Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalom Ofoha.
Shalom, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My journey with content creating began as a child, I was always interested in the creative process of videos, drawings, film making, etc. I spent most of my free time editing software’s learning the controls and making short videos that I was always excited to share with my family. I felt an instant connection to Photography, I was at a wedding with my family about four years ago and that was the first time I saw a female Photographer and at that moment I knew that was what I ultimately wanted to do, I could envision myself capturing beautiful moments for the rest of my life. I couldn’t afford the equipment I needed to start and I was also too young to fully pursue it so over the years I dabbled in different creative avenues like YouTube, Blogging and Theater Arts; it always kept me busy and I learned a whole lot about each craft. I bought my first camera my senior year of high school, it was a mirrorless camera and I decided that I was going to use it to vlog my college experience, I did that for a while until I was ready to start my journey as a photographer, I sold my camera and got my first DSLR and that was one of the best investments I made and was fully satisfied with, I practiced a lot with my friends at college to build my portfolio and from that I was able to start up my brand; so far it has been a very rewarding and beautiful journey for me and I’m excited to start doing a lot more shoots and meeting more creatives in this industry.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s an unconventional path and it hasn’t always been smooth. You have to invest in your craft to cater to the different styles of photography you want to pursue and equipment is also very expensive; sometimes I feel like I put more into it than I gain which is okay because It’s my passion and what I love doing, I have the potential to be successful in this industry and build my clientele but right now, I’m more focused on moving at my own pace and learning as much as I can, It’s also crucial to have a support system especially while you’re starting out, I didn’t have a financial support system beside myself but I was fortunate to have amazing friends who supported and encouraged my growth as a Photographer. I’ve learned to let my work speak for itself because you should never seek validation from anyone as a creative, you should always believe in your talent and ability to deliver. I’ve recently been getting some recognition for my work from different platforms and it’s been such a humbling experience knowing that I’m contributing to this industry especially as POC. Overall, it’s been awesome being a freelance photographer/entrepreneur, the road can’t always be smooth but the journey is well worth it.
Please tell us about ShotbyShalom.
I’m a lifestyle, fashion and portrait photographer based in the DFW area, I’m mostly known for my editorial shoots but I also offer graduation, birthday, basic portraits, couples and family/group sessions. I enjoy my collaborations with models because I’m able to have more creative control and can bring amazing concepts to life. I’m most proud of my growth and being able to market my brand. My style of shooting definitely sets me apart from others, I love having creative elements in conventional shoots.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8172054339
- Email: shalomofoha@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbyshalom/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_shalolo
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