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We did a little Q&A with Wani Olatunde of Wani Olatunde Photography. Her images, which range from intimate family portraits to wedding and street photography, speak volumes about her artistry.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Ooh, what do you need to know about me? I'm a professional wedding and lifestyle photographer based in Lagos, Nigeria. Although my business is primarily shooting weddings and portraits, I love watching and observing people, so I do love my street photography as well. I'm a Nigerian, German, Scottish melting pot and I spent my formative years in the UK, which I still consider home. I have a Masters in Electronic Engineering and was an investment banker for over 6 years working in the UK, South Africa and Nigeria. I am very excited and humbled to now be able to pursue my passion, which is of course, photography.

How did you get into photography and how many years of experience do you have?

Photography has always been in my life - my dad made me the official family photographer when I was around 10 years old giving me his beloved Minolta film camera, which I guess was a huge vote of confidence. Travelling to beautiful countries like India, South Africa and Thailand further spurred my interest in photography. I would say I gradually made the transition from ardent hobbyist to professional photographer over the last 3 years.

How did you master your craft?

I definitely wouldn't say I have mastered my craft as there is always something new I can learn. However, I am a sponge when it comes to photography, I attend workshops, online courses, buy educational books and network with other photographers in order to continue to grow as an artist. Most importantly, I am constantly shooting in a range of environments and lighting situations, which I believe is the best way to learn. The legendary fashion photographer Helmut Newton said: “The first 10,000 shots are the worst” and it excites and motivates me to know that although my images today are better than yesterday, they are going to be even better tomorrow.

What kind of camera/lenses do you use?

I am a Canon girl - it was the first DSLR camera I bought and I love it. I use a range of lenses depending on what I'm shooting but my go to lens is the 50mm f1.4. I'm saving up for the Canon 5D MK III and 50mm f1.2 but I'm hoping that if I drop enough hints, friends and family will contribute towards the cause - it's worth a try.

When did you realize that photography was more than a hobby?

My love for photography is something that has grown the more I shoot. When I realised that I was spending every spare moment studying and thinking about photography, it occurred to me that this might be something I wanted to do professionally. I became a weekend shooter, so effectively working two jobs and then finally this year, I was fortunate enough to be able to go full time and I have truly never been happier.