Bhubaneswar, March 8: A number of women here have overcome obstacles to take that perfect shot - a professional career in photography.

When Pragyan Panigrahy, 25, started photography in 2011, there were not many women in the field.

"Male photographers often underestimated me and no one took me seriously. But I defied the attitude and took it as a challenge," said Panigrahy.

Starting with fashion photography in her college days, she gradually took to wedding photography and set up her own firm, Scared Wedding. From post and pre-wedding to conceptual photography, Panigrahy these days takes up around 15 assignments every wedding season.

"When I was in college, I clicked the portfolio for a few friends. I put them up on various social networking sites, and those won a lot of appreciation. That gave me the motivation to take it up as my profession," she added.

Speaking about how she got hold of her first DSLR camera, Panigrahy said: "My father told me that he would buy me a DSLR if I scored good marks in my semester exam. I studied day and night and finally he gifted me one. The felling was inexpressible."

Without any formal training in photography, she read a lot of online magazines to hone her skills. At present, she runs the firm along with her husband.

Twinkle Patnaik, who runs The Ricelight Project, along with a few of her friends, started professional photography from 2013. For her, taking pictures is the best way to make friends and meet new people. She loves wildlife photography, but is better known for taking thematic shots of brides at weddings.

Like Panigrahy, cementing her position in the field was not easy. "First of all, my parents were apprehensive of our safety and security whenever I wanted to go for wildlife photography with my male friends. Besides, there is a constant fear of harassment," said Patnaik.

But, she is happy that a lot of women are taking up the challenge these days.

"I want to do cinematography for films, and for that, I have been trying my best. Hopefully, one day I will fulfil my dream and end up becoming a director of photography for a film," said Patnaik, who often travels to other states for assignments.

Abhilipsa Mohanty gave up a lucrative career in engineering to take up photography.

"After completing my BTech degree, I got into a job. But, I always wanted to take up photography, but my parents never allowed me to. It was my brother, who convinced them to let me do what I actually wanted to," said the 25-year-old shutterbug.

Her firm Issabela Illusion deals with a range of services such as engagement shoots, bridal portraits and couple portraits among others.

She tries to infuse fashion into photography to make it interesting.

"I am really happy with what I am doing today. I feel women should follow their dreams and do only what gives them satisfaction," said the young photographer.