By Grace Adejoh, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
On August 19, the world commemorated World Photography Day.
Professionals reflected on their journeys, challenges, and the enduring power of images to preserve memories.
For lensmen, photography is more than taking pictures; it is a livelihood, a creative expression and a record of society’s changing story.
Joshua Olorundare, founder of Joshua Expression Studios, also known as JEXP Studio, said his foray into photography began almost by accident.
Olorundare, who initially wanted to study arts and graphics, joined a government skills acquisition programme but turned to photography after discovering that the art classes were already full.
The experience introduced him to visual storytelling, a passion that was later strengthened by his studies in Mass Communication, Theatre and Performing Arts.
His journey took another turn when he moved to Kano for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Olorundare recalled that, at first, he was reluctant to identify himself as a photographer, but an opportunity to work in a studio changed his perception and opened a path for professional growth.
He continued to learn, experiment and develop his style, eventually becoming a team lead before the COVID-19 lockdown pushed him deeper into freelancing.
According to Olorundare, photography is storytelling.
He explained that his ability to create concepts and translate emotions into images became central to his work.
The lockdown, in spite of its difficulties, gave him an opportunity to build his clientele and settle a debt incurred from acquiring camera equipment.
The death of his mother later became another turning point, making him realise how central his contribution had become to the studio where he worked.
He subsequently established JEXP Studio from a modest apartment, gradually expanding the business through referrals, creativity and reinvestment.
For Olorundare, one of the biggest barriers facing photographers is the cost of equipment.
He recalled that lighting equipment costing about N160,000 in 2021 now sells for between N650,000 and N750,000, making equipment acquisition increasingly difficult.
His strategy has been to upgrade gradually, selling older equipment when necessary while retaining lenses compatible with the same camera system.
In spite of the challenges, he believes photography can provide a sustainable livelihood across different market segments.
Olorundare identifies studio rentals, content creation, concept development, mood boards and premium portrait photography as some of the avenues through which professionals can earn.
He also believes that limitations can sometimes stimulate creativity.
For Thomas Olumiya, popularly known as Sunny Light Photography, the journey started in 2015 while he was learning basic computer skills at a centre that also offered passport photography.
Whenever the owner was away, Olumiya took passport photographs for customers.
What started as an opportunity to gain experience gradually developed into a career.
His first camera was a small device brought by his brother from Sudan.
He later purchased a second-hand compact camera for about N10,000, compared with roughly N35,000 for a new one at the time.
His family initially questioned his career choice, with one of his brothers, a barrister, advising him to consider another profession.
Olumiya remained consistent and, over time, his work began to provide income and support for his family, strengthening his conviction that photography was a viable profession.
He has since covered major corporate events, including bank annual programmes, as well as assignments for organisations that took him to different parts of northern Nigeria.
He said photography had also improved his standard of living and expanded his professional network.
Like other practitioners, he is concerned about rising equipment and operational costs, particularly fluctuations linked to foreign exchange.
He also points to the seasonal nature of photography, with demand sometimes falling during the rainy season, particularly in August, before picking up between September and November.
Notwithstanding the rise of smartphones, Olumiya believes professional photography remains distinct.
“Smartphones have made casual photography easier, but professional images require technical knowledge of lighting, composition, camera settings and visual storytelling.”
For Nasir Abdullahi, a professional photographer and videographer, photography was never a carefully planned career choice.
“I got into photography in 1996,” he recalled.
He explained that he bought his first Fuji camera from a young man who needed money because the device fascinated him.
At the time, Abdullahi used film cameras and sometimes photographed people free of charge, printed their pictures and gave the images to them simply because he enjoyed seeing their happiness.
His father, he recalled, was particularly excited about his growing interest in photography.
One of his most difficult transitions came when digital cameras began replacing analogue equipment.
Having spent years working with analogue cameras, he had to learn an entirely different technology.
A memorable moment in his early career came in 1999, when a camera technician gave him another camera after his first one developed a fault that could not be repaired.
His passion eventually produced national recognition.
In 2022, Abdullahi photographed a passing-out parade of Nigeria Customs cadets at Goron Dutse in Kano.
The image was published by several newspapers and appeared prominently on the front page of Daily Trust, leading the organisation’s national PRO to seek him out and reward him for the work.
Photography later influenced his career within the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), where he worked as a marketing officer before moving into the multimedia unit.
He subsequently added videography to his skills, a combination he believes has distinguished him in the increasingly competitive visual media industry.
For Victoria Mbursa, popularly known as Zarah Lens, photography represents both family legacy and personal determination.
She began taking photographs at the age of 10, inspired by her father, who was a photography teacher, and her mother, who often served as his model.
Unable to afford a camera initially, she borrowed or rented equipment before gradually building her own professional kit.
Her journey, however, came with another challenge — gender bias.
Working in a predominantly male industry, Mbursa said she sometimes had to prove that being a woman did not diminish her ability to produce quality professional images.
She responded by building her brand, collaborating with makeup artists and fashion designers, and creating styled shoots that strengthened her portfolio.
During slow periods, she also accepted selected low-paying or unpaid assignments for exposure and relied heavily on referrals.
For Mbursa, some of her most treasured assignments are not necessarily the biggest commercial jobs but photographs of personal milestones.
One such moment was photographing her parents after they both received promotions.
She also treasures wedding, graduation and induction photographs because they become family records long after the events have ended.
“Photography is memory-keeping and truthful storytelling,” she said.
Beyond business, the photographers share a concern about documenting society’s rapidly changing social and physical landscape.
Olumiya enjoys photographing Sallah celebrations, traditional attire, early morning prayers, street life and the city’s changing infrastructure.
He believes photography can help preserve cultural practices and landscapes that may disappear as the city modernises.
Mbursa similarly advocates stronger documentary photography to record Kano’s traditions before landmarks and cultural spaces disappear through demolition and redevelopment.
She considers the state’s weddings, particularly their distinctive traditions and night ceremonies, among the subjects that deserve greater visual documentation.
Abdullahi also sees photography as a way of capturing people and places at particular moments in history.
For the practitioners, the camera therefore serves two purposes: it creates a livelihood for the photographer and leaves behind a visual archive for society.
The photographers acknowledge that smartphones, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cheaper digital tools have changed the visual industry.
They, however, argue that technology has not eliminated the need for professionals. (NANFeatures)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.