It’s Saturday, June 5th, and I have a completely free day — so I go through my regular weekend rituals up and through the early afternoon. That is until I receive a phone call from my mentor, Tobi, at exactly 2:42 pm.
He asks me to join him as a 2nd shooter for a photoshoot that will start in one hour…
The shoot is in DC, it’s for NUNAR Magazine — a cover story for the artist Malik DOPE. He’s from the area, and well-known for his skills as a percussionist, his vibrant personality, and his role as a global ambassador for Go-Go music. Of course, I drop everything and head straight to DC from Baltimore.
Because I’ve been following the advice of my mentors; all of my gear is charged, cleared, packed, and ready to go. Every photograph is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I never want my lack of preparation to be the reason it never exists. And so, like a coiled spring, I make it to the shoot just before 5pm.
It’s apparent that they’ve already started — no time for pleasantries. I get straight to work. I praise the heavens that I’m both comfortable working with Tobi AND that I have previous experience working BTS (Ilu Okin).
I’m confident that I all I need to worry about is getting establishment shots, close-ups when Tobi is reloading, and the overall essence of the crew and the artist.
I have time to learn little about everyone on set, what their roles are, and what they enjoy about this type of work. I do my best to make sure everyone has at least one picture that they might want to keep for themselves.
Before I know it, it’s all over. A month passes by and we’re all celebrating at the release party. It’s my first time at an event like this, but I try my best to act otherwise.
The creative team of NUNAR were kind enough to introduce themselves and share tips about photography and storytelling.
I purchase my own issue of the magazine, and the day is over.
It was hard for me to believe I was working with artists like this. I can’t help but feel like a bit of an imposter, but I know I must let the work speak for itself.
No doubt I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without Tobi throwing me into fire. I can only hope that I live up to whatever he sees in me.
As featured on NUNAR:
Editor-in-Chief Damon J. Barnes
Editorial Co-Directors Jamilah Scott, Jeremy Collins
Lead Designer Jeremy Collins
Photo and Creative Direction Tobi Oluremi
Lighting Technician Eric Jovel
Fashion by Eyewuh, Moriah Tshihamba
Key PA Charles Sykes
Video Charles Sykes, Damon J. Barnes
BTS Harrison H. Vaughn Reed
