Today we’d like to introduce you to Hussein Njoroge.
Hussein, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was meant to go to Dental School… I actually went to Dental School in Russia but when I moved to the U.S, I was told that my credits weren’t transferable and that I had to start all over. Bummer! So in 2010, I bought my girlfriend a DSLR and ended up taking most of her pictures instead and that’s partly how my new career started. Cinematic lighting was one of my initial interests and I somehow I ended up learning off-camera flash. Shout out to The Strobist – lighting 101. My first photoshoot was with Air France in Seattle, WA and the mission was to capture their last flight – they were closing their station in Seattle, WA. I had been working at the airport as a ticketing agent with Lufthansa, a German airline, and my colleagues knew me to be a ‘talented’ photographer and recommended my services to them. This event propelled me into the professional photography scene. A few years later into the craft. I’m now in Dallas, TX and I meet Hollyhood Bay Bay – a southern music legend and a radio personality. Through him, I enter into the music industry scene and have had the opportunity to work with celebrities and travel all over the U.S and the Caribbean. When I’m not touring the world lol… I love shooting weddings and couples. I like the concept of love and enjoy telling their stories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a creative, I am constantly faced with challenges. I have had to learn that to be able to make it in this industry, it’s not always up to one’s raw natural talent. You have to be business savvy as well. Also, as creators, we are eternally dissatisfied and rarely content with our work. It’s like chasing rainbows. There’s always better, newer, trendier than your style or work. But all in all challenges shape us. One African proverb says, “It is a crooked wood that shows the best sculptor.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a photographer and a cinematographer. I shoot weddings and portraits and also shoot video content and help build brands. When I go to capture an event, I mostly use my ears and my other senses more than my eyes. In order to tell a story in its entirety you have to put the viewer in the scene and make them feel as if they were there. For instance, I close my eyes and feel the wind blowing, then I capture a flag blowing in the wind or rustling of leaves on trees or a balloon blown away. If I’m in a coffee shop, I hear the sound of the door open, the grinding, banging, pounding etc. I use sound a motivator for my edits. I strive to be as descriptive as I can and this is what I am known for. I am not perfect, but I’m mostly proud of my achievements thus far and hope to build more on the business side of things.
What makes you happy?
To be able to do that which brings me internal satisfaction. Have enough time to share with my loved ones. The process of creating is joyful and is a unique expression of self. Creative freedom makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Email: liveandinspirephotos@gmail.com
- Website: www.liveandinspirephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/live_and_inspire_photography
