Finding Balance: How Gayatri Juvekar Merges Action Sports, Storytelling, and Photography

A photographer, athlete, and founder of Balance magazine, Gayatri Juvekar has

spent nearly a decade documenting stories of movement, nature, and resilience.

We met Gaya outside of her favorite climbing gym in Paris, Climbing District.

With a calm and confident energy, she introduced herself and her work. Originally from

India, she is currently pursuing her master’s in Fine Arts in Paris. Over the last decade,

she has traveled, photographed, and interviewed athletes across various sports. She is

also the founder of Balance, a magazine devoted to giving athletes a space to share

their stories honestly and authentically.

From Table Tennis to Surfing to Printing

Gayatri’s story starts in a place we didn’t expect, table tennis. “My dad was my coach,”

she told us, smiling. “My brother and I both played for India.” After ten years in a

competitive, family-driven environment, she needed space. “I wanted something that

was mine,” she said.

That’s when climbing entered her life completely by accident. She was working on a

documentary in India and a climber invited her to go with. “I had no idea it was a sport,”

she laughed. “It just happened through friendship.”

Soon she was spending her days outdoors, climbing and later surfing, finding herself in

spaces that connected her back to nature. “Even though I’m from the city, I’ve always

felt closer to nature. It’s what inspires me the most.”

Creating Balance

In 2020, she started Balance, a magazine for athletes and photographers. It came from

a simple realization: there weren’t enough women’s voices or even honest portrayals of

athletes in India.

“When I started climbing, there were hardly any women in the community,” she said. “I

wanted to create awareness and give people space to share their real stories. I grew up

reading Nat Geo and always wanted to make something physical — something that

lasts.”

Photography That Feels Real

When we started talking about photography, she said something that stuck:

“The media always adds something to an athlete’s story — but the story itself is already

powerful.”

That line perfectly sums up how she sees her work. She focuses on rawness, comfort,

and trust. She doesn’t stage moments — she documents them as they unfold.

“Sometimes I don’t even photograph athletes while they’re training,” she explained. “I

take pictures of them at home, with their families. Especially in India, where families are

the biggest source of support. Those stories are powerful too.”

As a team who also shoots sports and lifestyle, we get that. The moments in between

action are often where you see someone’s truth.

Style, Femininity, and Feeling Beautiful

We asked Gaya how style makes her feel in both photography and in sport. We wanted

to know how she expresses herself through clothing when she’s climbing or surfing.

“I don’t care much about how I look when I climb,” she said, “I just want to be

comfortable. But in surfing, I love to feel beautiful. Longboarding is graceful — it’s about

movement and style. Even if no one’s photographing you, it’s important to dress for

yourself and feel that beauty.”

Feeling strong and beautiful while competing is something we feel like oftentimes gets

overlooked. Gaya reminds us that beauty and elegance are equally important to

strength and power.

Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Space

Gaya talked openly about the challenges of being taken seriously as a woman in sports

photography. “When I started, people didn’t take me seriously,” she said. “If I were a

guy, they probably would have.”

But she never let that stop her. “You just have to be shameless,” she told us. “Take the

first step. Reach out. Even if someone says no, that’s the worst that can happen.”

Now she has accomplished launching a magazine that highlights the outdoor sports

community in India, has collaborated and photographed with brands like Mammut and

has exhibited in galleries in India and France.

Moving Forward

Today, Gayatri is based in Paris, where she’s working on a two-year research project

about how women athletes are represented in media. She’s also experimenting with

creating meditation spaces through photography — bringing together her love for

movement, calm, and nature.

Before we wrapped up, we asked her if there’s a dream project she’d love to shoot. She

laughed. “So many,” she said, “but snowboarding is high on the list.”

Gaya’s journey is a reminder of why stories like hers should be heard, sports are more

than just metals and trophies. They're about self-discovery, connection and the drive to

express who we are.

Credits :

PHOTOS BY PRD TEAM and GAYATRI