Listening to The Cavemen – Adaugo
APH – We are so pleased to have you here with us today. (Smiles) Tell us TripCity Visuals, What’s your name? Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
TripCity Visuals – “Oh Thank you so much for having me, well I am Ayorinde Olanrewaju, the lead photographer of Tripcity Visuals which is based in Lagos Nigeria. I was born and raised in Lagos.”
APH – Born and raised in Lagos, I see you are a real Lagos boy. We see Photography is clearly a huge part of your life. What were the steps you took to get to where you are now in the world of photography?
TripCity Visuals– “I got a career Job as an auditor to make sure i survived on a day to day, surrounded myself with other creatives and lots of youtube videos”.
APH – Watching lots of YouTube tutorials and surrounding yourself with other creatives, from looking at your instagram page @lanreay; I can see it’s paying off. How long have you being a photographer?
TripCity Visuals– “I have been a photographer for a little over 10 years”.
APH – 10 years!!!, well folks it seems we have an ultimate professional right here in our midst. In those 10years, Did you have it easy when you started?
TripCity Visuals – “(laughs) Nothing is ever easy, but photography wasn’t my first choice, it was for fun. I wanted to be a music producer but that never panned out. I didnt take it seriously until a friend paid me N5,000 for a portrait, thats when i decided to be serious with it”.
APH – Okay. Are you self-taught? Or did you learn under someone? {If you were self-taught how was the experience? If you learned under someone how was the experience}
TripCity Visuals – “I am self taught, i spent a lot of time on youtube, watching Flearn. I also surrounded myself with other photographers who were coming up at the time”.
APH – What niche of photography are you into?
TripCity Visuals – “Studio Portraits”
APH – Studio Portraits!! Wow, why did you choose to pick that Niche?
TripCity Visuals – “It was what i felt the best balance. Comfort of being able to control all elements involved and exciting enough to keep me passionate”.
APH – And that passion is leading you to create beautiful photos. I have to, I’m in love with almost all your photos. Show us 5 of your favorite pictures you have taken.
TripCity Visuals – “Thank you, Sadly I don’t have any. I am pretty hard on myself. and i always feel like i should’ve done better. It’s not a great thing but i am working on it”.
APH – I sure hope you work on it quickly. But I have to ask, how do you come up with such amazing concepts for your photos? Is there a mood you have to be in to channel out your artistic side?
TripCity Visuals – “Most Images are paid Jobs, so clients share their ideas via moodboard and i try to make it mine. We play around with other things on the fly but ultimately the client decides”.
APH – Okay. Do you think gear matters in photography?
TripCity Visuals – “I think it does, but it’s not the end all be all”.
APH – What gear did you start with during the genesis of your photography journey ?
TripCity Visuals – “Hmmm I can’t remember all of it but Camera was a Canon 1100d and Canon 60d and a 200w light Kit”.
APH – Where is your studio located or where are you based?
TripCity Visuals – “My Studio is Based in Lekki, Lagos”
APH – Do you travel a lot because of work?
TripCity Visuals – No i don’t travel much.
APH – 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?
TripCity Visuals – “When i started it was Idris Dawodu, Prince Meyson, Niyi Okeowo. But right now my Main influences are Olanrewaju V, Olasunkanmi Iroko, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Tim Tadder, Eli Ifante.
APH -Their Positive influence is really rubbing off well on you. Do you ever get insecure or not satisfied with a particular shoot?
TripCity Visuals – “I am always insecure and not satisfied. I get over it by grounding myself in the fact that my clients are happy”.
APH – That’s a good place to start. Speaking of happiness, do you have any bad experience or awesome moments you would love to share throughout your years as a photographer?
TripCity Visuals – “I have a lot of great moment, what sticks out is my one bad moment where someone threatened my life. It was a long time ago, glad it didn’t go too far”
APH – Thank goodness it didn’t go too far. Is there something you really want to achieve in the world of photography?
TripCity Visuals – “I am not that ambitious, I just want to be happy, make my clients happy and make good money”.
APH – Do you ever turn down jobs? If yes, why?
TripCity Visuals – “Yes i do. Mostly because of the client is not willing or able to pay my value. I have also turned down jobs cause i was not generally comfortable with the client.
APH – So far is it easy being a photographer in your country?
TripCity Visuals – “It’s not easy but i do what i can. Cost of Gear, General perception of photography being about “pressing a button” Or “Just pictures”, Security situations (Esp in Lagos)”.
APH – Yeah exactly, most times people make snarky comments like “my phone can take better pictures than a camera” and I just laugh to myself. With your 10 years experience being a Photographer Do you have any advice for any one starting out as a photographer?
TripCity Visuals – “Youtube is the greatest asset you have at your disposal. Use it extensively” .
The 54th 