Listening to Young Jonn – If You Leave
As we all know African Photography Hub Blog is a place where we interview and give audience to Photographers, Artists, and Creatives all over Africa.
Our first guest today is Kinz Smile @kinz_smile
APH – Kinz Smile is so good to have you here with us, tell us what is your real name? where are you from ? and where did you grow up?
Kinz_Smile – “Well, my name is Daniel Obonaje, originally from Delta State, Nigeria, Ughelli South to be precise but I grew up in Bayelsa State. As you all know I am known by my business name Kinz Smile”.
APH – Wow, I see we are both from the same state; I am also from Delta state, Ndokwa West to be precise. But that aside, I see photography is clearly a big part of your life, How and when did you develop your love for Photography?
Kinz Smile – “That’s a good question, well my love for photography came in 2012, when I walked into a computer printing shop and I met Mr Kenneth editing Pictures and I was like wow this is beautiful and I said “Can I do it too” then he said “just watch”
APH – I see we have Mr. Kenneth to thank for introducing you into the world of photography, when this love for photography started, Did you have it easy?
Kinz Smile– “Starting was very difficult and hard cause there was no support from my family. I started very small and my growth process was affected so much because my dad didn’t support my dreams, he felt one can’t live a good life with it. Then I normally borrowed Laptop to edit and it even got stolen from the window and at that point everything got so frustrating but because of my passion I continued, then in 2016 I got my breakout point”.
APH – That was a tough start, most people would have given up at some point thank God you didn’t. In all of these difficult start, did you teach yourself or did you learn under someone? How was the experience if you were self – taught and how was the experience if you learned under someone?
Kinz Smile – “Oh I taught myself, I normally stay long nights watching a lot of tutorials, it wasn’t easy though but we scaled through”.
APH – “Tell us, what Niche of Photography are you into?”
Kinz Smile – “Yeah, I’m in the Creative art, Nature, Beauty and Portrait Niche”.
APH – Why did you choose to pick that Niche?
Kinz Smile – “It gives me the avenue to connect with nature and express how I feel. I am also a poet so this Niche gives a means to express how I feel and how it relates to my environment”.
APH – “That’s a wonderful. Going back to your brand name; KINZ SMILE, how did you come up with it? Is there like a deep meaning to it?”.
Kinz Smile – “The name Kinz Smile has a meaning, the K stands for Kind, I for Intelligent, N for Nice then the Z stands for Zealous while the smile is what people wear on their faces when they see my pictures. That’s Kinz Smile.
My slogan is to keep on creating, the more you practice the easier it becomes”.
APH – From that slogan of yours, I can see you believe in the power of being Consistent. Kinz smile show us five pictures you’ve taken that you call your favorite.
APH – These pictures are amazing, also looking at your instagram page, you have amazing pictures there , how do you come up with such amazing concepts for your photos? Is there a mood you have to be in to channel in your artistic side?
Kinz Smile – “Thank you, I draw my inspiration from my environment, experiences and another major source of inspiration to me are the naturally beautiful girls. Whenever I see one on the media I get inspired. I also draw inspiration from other photographers work”.
APH – Its nice to see everything relating to nature inspires you, where is your studio located?
KInz Smile – “Oh It is located at Bayelsa State, Yenagoa”.
APH – That’s nice; do you travel a lot because of work?
Kinz smile – “Yes, I do more of training for other photographers so it makes me travel a lot”.
APH – Oh wow, maybe you should travel to us and give us one or two lessons. Do you have any influences? By that I mean do you have any artists, photographers and people etc. that have really made an impact on your work?
KInz Smile – “Yeah they are so many but I am not a loud person so even if I make an impact, I don’t post about it”.
APH – Do you ever get insecure or should I say get dissatisfied with a particular shoot?
Kinz Smile – “Yes I do but I don’t post them, the ones I do post I don’t put logo on it”.
APH – “Is there something you really want to achieve in the world of photography?”.
Kinz Smile – “My major aim is training as many people as possible so that the problem of pricing can be removed from the photography market. Because if a photographer is confident in what he or she can do he becomes bold and loves the profession even more”.
APH– Nicely said, Do you ever turn down jobs? If yes, why?”
Kinz Smile – “Yes I do, the reasons are underpricing and no value for your craft”.
APH – “So far has it been easy being a photographer in your country?”.
Kinz Smile – “Being a photographer in Nigeria is not easy, lots of failed point, pain, happiness but the mental stress involved is so much. Another one is the cost of equipment is way too expensive”.
APH – Yes, its hell in Nigeria right now but lastly, do you have any advice to any one starting out as a photographer?
Kinz Smile –
• Before you go into photography fully as a source of income you need to have another source of income or somebody sponsoring you to avoid mental stress disorder, depression and lots more.
- Date or marry someone who understands your business perspective and is ready to make it work because jealousy has destroyed lots of photographers.
- You need to be disciplined sexually in your dealings with the other gender
- Wear good cloth from time to time
- Eat good food, before you start complaining of tommy or head pain.
- There will always be another customer to satisfy but you need to be in the right state of mind to function properly.
The 54th 