My Date with Asudi, Photographer

What motivated you to start a career in photography?

Freedom and creativity. Growing up as a kid, I relished travelling to new places, networking, being well endowed socially and economically. The other thing is that  I wanted to reinvent the wheel of photography because it is less censored and therefore the power of imagination and creation goes beyond the common rationale of what is admissible and justifiable.  Therefore, photography has allowed me to live my dream every single day.

You own a photography company, Satira Studios. Tell us more about it

I had two ideas, setting up a modelling and casting agency and a photography/videography company. After four months of a feasibility study, I realized that a modelling & casting agency can be incorporated in the latter. And so, Satira Studios has a holistic approach towards the ever-changing entrepreneurship and personal needs of clients across the board. We offer the following services:-

* Photography- wedding, event, product, lifestyle/fashion, portrait, business and boudoir photography.

* Videography - Business, Product, Event, Wedding, Product and Lifestyle.

* Photo Mounting - A1,A2,A3,A4 & A5

We have 2-4 services that are yet to be added until the moment we are sure of their viability in the market.

COVID-19 has greatly affected many businesses. What innovative ways have come up with to continue running your photography business?

That is true, it hit hard. However, upon the closure of many offices and businesses, the chunk of the population resorted to side hustles. And there was an information transfer/delivery void. So we jumped in to provide photography and videography services to enable them to reach a wider base of clientele.               
How would you describe your photography style?

Well, it is dynamic. I try every day to be versatile so as not to be choosy when it comes to bookings that we receive every day. However, I have plans to settle on boudoir photography, probably when we get more staff at Satira Studios. I have been doing boudoir photography for quite some time now. Boudoir enables me to juggle between several styles from lifestyle, product, vintage, black and white(bnw), portrait to fine art photography. Though  I have never dared to showcase any work due to censorship and client preferences, I look forward to mounting an exhibition once or twice in a year.

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?

Willy Muturi has had an immense impact on the way I photograph.  I had a one on one chat with him this year at Safari Park Hotel where we engaged on studio setup, his preferred base of clientele, online community engagement and his journey as a photographer. In 2015, I met Steve Mccurry and Phil Borges, via social media. Their work and how they integrate it in their daily life fueled me to reimagine my reality beyond the frozen moment, to them storytelling is salient in creating social change and awareness. Therefore, photography to me, just like any other art should be used as an impetus to social, cultural,  economic and political change.

What makes a good photographer?

Although photographers have varied ways of making an awesome photograph (s), she or he must know the rule of thirds, must be creative with a plethora of imaginations. A good photographer must be flexible/versatile. She or he should have top-notch client service and relation and lastly, passion is king. 

Which is your favourite subject to photograph and why?

Mmmmm...any day, any time, I will photograph a family without thinking twice. They are at the epicentre of the word of mouth marketing strategy which translates to a strong marketing strategy.

How do you prepare for a shoot?

There is that bit of booking then after ascertaining the nature of the shoot.  I move to the iceberg, it involves the following:-

Exact location, time of arrival and departure, available means of transport. If a shoot is not impromptu, I normally pack for a day too.

What kind of gear do you use and how do you keep up with advancements of gear every year?

I use Godox and Yongnuo Light Equipment. For cameras, Canon 80D, Nikon D5600,5300 and 3300. Upgrades in photography happen more regularly and sometimes there is a deep-seated statement that says ‘it is not about the camera, it is about the person behind it’. If you check Steve Mccurry camera and lens, for a person of his stature, you’d expect him to have the latest Nikon, Canon, Sony or Fujifilm. So in a nutshell, I keep up with the ever dynamic photography world by either changing a part of the camera or the light equipment

Between taking and editing photos, which is your favourite process?

It is a tough choice..hahaha. In August, I did product photography for furniture (50 photos). It took me three good days to wrap up the editing. The same month, I had a wedding shoot (200 photos). The next day, after five hours, I was done. Photographers across the board value the importance of having a perfect photograph before heading to Adobe Photoshop, which essentially makes post-production easier. So, I prefer going out to take that near-perfect photo that will take minimal time to edit. 

You studied Anthropology. What is the connection between Anthropology and photography?

There is a thick line between the two disciplines. However, it is all about integration and application. Anthropology studies human behaviour and societies in present and past. When the study is qualitatively and quantitatively analysed, a lot is brought to attention be it culturally,  economically or socially. Therefore when photography is brought into the equation as an economic venture, the result will be a very strong data-driven business model. And that is the trajectory of Satira Studios.

What is the most rewarding part of being a photographer for you?

I have an intrinsic attachment to feedback be it negative or positive. It allows reevaluating the business model in terms of reaching out to more clients, tailored services and keeping up with any kind of advancement.

What is the most difficult part of being a photographer and what challenges do you face?
There is healthy competition from incredible smartphones with crystal clear images and videos then there's another one from fellow DSLR and mirrorless camera users. Such advancements in technology and an increase in people offering similar/same services has contracted the market base. And therefore through the aforementioned approach to the market from a socio-cultural perspective, it will give us an edge as a company. 

Your last word to any person who would want to start a career in photography?

Start with what you have and be coachable.

Let’s get social

Instagram, Twitter and Facebook - @satira studios

Asudi -  @_gitira