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Listening to Asake – Nzaza

APH – I’m a huge fan of your work. Tell us what’s your name, where are you from and where did you grow up?

C.A – My name is Christopher Agbor Asuk (JR) I’m from Ikom L.G.A in Cross River State, I grew up in Calabar, Nigeria.

APH – What made you start photography?

C.A – I used to take pictures of my friends and they really appreciated it, I got encouraged to go deeper into photography and I got really inspired.

APH – Looking at your pictures, I notice it has this dark aesthetics to it, is there a story you are trying to tell with your photos?

C.A – Well, I think every picture is inspired by something, I find inspiration from everything around me and i look for a way to create pictures out of it using my style and aesthetics.

APH – What would you say your niche in photography is?

C.A – If I was to put myself in a category, it would be Fashion but my current location doesn’t really aid that so I decided to do things my way. Break the rules and make It look magical, I think it should be called “Misfit Photography” (laughs).

APH – Why did you choose that specific niche?

C.A – I’ve always loved fashion right from childhood. So I think I really didn’t need to choose, It chose me.

APH – Did you have it easy when you first started out as a photographer?

C.A – I didn’t have it easy as a starter because I was learning on my own, I had no one to guide me at the time.

APH – Were you self taught or you learnt under someone?

C.A – I started learning on my own for about 8 months then I finally took an internship for three months to widen my knowledge, I left afterwards and continued learning by myself. I’m still in the learning process because personally I think there’s so much to learn.

APH – What skills did you have to develop as you continued to climb up the ladder?

C.A – Communication and vibes(laughs).

APH – What motivates and inspires you as a creative and a photographer?

C.A – I’m motivated by “every single thing” around me, I like to think of photography as my “Sixth Sense”, Not everyone has the ability to create art out of Mental pictures, It’s a gift that I thank God for.

APH – Do you ever criticize your own work?

C.A – I’m the number One critic of my work, I know it sounds funny, One second I love my work and the next second I’m pointing out errors, but I think I’m doing excellent regardless.

APH – What gear did you use to start out as a photographer?

C.A – I used a canon power shot (a small pocket camera) it was all I could get at the time, I used to borrow it from my friend,all I needed to do was buy finger battery.

APH – What gear do you presently use?

C.A – I shoot with a Canon 60D, I’m also privileged to have access to the Sony Alpha 6 and Alpha 7.

APH – Do you think gear matters?

C.A – Well, We can’t ignore the fact that the better and more advanced the gear the easier the job, I mean, In as much as I can create good stuff with A Canon 60D, A Canon 5D Mark IV would create even better, notwithstanding, I’ve learnt to use whatever I have to create the best that I can.

APH – What techniques do you use to capture emotion in your photos?

C.A – I love to work with mental images, I also love to be playful and natural when I’m creating images, I feel like the best things come from a place of “Good vibes & Happiness”.

APH – How do you work with clients to make sure their vision is represented in the photos?

C.A – I get to know what they like, I stay open minded basically.

APH – How do you handle difficult lighting situations?

C.A – I consider myself a very calm person even when there’s a lot of pressure, There’s either “a way” or “No way” so I try to figure it out.

APH – What do you do to stay current with photo technology and trends?

C.A – I engage basically in everything that has to do with Pop Culture, I watch a lot of movies, I use the Social media space to my advantage too, I think there’s more to Social Media than what a lot of people think.

APH – How do you ensure that you are delivering the highest-quality photos to your clients?

C.A – It’s often said that if you fail to plan, You plan to fail. Before every Job I make sure I’m inspired, I make sure I feed my brain with lots of creative contents that are similar to the task I’m about to carry out, I make sure every equipment needed is available, And I take my time to do the post production as well.

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

C.A – YES! I want to influence the world with my style, I want to shoot for the best Magazines and Fashion brands in the World, I want to have my Originals hanging in places no one can ever think of.

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

C.A – “Consistency”. I’ve grown to wherever I am because I’ve been consistent in both learning and Creating, I don’t think there’s a better way to go about it, Starting up is never easy but Loving what you do will give you the drive.