‘Telling unique stories is what inspires my works’

Olumide Bisiriyu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EGC Media, is a professional photographer and cinematographer with a career spanning over 23 years and who has worked with notable personalities and organisations across the country. He spoke with MUYIWA ADEYEMO about his exploits, the challenges of being a photographer in Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts.

Can you describe the kind of photography you practice?

I do events and documentary photography. Once in a while, I do behind-the-scenes photography. Generally, I still like to call myself a documentary photographer with all these.

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At what point did you discover your calling in photography?

It all started in 1995 when I was in Gaskiya College, Badia, Lagos. My Geography teacher came to class one day and after teaching us, he was talking about a vision he had to establish a photo club in the school and use it to train people in photography. We all knew it was his side hustle and he was one of the richest teachers we had. So, many people keyed in. But I was among the few who went for further studies with him and later became president of the photo club, before I graduated from the school.

It was the combination of art and scientific tools like intuition, formulation of hypothesis and the desire to be unconventionally unique and curious that attracted me to photography. All these traits were innate for me, in the first place. The idea of using pictures to tell stories was also a pointer to the discovery. I used to gather people around in my Ajegunle neighbourhood of Lagos where I grew up then to tell them stories. But with my photography I started telling stories with just pictures. It felt so good.

When you make pictures, capture people and record moments, what drives you? What are your signature concepts; things that always determine your choices and decisions?

It’s the story. Those I have trained and who have worked with me will probably not forget the way I questioned why they took the shot they took and what they want to say with it. Although everyone will not read the same story from a particular shot, I always like a case whereby when someone looks at a shot I took, it strikes a chord in them and either stir up some emotion through old stories they remember or make them imagine something entirely new.

This is the same reason why when I shoot behind-the-scenes, documentaries or cover events, I rarely go for shots that don’t tell a story peculiar to the event. I like it when my clients see my work and they tell whoever is with them “Oh, this was when so soso was doing so soso”, and things of that nature.

What are the challenges you face as an independent photographer?

First would be the market. It is too saturated. Nowadays, every Tom, Dick, and Harry just buys camera put it on Auto mode and start shooting and they call themselves photographers. Clients, of course, mostly can’t easily tell if they are professional. Yet being a photographer goes beyond just pointing and shooting with the camera. Second is the smart phone photography. Sometimes when you discuss fee with some clients, you hear them say “How can you charge that much for something I can even take with my phone?” And that leads me to third; many colleagues will take these low paying jobs because of the hardship in economy and high competition in the photography profession. But I don’t blame them because I know they want to survive.

Another challenge is that some people look down on you just because they think photographers are poor people. I’ve been to an event I drove my car to, wore a decent attire and a guest who may not have worth much was looking down on me before trying to order me around on something that wasn’t even my business in the event. Of course, I know how to handle such people from experience. My advice to fellow photographers is to present themselves well on any job. It’s the first step to defeating any challenge (embarrassments) we have on the job.

What moments would you describe as the lowest and highest points in your career?

I can’t really pinpoint any lowest point in my career right now. But there are many high points and best experiences, like the many interstate travels I’ve made, the road trips, experiencing different cultures, and more. Maybe there are two peaks. One would be when I started training budding photographers, both before and when I partnered with NYSC Skill Aquisition and Entrepreneural Development (SAED) in Oyo State; the joy of seeing some of my trainees do something with what I taught them. The other peak may be when a set of clients I last saw in year 1999 called me from USA and said they wanted me to shoot photos and video of their wedding. That project led to me shooting the music video of Fuji icon, Pasuma, during their wedding. The fact that they remembered me after many years, and they being out of Nigeria gladdened my heart. It made me realise that clients appreciate what I shoot for them.

Your aspirations and expectations and experiences you look forward to?

In still photography, I hope to win World Photography Award someday. In motion photography, I hope to shoot as many uncommon films that will inspire people as possible. And for both, I want to train people to become great photographers and videographers that the world will revere.

Photography or cinematography, which do you have bias and more preference for?

It’s a tricky question but I’d answer this way: You can’t be a good cinematographer if you don’t have good knowledge of photography, so photography is still part of cinematography. However, cinematography is a step higher, because every cinematographer can be described as photographer but not every photographer can be described as cinematographer. I don’t have bias for either, but I’d prefer to be known more as a cinematographer.