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Listening to SZA – Kill Bill

Ukoli Orezi is a Nigerian photographer from Delta state, he grew up in Delta state, Warri to be precise.

He always being a lover of art but 2019 was when he actually ventured into photography consistently building his portfolio.

His instagram- @iamko_rez

APH – Did you have it easy when you started?

Ukoli Orezi – “Starting out anything is always one of the hardest points in life. Personally it was more of a passion driven kind of race, I was eager to learn and to so much even when I had nothing, no gears just the passion and urge to create, learning wasn’t easy because I had limited resources and people to learn from. Still learning more though”.

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}

Ukoli Orezi – “Nobody is really self taught if we want to be honest, there’s always a teacher. Mine was majorly YouTube and photographers I could reach out to or were willing to mentor me. Shout out to Olischibogu. I also went to a photography studio but not for long”.

APH – What niche of photography are you into?

Ukoli Orezi – “I don’t really believe in niches, it’s really more of like a mental creative cage to me . I just have what I shoot often and what I like shooting the most. I enjoy portrait, fashion photography, events and food photography the most.

Never picked a niche more like they picked me. Since they are what I enjoy doing the most. My background in photography, contents i consumed and photographers around me also played major roles. Portrait, fashion and food photography really just came to be. More are likely to be added or removed as I grow as a creative”.

APH – How did you come up with your brand name? Is there a story behind it?

Ukoli Orezi – “The name of my brand is Korez, its a combination of my two names. It reminds me of where I’m from, who I am and who I aim to be. More like a formed identity of the future Me”.

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?

Ukoli Orezi – “Personally I feel I create than just photograph. Inspiration comes from the things I see, the things I have around me, I try to put it together in one piece. There’s no particular mood I need to be, I’m always eager to create even when I’m not I’m not able to, I express myself through other art forms such as writing etc”.

APH – Where is your studio located or where are you based?

Ukoli Orezi – “For now I don’t have a studio, I’m a freelancer based in Warri and also Benin”.

APH – Do you travel a lot because of work?

Ukoli Orezi – “Not yet but I’ll love to, looking forward to that”.

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?

Ukoli Orezi – Yes, I have a lot. Looking up to people and mentors have really made a big impact in my work, ranging from the way I colour grade, shoot, branding, even to the bare minimum. Ebuka mordi is one of those photographers, really inspired me as a creative”.

APH – Do you have any bad experience or awesome moments you would love to share throughout your years as a photographer?

Ukoli Orezi – “My best moments as a photographer or creative is being able to document and freeze time in just one frame. Being able to create and not just photograph and see the outcome. I’m more into the process than the result, creating itself is an art form. My worst times as a photographer is when I’m not in an environment that fuels my creativity or not being able to create as much as I want to”.

APH – Do you ever get insecured or get dissatisfied after a particular shoot?

Ukoli Orezi – “It really depends. I tend to be a perfectionist, so before and while on set my main aim is always to create and I’ve come to know that not every shoot you do will actually be your best. This is why I’m always more focused on the process since that’s what guarantees the result”.

APH – Is there something you really want to achieve in the world of photography?

Ukoli Orezi – “Yes, there are actually quite alot but my major aim is to actually inspire creatives like me to want to create. Especially struggling creatives, I know how it feels like to want to create but you have no where and nothing to start with. I’ll love to use my photography as a platform to bridge the gap between creatives and them actually achieving their dreams. Letting people know that my photography is not just about pretty pictures but an avenue to inspire struggling creatives like me that there’s always hope, make them understand themselves, be moved to create, believe in themselves and enjoy what they do”.

APH – Do you ever turn down jobs? If yes, why?

Ukoli Orezi – “Yes I tend to turn down jobs when I feel I’m not being valued enough for my work, when I’m over stressed or my time is not being valued as a creative”.

APH – So far has it been easy being a photographer in your country?

Ukoli Orezi – “Good things never come easy even though its kind of harder in Nigeria due to security factors, the environment, power issues and a whole lot more”.

APH – Do you have any advice to any one starting out as a photographer?

Ukoli Orezi – “My advice to anyone starting out as a photographer is to be willing to learn, be passionate to know, be strong to persist and also believe. Put in the work, you may have nothing but you have the ability to have everything. Be intentional about growth, do what you have to do and trust me God will always make a way, he always does”.