I was born on an island at the bottom of the map.

I started working on the islands at seventeen. Construction first — Reethi Rah, Baros, Coco — then resort IT at Kurumba and Huvafen Fushi. I learned how a resort runs years before I learned how to photograph one, and it still shapes how I work: I know what a seaplane schedule does to a sunset, why the concierge needs your villa number the day before, and how long a transfer really takes.

My first paid couple was at Paradise Island in 2013. My first destination wedding was at W Maldives in 2014. Since then I’ve photographed on 128 islands.

I work in the soft hours — sunrise, golden hour, the blue minutes after sunset. I direct lightly. I edit honestly: skin looks like skin, water looks like water. And I reply quickly, because you came a long way for this and silence is the one thing I won’t make you wait through.

Behind my name sits Island Todo — the studio that handles the bookings, the resort partnerships, the second photographers, and the logistics. It runs the in-house photography studio at Grand Park Kodhipparu, staffed by Naahil and Maaid. Every gallery, whoever holds the camera, is colour-graded by me before it’s delivered.

Asad Photo is the photographer. Island Todo is the studio behind the photographer. They were never competitors.