The story began long before DSLRs — in 2004, when Rathusan first picked up his father’s silver Sony Handycam, one of those early MiniDV camcorders that clacked and whirred their way through family memories. That little camera sparked a lifelong fascination with light, motion, and the art of turning moments into stories.

By 2011, when the Canon EOS 600D arrived, that fascination had become a calling. Rathusan explored every technical limit, even running custom Magic Lantern firmware to squeeze every drop of creativity out of that humble DSLR.

Then came the Canon EOS 7D Mark II — bought without even knowing what an APS-C sensor was. It became his crash course in photography’s technical side, teaching him through trial, error, and persistence. For years, he hoped the 7D Mark II would get its own Magic Lantern support, refreshing forums like it might appear overnight — until finally giving up and stepping into the mirrorless world with the Canon EOS R, a move that reignited his creative drive.

That journey eventually led to the Canon EOS R5, but the real milestone wasn’t the camera — it was the moment he paired it with the Canon RF 28–70 mm f/2.0 L USM. That lens marked a personal breakthrough: the first time his gear fully matched his vision, turning years of experimentation into effortless precision.

Along the way, Rathusan found guidance through YouTube and Peter McKinnon, whose storytelling and creative philosophy helped shape his own approach behind the lens.

Every upgrade was financed through his own photography — built, not bought. What began as curiosity became a craft, and what began as a hobby became NICHOLASPICTURE, a name built on passion and persistence.

Before his wedding, Rathusan bought the Fujifilm X-T5 as his personal “diary camera.” At first, he saw it purely as a photo camera — something compact, beautiful, and classic in Fuji’s own way. But tucked inside that vintage-style body was something unexpected: 6.2 K video capabilities that quietly hinted at a new direction.

In 2024, he met his wedding videographer — someone who stayed in touch long after the wedding and eventually inspired him to buy DaVinci Resolve at 2 a.m. During one of their late-night conversations, that videographer revealed his own mentor: Kold, the filmmaker and YouTuber whose cinematic storytelling pushed Rathusan to explore video with the same dedication he once gave to stills.

Since then, Rathusan has captured everything from birthday celebrations, baby showers, and car photography to studio sessions and product shoots — each project fueling his creativity and sharpening his eye. While he’s now setting his sights on the wedding industry, his philosophy remains the same: to serve every moment that’s worth capturing, because creativity should never be limited to one subject.

The search for the perfect cinema camera followed — leading to an impulsive week with the Sony FX30, before realizing the truth: the Fuji already had everything he needed. Now, with his eyes set on the Fujifilm X-H2S, Rathusan’s next upgrade won’t just be personal — it’ll be sponsored by the very clients whose moments become the memories he captures.

Let’s see where this path unfolds.