Jan – 2026: Our First Meetup, First Sunday of 2026, Celebrating Our First Birthday Together at Charminar, Hyderabad
Some journeys deserve to return to where they first began. Exactly one year after the very first ShutterSociety.HYD meetup, we found ourselves standing once again at Charminar, not to start something new, but to celebrate everything that had grown from that single morning. Our first meetup had become our first birthday, and there could not have been a more meaningful place to celebrate it than where the journey had first begun.
The first Sunday of 2026 took us back to where it all began.
The calendar had changed from 2025 to 2026, but everything else was taking us back to the very beginning. Once again, it was the first Sunday of the year. Once again, our meetup was at Charminar. Once again, photographers from across Hyderabad were gathering with cameras and mobile phones in their hands, excited to spend another morning together.
The only difference was that this time, we were no longer strangers meeting for the first time. We had become a family.
The best place to celebrate a journey is where the very first step was taken.
The idea, however, had not come overnight.
For nearly two months, the three of us, Mr. Sai Thejeshwar Rao, Mr. Cherry Mokka, and I, kept discussing how our first birthday should be celebrated. We received many wonderful suggestions from our members. Some recommended trying a completely new location, while others suggested making it a large public celebration.
Yet one thought continued to stay with me. What if we simply repeated the very first meetup? The same city. The same location. The same first Sunday. The same morning. Not because we lacked new ideas, but because returning to the beginning would allow us to see something much more valuable than numbers. It would become a reflection.
A year earlier, we had gathered at Charminar with excitement, uncertainty, and no expectations of where this journey would lead. Now, standing at the same place one year later would allow us to quietly observe everything that had changed.
Not just the size of our group photograph, but the friendships, the confidence, the conversations, the coordination, the warmth, and the feeling of belonging that had naturally grown within our community.
Sometimes the greatest measure of growth is not how much bigger a community becomes, but how much closer its people become.
That single thought became the reason behind our decision.
Our first meetup deserved to become our first birthday. With the location decided, another question remained.
How should we celebrate?
We wanted to cut a birthday cake, enjoy tea and biscuits together, decorate the space with balloons, and spend some relaxed time with our members after the photo walk. But Charminar is one of the busiest places in Hyderabad. Finding a safe and comfortable place for nearly 140 photographers to celebrate together seemed almost impossible.
So one afternoon, the three of us visited Charminar once again, hoping we might find a nearby terrace or open space that could accommodate everyone.
What happened next was something none of us had expected.
As we walked into Nimrah Café, we were warmly welcomed by its owner, Mr. Aslam Bhai.
Before we could even explain why we had come, he recognised me from one of my Hyderabad voice over reels that had gone viral the previous year. He spent several minutes talking about the video, sharing how people from different parts of India and even his friends in Dubai had watched and shared it.
For me, that conversation wasn’t about a viral reel. (You can check that reel here)
Viral videos are often forgotten within days. What felt truly special was knowing that years later, people still remembered the story it had told about Hyderabad, and by then, that reel had crossed around 30 million views across different platforms.
Even before listening to our request, Mr. Aslam Bhai insisted we sit down, enjoy fresh hot cookies and tea, and feel at home.
Only after that did he smile and ask, “So, tell me… what can I do for you?
We explained that ShutterSociety.HYD had started exactly opposite Nimrah Cafe on the first Sunday of January 2025. Now, as we prepared to celebrate our first birthday on the first Sunday of 2026, we were simply looking for a safe place nearby where our members could gather after the meetup for celebrations.
Before we could finish speaking, he replied,
“Done.”
We looked at each other in surprise.
Then he smiled again.
“What else do you need?”
We hesitated for a moment before mentioning tea, biscuits, and a birthday cake.
He laughed and asked once again,
“What else?”
By then, we couldn’t help laughing ourselves.
That had been our entire list.
He generously offered us one of his own private terraces located just a short walk from Charminar. It overlooked the monument beautifully, had plenty of space for everyone, and gave us complete freedom to celebrate without worrying about crowds or time limits. He also insisted that his team would arrange the tea, biscuits, cakes, and deliver everything directly to the terrace.
Even after offering all of this, he asked one last time, “Anything else?” That meeting stayed with us long after we left.
It wasn’t simply support or respect for the three of us. It was appreciation for what ShutterSociety.HYD was doing as one community, bringing passionate photographers together, inspiring one another, and giving back to society.
Moments like these reminded us that genuine work, done with honesty and without expectations, has a way of reaching people’s hearts in ways we often don’t realize.
With everything finally falling into place, we announced our very first meetup of 2026 to the community.
Along with the street photography meetup, we shared that this would also be our first birthday celebration.The response was unlike anything we had experienced before.
For the very first time, more than one hundred members marked themselves as interested. From our previous meetups, we already knew that the actual attendance would likely be even higher.
That excitement also helped us decide one final detail.
Instead of ordering one large birthday cake, we ordered five different cakes weighing around two kilograms each.
The idea was simple. This celebration belonged to everyone.
Rather than watching one small group cut a single cake, we wanted photographers across the terrace to gather in different groups and celebrate together, making every member feel part of ShutterSociety.HYD’s very first birthday.
Communities grow stronger when celebrations are shared, not watched.
The excitement continued to build as the first Sunday of 2026 finally arrived.
From early morning, photographers began gathering at our familiar meeting point near Charminar. Just like a year earlier, cameras were being unpacked, lenses were being cleaned, and conversations slowly began filling the streets around us.
Among the familiar faces were many members who had walked with us throughout the year, while several new photographers had chosen this special meetup as their very first experience with ShutterSociety.HYD.
It was wonderful to see that even before the meetup officially began, people who had once met as strangers were now greeting one another like old friends.
For the first time, members got to see the physical sample of our newly designed ShutterSociety.HYD Membership ID Card. People gathered around, carefully looking at every detail, passing it from one hand to another, and sharing their thoughts. The response was far more enthusiastic than we had imagined.
Many members smiled and said they had never seen an ID card designed like this before. That made us happy because we had never wanted to create something ordinary. If our community celebrated creativity through photography, even something as simple as an ID card deserved the same creative thought and attention.
Creativity doesn’t begin with the camera. It becomes part of everything we choose to create.
We briefly updated everyone on everything that had happened over the previous ten days. From applying for the Community Name and Logo Trademark, introducing Lifetime Membership and Membership ID Cards, to the progress of our upcoming website, those few days had quietly laid the foundation for ShutterSociety.HYD 2.0. It was a short update, but it gave everyone a glimpse of how much work had gone on behind the scenes before the community stepped into its second year.
Before concluding the briefing, I decided to add one small surprise. I asked everyone a simple question.
Can anyone guess the name of the only person who has attended every single ShutterSociety.HYD meetup, collaboration event, and even our small informal meetups of 2025?
Members immediately began calling out different names.
Then I smiled and announced, “It is Mr. Cherry Mokka.”
The moment his name was announced, two volunteers standing quietly behind him burst open celebration poppers. Colourful confetti filled the air as loud cheers and applause echoed around the gathering. The surprise caught even Mr. Cherry Mokka completely off guard. His expression said everything.
Ironically, even Mr. Sai Thejeshwar Rao and I had each missed one or two meetups during the year, but Cherry had been present at every single one. It was a small gesture of appreciation for someone who had stood beside the community from day one.
It was a small surprise, but one that made the beginning of our first birthday celebration even more memorable.
With the excitement still in the air, it was time for our traditional group photographs.
Finding enough space for more than 130 photographers in the busy streets around Charminar was certainly not easy. After a few attempts, we managed to organise one large group photograph before dividing everyone into smaller groups for additional photographs.
As we were taking the group photos, I couldn’t help comparing them with our very first meetup at the same place a year earlier. Yes, the number of members had grown, but what stood out even more was how comfortable everyone had become with one another.
Most members were no longer meeting for the first time. They had become good friends, and seeing that change made me genuinely happy. That was the biggest reflection of our first year.
Growth is measured not only by the people who join, but by the friendships they build.
Soon, our street photography walk began.
Just like our very first meetup a year earlier, we stepped into the narrow lanes around Charminar, exploring the old city through our cameras once again. Mr. Cherry Mokka and I guided members through different streets, searching for interesting morning light, local life, portraits, and everyday moments waiting to be photographed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sai Thejeshwar Rao, along with a few volunteers, quietly headed towards the terrace to prepare everything for the birthday celebration. Banners were carefully placed, balloons, tables were arranged for the cakes, snacks, water bottles, and everything needed for the celebration later that morning.
His support reminded us once again that when people believe in a community’s purpose, they happily become part of its journey.
While the streets filled with photographers, learning happened exactly as it always had.
Without anyone asking, experienced photographers naturally began helping beginners with composition, framing, camera settings, and creative ideas. Small groups gathered around interesting scenes, discussing different perspectives and patiently answering one another’s questions.
I spent some time with a few beginners, demonstrating how morning light and shadows could completely change a photograph. We also spoke with several mobile photographers, helping them explore Pro Mode settings and showing how much creative control they already had in their own devices.
Knowledge grows best when it is shared freely.
Many members who had joined us for the first time later shared how comfortable they felt within minutes of arriving. They had expected a formal photography group, but instead found themselves walking alongside friendly photographers who were eager to help without making anyone feel inexperienced.
As the morning photowalk came to an end, we requested everyone to gather once again near our meeting point before walking together to the celebration venue. Since most members didn’t know the exact location of the terrace, moving together also became another memorable part of the experience. Excitement was clearly visible on everyone’s faces, but nobody quite knew what was waiting for them.
A few minutes later, we climbed to the terrace. The moment everyone reached the top, a collective smile spread across the gathering.
Standing nearly five floors above the busy streets, we were welcomed by a breathtaking panoramic view of Charminar. Almost everyone had photographed the monument countless times from the ground, but very few had experienced this unique perspective. Along with the decorated terrace, balloons, banners, and the open sky above us, the entire atmosphere immediately felt different.
It was the perfect place to celebrate our first birthday.
Before the cake cutting began, we spent some relaxed time simply talking with one another.
Some members shared their journey with ShutterSociety.HYD over the past year, while those attending for the very first time spoke about their experience of joining the community. Listening to their stories reminded us that every meetup had become someone’s first chapter, just as it had been for all of us a year earlier.
Meanwhile, tea and biscuits prepared by Nimrah Café were served across the terrace, giving everyone another opportunity to continue conversations while enjoying the beautiful view of Charminar.
Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonized and united properly. – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
One thoughtful detail made the experience even more comfortable.
Although the January sun had slowly started getting brighter, the terrace offered plenty of shaded space, allowing everyone to enjoy the celebration without worrying about the heat. Sometimes, the smallest comforts become part of the biggest memories.
Before moving towards the cakes, I launched my drone from the terrace.
Within moments, more than 140 photographers gathered together, waving towards the sky as the drone captured one of the most memorable moments in our community’s journey. Seeing our first birthday celebration unfold with the magnificent Charminar standing proudly in the background was a view none of us would ever forget.
A little later, Mr. Aslam Bhai also joined us on the terrace.
He spent a few moments interacting with our members and shared his appreciation for what ShutterSociety.HYD had been doing for the city. He spoke warmly about how our community was not only capturing Hyderabad through photographs but also presenting its culture, heritage, and people in a meaningful way.
Support like this reminds us that communities grow stronger when local people begin believing in their vision.
Communities flourish when kindness, trust, and shared purpose come together.
Then came yet another unexpected surprise.
Representatives from ETV Bharat arrived to cover our first birthday celebration.
They interacted with our members, recorded interviews, photographed the celebrations, and spoke with us about the journey of ShutterSociety.HYD, our vision, and the purpose behind building a non commercial photography community.
This memorable media coverage became possible because of one of our senior photographers and regular community members, Mr. Firdaus Mistri, who took the initiative to connect with the media and invite them to cover the celebration.
That moment beautifully reflected one belief we had always shared.
A community should always be driven by its people, not just by its admins.
We have always believed that every member has something valuable to contribute, whether it’s a new idea, volunteering during an event, creating opportunities, or simply helping another photographer learn. As admins, our role is to listen, encourage, and provide the right environment where those ideas can grow into reality. That is how ShutterSociety.HYD has evolved over the years, not because of a few individuals, but because hundreds of passionate members have continued to shape this journey together.
Finally, it was time.
Instead of gathering around one single cake, we invited everyone to form five different groups around the terrace. Five beautifully prepared cakes waited to be cut together, allowing every member to become part of the celebration rather than simply watching from a distance.
“Happy Birthday to US” filled the terrace.
Cheers echoed across the rooftop. Laughter replaced every remaining bit of formality.
For the next several minutes, nothing else mattered except the joy of celebrating together.
As pieces of cake were shared, countless group photographs, selfies, hugs, conversations, and laughter filled every corner of the terrace. Looking around, it was almost impossible to believe that some of these people had met for the very first time only a few hours earlier.
It truly felt like one family celebrating its birthday.
The greatest celebration is not the one with the biggest cake, but the one shared with the right people.
Even after the celebration officially came to an end, nobody seemed ready to leave. We kept reminding everyone that it was time to head home so the terrace could be cleaned and packed up, but every few minutes another conversation would begin, another group photo would be taken, and another memory would be created.
Looking around, it was hard to believe that this was the same community that had started with a handful of photographers just one year earlier. Somewhere along the journey, our monthly meetups had quietly become a family gathering, and that was perhaps the most beautiful way to celebrate our first birthday.
If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together. – Ratan Tata
Looking back today, our first birthday was never just about completing one year.
It became a celebration of every friendship that had begun through a shared passion for photography, every volunteer who had stepped forward without being asked, every lesson shared between members, every collaboration that strengthened our purpose, and every smile that reminded us why this community exists.
We came together because of photography. We stayed together because of the people.
As we walked down from the terrace, a few members joined us for lunch nearby, extending the celebration a little longer. Good food, endless conversations, shared laughter, and discussions about photography made it feel like the meetup simply continued around the dining table.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every ShutterSociety.HYD member who joined us in celebrating this unforgettable milestone and to everyone who contributed to making the day so special. Our sincere thanks to Mr. Aslam Bhai, Mr. Nikhil, the entire Nimrah Cafe team, and everyone who supported us with warmth, generosity, and encouragement. We are equally grateful to Mr. Firdaus Mistri for helping bring media coverage to this celebration and to every volunteer whose efforts quietly made the day possible.
As we stepped down from the terrace and looked back one final time at Charminar, it felt as though the circle had come complete.
Exactly where the journey had begun one year earlier, another chapter had quietly come to life.And together, we were ready to begin writing the next one.
