By Amara Iwuala

“I’m Not Really Big on Product Photography” – Zaynab Abdulrahman

As an adolescent, Zaynab Abdulrahman realized that, in order to keep memories, she enjoyed using her phone to take the pictures of people and things. She discusses her five-year journey as a professional photographer with Amarachukwu Iwuala.

Zaynab Abdulrahman obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Lagos. She works in an organization whose main business involves figures and for someone who did not study Accounting in school, she is grateful for the knowledge she acquires on-the-job as well as the people she meets in the course of discharging her duties.

How does Abdulrahman, who mainly executes Portrait and Event Photography, juggle her finance job and Photography, not to mention her responsibility as a family woman? “I try my best to set up shoots on weeknights, weekends and holidays. Then, I usually edit at night after attending to my domestic and family needs.”

She throws more light on her speciality. “I do mostly parties – birthdays, weddings and naming ceremonies. I also do portraits either in my studio or at the client’s home. I’ve equally done a few sporting events, specifically boxing. I’m not really big on Product Photography because I still have a lot to learn in that area and it takes a lot of commitment, expertise, time and money. I’ve done a few child photoshoots as well, but I’m not actually a fan of that because it takes a lot of patience.”

Abdulrahman has attended seminars and workshops like the 2013 Nigeria Photography Expo and Conference (NIPHEC), which was organised by Seun Akinsanmi and had renowned photographers like Aisha Augie-Kuta, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Shola Animashaun, Damilola Elliot and Hakeem Salaam as facilitators. Some years ago, she also attended a Jide Odukoya workshop.

Zaynab extols her friend and mentor, Emmanuel Otokpa also known as Blaze, for his unalloyed support. “He taught me Photography from scratch – from inserting a memory card, handling a camera to editing techniques. I still call him regularly when I am in a jam or trying to figure out what method to employ for a shoot and even whilst planning what gear I need to buy.”

She advises new colleagues to keep practising and learning. That way, they will continue to discover better and easier techniques.

Photos courtesy of Zaynab Abdulrahman.

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