APH – What’s your name? Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
Styles Imagery – “My name is Mattu Oretemi, i hail from Warri north LGA of Delta State, i was born and brought up at Asaba”.
APH – Photography is clearly a big part of your life. What were the steps you took to get you to where you are now in the world of photography?
Styles Imagery – “Hmm….. So many ups and down it has not been an easy journey for me but passion for the job kept me going, so many sleepless nights watching tutorials on YouTube in fact YouTube became my best app, going through Instagram to see crafts from other creative, i will say am self-taught, though i pay for class most times, all still boils down to my personal development”.
APH – How long have you being a photographer?
Styles Imagery – “It’s been 7 years now started professionally 2022”.
APH – Which means 2022 is really a big year for you, did you have it easy when you first started?
Styles Imagery – “It has not been easy seeing that i had no back up financially and i was still in school, i had to rent cameras from others and most time i will end up using all the money i made to pay for the camera 😂 😂 😂. And i will also borrow a friends laptop to edit not until i got mine it was not easy at all”.
APH – 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}.
Styles Imagery – “I would say i was self-taught of course i got basic knowledge from someone but i wanted to do more, that zeal made me dive in to watching different tutorials online, i would stay up at night to watch and practice all i have learned, am still learning and i will keep on learning cause am opened to innovations and its only a dead man that will ignore knowledge”.
APH – What niche of photography are you into?
Styles Imagery – “Am basically a portrait and documentary photographer”.
APH – Why did you choose to pick that Niche?
Styles Imagery – “Photography for me is documentary, documentary give you the power to explore , i love traveling, going to new places mixing with different people , in documentary you are not limited to the basic rules of photography (you know? You just do your thing”. And as long as you are hitting the nail on the head no one cares if you don’t follow the rules, so it’s pretty simple and less work. Shooting Portrait is beautiful but i prefer documentary any day any time”.
APH – How do you come up with such amazing concepts for your photos? Is there a mood you to be in to achieve such concept?
Styles Imagery – “No special process i just follow my spirit”.
APH – Do you think gear matters in photography?
Styles Imagery – “Definitely gears matters a lot but there are no restrictions to getting the best with whatever gears you have at any giving time”.
APH – What gear did you start with during the genesis of your photography journey?
Styles Imagery – “I started with a very low canon camera i think canon 3000D”.
APH – Where is your studio located or where are you based?
Styles Imagery – “Am currently based in Abraka , Delta State”.
APH – Do you travel a lot because of work?
Styles Imagery – “Yes i do”.
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?
Styles Imagery – “Yes i do have a lot of them but to mention a few; Feyinkar Kabod , Amazing Klef, Kelechi Amadiobi, Wale visuals, Image Faculty, Kinz smile, Prince Meyson, Tolani Alli, Kode Blacc, Fortunate (RIP”).
APH – Do you ever get insecure or get dissatisfied with a particular shoot?
Styles Imagery – “Sometimes”
APH – Do you have any bad experience or awesome moments you would love to share throughout your years as a photographer?
Styles Imagery – “Lol many but let me just say this one, i was paid to cover a baby dedication and i went very early forgetting my memory card and i did not notice until it was time for the dedication, it was a very painful experience”.
APH – Is there something you really want to achieve in the world of photography?
Styles Imagery – “I just want to be the best”
APH – Do you ever turn down jobs? If yes, why?
Styles Imagery – “Yes, price issues or if am occupied / booked at the same time”.
APH – So far has it been easy being a photographer in your country?
Styles Imagery – “It’s not easy to be a photographer in Nigeria gears and equipment’s are fucking expensive, compared to the price we charge for jobs”.
APH – Do you have any advice to any one starting out as a photographer?
Styles Imagery – “Be intentional, know why you want to be a photographer and stay on track, knowledge is Paramount, make sure to learn from a professional not a mediocre”.
The 54th 