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Cover Story
Obama’s photographer shaping Kenya’s creative industry If Africa is the cradle of civilization, it is also the birthplace of creative exploration. Africa’s creative and cultural industries are an increasingly important piece of its transformation. These industries-photography, fashion, film, television, music, design and much more-have all too often been overlooked as legitimate avenues for job creation. But that is starting to change.
i
ing pictures,” says David during an interview with StartUp team.
f Africa is the cradle of civilization, it is also the birthplace of creative exploration. Africa’s creative and cultural industries are an increasingly important piece of its transformation. These industries-photography, fashion, film, television, music, design and much morehave all too often been overlooked as legitimate avenues for job creation. But that is starting to change. In the world of photography, David Macharia name reigns supreme. He is a celebrated creative credited for transforming Kenya’s photography industry with his impeccable work. However, his rise to the top did not come by fluke, he says. It was gradual and organic. “Photography to me is inborn. I like takStartupmagazine.co.ke
April 2019
He began his career in early 2000s as a receptionist for Mwangaza Studio. “I was young and ambitious and I really liked the place. As a receptionist my job entailed handling client’s issues, organizing for shoots and collections of photos among many other errands,” he says. Different photographers would come to the studio to process their photos and actually marveled at their work. Along the way, he felt in love photography and started to learn the ropes. He envisioned he could make a great photographer. Motivated by his immense love for the craft and the desire to make it big, he resigned, borrowed a camera and started taking photos of his neighbours at
Kangemi and they were thrilled. He then me a gentleman called Kanini mentored him and introduced him to wedding photography. “Kanini was one of the best photographers I have ever met. I would accompany him for shoots over the weekends and learned from him” he says. At the time, he charged KShs 50 for a photo. “House helps were my main clients since I was seeking to secure a business relationship with their bosses.” His good work quickly spread through the township and became an instant hit. David then started researching for photography lessons on the internet. He also studied the industry and realized that most photographers would take ages to deliver work to a client. He vowed to do it differently and deliver work on record time. “I would take photos, process them and
