Kushimo Oluwabunmi Anuoluwapo is one of Nigeria’s hardworking and upcoming photographers, rapidly working her way to popularity. She is the head photographer and creative director at Olúbùnmi Photography.
Life has dealt her blows at different points but she refuses to be daunted. She studied Mass Communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, where she bagged Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
Having been passionate about capturing special moments and creating memories, she combined passion with education to establish the business which involves helping people to document their best moments into beautiful memories. She says that following her passion is one of the best decisions she has made personally. She is happy to be a photographer and thrives in a business dominated by men.
She started her business in 2014 as a student with N15, 000. Then, she used a small camera, though her father later gave her a brand new one. However, while serving as a National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) member, she purchased a professional camera, funded with her savings and contributions from friends and family members. From then on, she built her business and purchased other necessary equipment, including lighting set, mobile studio, and flash diffuser, among others.
“Starting a business in Nigeria is not easy, but because I was passionate about it and was encouraged by my family and friends, I did not give up,” she says.
Since Anuoluwapo started her business, she has worked on improving herself and building her clientele. She has been able to record progressive growth in her business, making reasonable profits in the process. She attributes this to the kind of friendly relationship established with the clients.
“Currently at Olúbùnmi, we are at a competitive stage where we have to keep being creative and relevant in our artwork without running another man’s race,” she says.
She has a five-man team of professional employees who assist her in various jobs. In addition to this, she has successfully registered her business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Despite the excitement she has for her business, she encounters major challenges which include: getting some necessary but very expensive instruments, influx of smart phones trying to replace cameras, and unstable electricity. The entrepreneur wants the government to implement policies that will aid start-ups, especially access to cheap funds. She also requests organisations to support upcoming entrepreneurs to acquire more training through workshops and seminars that will help them to improve. She stresses the need for the government to create an enabling business environment by way of easy access to cheap credit, removal of multiple taxes and regulators, among others.
The budding entrepreneur has plans to create a niche in photography that will be unique to her brand. She also plans to get a studio that will serve as a training institute for prospective photographers, partner with event managers in order to have consistent clientele and also incorporate video coverage, which she can employ someone for.
Apart from being certified as a project manager, the entrepreneur attends trainings and works with top-notch photographers, which gives her the necessary experience and knowledge.
She is inspired by major players in the industry as well as events happening in her surroundings. Her life’s values are hard work, dedication and prayer, which have worked for her over the years, even before she became a photographer.
Advising other entrepreneurs, she says, “It is not easy but with hard work and determination, it will be worth it.”
Gbemi Faminu
