanka, if a celebrity is cast as a village girl, they often remain pigeonholed in that role for other projects. I wanted to break that mould and highlight the diverse potential of each artist, presenting them in different avatars to showcase their unique flavours and colours.” With this vision, Raffealla set out to create a calendar that captures the essence and versatility of Sri Lankan talent.

Raffealla’s creative process is all about collaboration. She begins by noting down her concepts, which can stem from a variety of inspirations, such as emotions, stories, songs, poems or even the vibe of a person.

“Whenever I have a concept, I write it down and express what I want to show.” This includes brainstorming sessions with the artists, makeup artists and stylists, ensuring that every shoot tells a unique story. She conducts thorough research for reference images and written pieces, refining her vision before collaborating with the artists, makeup artists, and designers.

“We share mood boards, colour boards, and style boards to pool our ideas,” Raffealla said. “I want to show a different flavour or colour of artists that I showcase in my work,” she said.

Urmila with Raffealla Fernando

Urmila with Raffealla Fernando

Deciding on the unique aesthetic for each artist is another crucial element in the creative process. Explaining her approach to determining the specific aesthetics for each celebrity featured in the calendar, she said, “With each concept, we definitely decide on the aesthetics and how we want to portray them, whether it’s a soft feminine look or a hardcore macho look.”

On the day of the shoot, she focuses on the backgrounds, art direction, props, composition and lighting to effectively convey her concept. Finally, she emphasises the importance of post-production to add the finishing touches to the images.

She highlighted that all the artists collaborate pro bono for the calendar, which is why it has never been sold over the past 13 years.

“I want it to be pure art, uninterrupted art where people focus solely on the creativity we produce,” Raffella said.

Her commitment to creating an artistic project free from commercial pressures reflects her values, as she aims to respect and celebrate the artists involved while maintaining the integrity of the work for future calendars.

For me photography is a combination of your mind, eye, and heart. You have to create something you truly feel and want to express,” she added.

Making trends

Raffealla spoke about the influence her work might have on trends in the fashion photography industry in Sri Lanka, stating, “Photography is a very influencing form of art. When you see good work, it inspires you to create, that’s the power a good photograph holds.”

She has received a positive feedback from young female photographers, expressing admiration for their talent and technical proficiency in areas such as lighting and composition. “Conceptualised photography is somewhat foreign to our industry, but I see many young and female photographers now embracing this approach,” she said.

Raffealla is passionate about photography that carries substance, emphasising the importance of storytelling and emotional depth. “I feel I must have influenced at least 1% in this domain, as this is something I truly believe in and am passionate about,” she added.

Memorable journey

Raffealla reflected on her experiences working with Sri Lankan celebrities, saying, “The experience has been amazing. I’ve worked with about 165 celebrities, and some of them have become really good friends.”

She highlighted a memorable collaboration with legendary actor Mahendra Perera, describing their shoot as “flawless,” where the actor effortlessly brought emotion and expression to the concept they developed.

“All I had to do was just shoot,” she recalled. Another notable project was with Channa Wijewardena, where they themed the shoot as ‘Apollo, the God of Creation’,reflecting the artistic essence of their work.

“We experimented a lot with his look, and those two collaborations are very, very special to me,” she said.

She cherished her collaborations with Indian celebrities such as Urmila Matondkar, a childhood idol, and Jacqueline Fernandez with whom she worked both in Sri Lanka and Mumbai. Working with Bollywood singer Aastha Gill on a conceptualised shoot also stood out as a significant experience. “These shoots are always going to be very special for me,” she added.

Audience reaction

Soon after the launch of this year’s calendar, social media buzz surrounded many of Raffealla’s concepts. Notably, the photograph of Shalini Tharaka sparked a critical discussion, both positive and negative, as it was created in remembrance of the tragic Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka, where victims are still awaiting justice.

Raffella expressed her excitement about the overall audience reaction to this year’s calendar, stating, “The feedback has been amazing. Out of all the years, this is hands down the best year.”

She said a significant number of shares and expressions of appreciation for the images, emphasising that many viewers understood the concepts behind each photograph.

“That means a lot to me because a lot of thinking went into these concepts, and seeing that people were able to grasp the narratives through the pictures was very important.” The positive response not only came from Sri Lanka but also reached international audiences, including feedback from individuals outside the creative industry, such as doctors, lawyers, scientists, and politicians.

“It has been overwhelming, happy, and really satisfying,” she said.

Art is genderless

Raffealla discussed her beliefs about empowering women and promoting diversity in the fashion industry, explaining, “As an artist, I always believe art is genderless. It doesn’t matter whether we are a woman or a man when we create.”

As a female photographer in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she has witnessed a shift towards greater female participation. “Women nowadays love to create,” she asserted, noting the potential for the industry to become more woman-centric in the future. With 16 years of experience, Raffealla feels her journey has inspired many women. “They’ve told me that looking at my journey makes them want to do what I’m doing.”

She emphasised the importance of hard work and consistency for success, asserting, “It has to be rock solid for you to sustain and move forward in the industry.”

Her brand, Fella, supports women from villages by producing outfits through their work, aiming to empower them to provide for their families and keep their spirits high. “I hope to undertake more projects to empower women this year,” she added.

Inspiring future generations

Raffealla offered valuable advice to young photographers, particularly women aspiring to make their mark in the fashion industry, saying, “Be really passionate about what you do. If you’re genuinely not passionate about your industry, maybe that’s not the place for you.” She emphasised the importance of practice and self-improvement, urging them to “research, update yourself, and keep on practising.” Encouraging them to find their own path, she added, “Don’t select an industry or career path because your best friend or family member did it. Do it because you want to do it, that will help you stay alive as an artist.”

Raffealla concluded her interview with this empowering message, reinforcing the significance of maintaining one’s passion and spark in the pursuit of artistic fulfillment.

“Be genuinely passionate about what you do, and that’s going to take you very far in life”, she said.

You may also like

Leave a Comment

lakehouse-logo

The Sunday Observer is the oldest and most circulated weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka since 1928

[email protected] 
Call Us : (+94) 112 429 361

Advertising Manager:
Sudath   +94 77 7387632
 
Classifieds & Matrimonial
Chamara  +94 77 727 0067

Facebook Page

@2025 All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Lakehouse IT Division