Meet Udoka Okafor of UDOKAFORPHOTOS in Garland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Udoka Okafor.

Udoka, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My photography journey began 2 1/2 years ago. I was in the middle of a mid 20’s crisis and I needed an outlet. I’ve had a passion for writing poetry and revisited writing again. While writing I thought, why not make funny videos and create visuals to go with my poetry. So, I took a trip to BestBuy and purchased my first camera; a canon t5i. Little did I know, God had another purpose for me and my camera. My eldest sister invited me to take a weekend trip to Colorado as she needed a quick get-away and just wanted to go somewhere. I joined her on the trip and used this opportunity to explore a new adventure with my shiny, new camera. I captured photos of the tall mountains, the nice scenery, and anything I found beautiful around the city. I came back home and showed my friends and family the photographs and their overwhelming reactions gave me chills. I knew from that moment I wanted to continue capturing what I saw through the camera lens, drawing out emotional reactions from others. This revelation led me to see, photography and I weren’t looking for each other, but I’m blessed through this trip that we found one another.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been a smooth one but I know God blesses us with talents and gifts and we are to use them to glorify his name. I’ve been told that I have a great eye and can see the world differently through my lens and because of this, it’s been hard to find mentors. As a self-taught learner, I’ve had a hard time teaching myself the technical side of photography. I am a kinesthetic learner, so watching YouTube lessons just wasn’t enough, which led me to researching photography classes. August 2018, I registered for a Photography course at North Lake Community College to gain a deeper understanding of photography and to get hands-on experience.  This course helped me overcome some personal concerns as self-doubt is a secret battle many of us overcome daily. It’s crazy how much doubt can pervade our lives and lead us to question the dreams and purpose we believe in. I’m reminded daily that through my tough times and my struggles, God promises to work all things together for the good of his people. Every small victory I have encountered in the last 2 1/2 years with photography, I give God all the glory.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Udoka is my Nigerian name which means peace,  while Okafor is my last name and together the two create UDOKAFOR. UDOKAFORPHOTOS provides beautiful unique photography art that can be displayed in your homes, offices, businesses and more.  I am a visual artist who uses photography as my medium of expression and a tool to help capture life’s rawest moments.  I am not simply a photographer, but an artist who takes great pride in capturing the true spirits and personalities of the people and subjects that I photograph. I am proud that I’ve allowed myself to express my true thoughts through poetry, which gives my audience an understanding of what is embodied in each photo.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
While I was attending my second photography class at North Lake community college, my professor asked the class to submit photos to her to be entered into a district-wide competition which was for the Founders’ Foyers Rotating Art Exhibit. My self-doubt attempted to kick in but I went forward and submitted my work. My instructors then shared with me, I was the only photography student from North Lake selected for the Art Exhibit. Then I was thrilled to find out on opening night, my photo sold before the exhibit even opened!  My God is an awesome God! It was a proud moment because I took a leap of faith and this allowed me to be free enough to share my work. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and I believe in mine. Life offers us what we think about and what we focus on, so we must focus on things we really want. I want UDOKAFORPHOTOS to capture so much of this world, connect with many humans, and take up space on the walls of many homes, offices, and so much more.

My photograph, “Sharp Mouth” will be on display until November! If you would like to visit the exhibit it’s open Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm at 1601 South Lamar St-The Foundation!

My photos also won 1st place in the State Fair of Texas photography competition in three categories. If you would like to see the winning photos, please visit the State Fair Sept. 27- Oct. 20, 2019.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.udokaforphotos.com
• Email: udokaforphotos@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/udokaforphotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/q.udokafor

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