 ...bukanchu kwa na matiwa ulazi kwa tuyo. Kwa na kwa rapisa hujia kwa tuyo. Kwa tia kwa kwa kwa chaneliz euro olazi yukipa na social media kwa handa wa michel. ... karibusana hizzugia. Kasia, maha mwen kwa kwa chuja wajituu kwa kwa mtwende kwa wajitua, kwa hwajitua inaika kwa sikia. ... kwa tisha kwa nwa skrinu. Kwa kwa. Nmbya Sh巴ro, kwa hwajitu kwa nmbya. Nmbya ya na kwa fotografi ni yasn. Kwa ni kwa wahisha, Samsonia Fotography Karibusana? Tunina Samsonia Okay, what I've mentioned of what you do is Director of Photography Nimehacha kichu inginei kwa bayoyako Yes Actually umehacha Umehacha ila mingi Director of Photography is just one of them I am a Director of Photography I am a Photographer And I'm also a Director What's the difference This would be wondering You just said Director of Photography Now you're telling us you're a Photographer In a different way And then we also told us Now a Director Ume ye kakando Um so A Director of Photography doesn't have to be a Photographer A Director of Photography Is not a Photographer Okay A Director of Photography actually works With the video Continue the video A Director Doesn't have to be a technical person Doesn't have to be a Camera Operator To Be a Director Okay As long as we implement The way the script is Working with the Camera Operator Or the Director of Photography Okay Now the Director of Photography is more technical He also doesn't have to be a Camera Operator But It is An added advantage If he's a Camera Operator So that He or she knows The best lighting for A certain scene The best Camera Movement The best Lenses The best Angle and such A Photographer Nakuna Different Photographers Nakuna Paparazi Nakuna Paparazi Hi Yes, I know That is the same expression that you have So tell us Paparazi So different between Paparazi Piga Picha and a Photographer In Simple terms Let me give you an example Okay Nakua Wedding You will find three different Photographers What are the Photographers Yes Paparazi ni wale hawa jaitu waka wedding Ule na piti wamisha nakakamera hibi Ule ni Paparazi Na atakulete apicha Ujama wambia Yes, there's those scenarios Ntu apicha Na jua na Wanyu waka event Ama ame contractio na church Ama wanyu location Ana piga picha Ana professional Maybe to get money And that's the call So they don't have the skills Not necessarily So they just have a camera And they are looking at it as a business And here I am, I have to get things done Piga picha as long as you know As long as kunam tuapa kwafrem, it's good Ena Photographer Is now the professional side Sasa Ule Ana he's actually enjoying himself All the rules You will find them mostly they are organized Kamani uniform One of the poor Equipment And then how they relate to the client How do you want to collect What is it called, a contract? Okay So it's more professional There's a rapport between the photographer and the client Yes Okay, right Now those guys who take pictures I love taking pictures of myself all the time So my photographer Maminin Piga picha Um You just photogenic Okay, so tell us Where did it all began For you What did you start with Were you a photographer before You go into director of photography How did it all start So back then I used to be a dancer When is back then Way back then Just immediately after high school That was around 2010 2009-2010 I am old It used to be called DLT dance crew Yes Tuli chujwa sakata Kwa mi chujwa Tuli fika Si kwa finals Kwa kwa chujwa Si mi nice to yourself No, I agreed My dancing Niliwa na tu wacha ni pereleke After event in Meisha To make a camera chini wacha to dance up Just for fun So when I was a dancer We were doing Missions also at K crew It's called K crew kubamba crew So we used to do Missions to different high schools We go to different places They came a time That Kukanda kukuna production So kuna wasi wana fanya video And photography At one time in Kitale Photographer kusho up But equipment junior K crew I was So Jugush from K crew Aka uleza Kuna mtua na juku pigia picture Sushi KU to pigia picture I used auto the whole time But wali penda picture So I got motivated and the next time I went for the Missions I didn't dance Nika hanzo kupigia picture That's how it began Thru time nika jufunza Nika kwa na interestata zahidi Even before Nika fanya Nika jufunza from YouTube I used to look at photos on Instagram aiko eme It was Facebook and Other platforms So I used to see photos And then I go Find out on YouTube how to Get that shot How to edit it With time pia nika hanzo Enda kwa Different photographers Nga enda na wa pigia Actually si kuna pigia client Kuna pigia photographers Nika hanzo Then Apparently nika hanzo kwa niata videos For them like behind the scenes Videos for the photographers And Nika patanata na other directors Music video directors Nika hanzo kwa na job now I just had the interest na Nika enda laivo I came to learn about music videos I did music videos At some time nikiwa hapo Na jufunza I got a job As a correspondent As a photojournalist Okay, before to figure out So you're a student of YouTube You gained all of your skills For me YouTube Did you have someone Who held your hand A mentor of something Yes, I had different people If I want something I usually go for it, I usually push people So there's Different people like Nili Skuma And I didn't get all my skill from YouTube I used to get some of the tips From these guys that I used to go to Directors and photographers Yes Okay, so here you are now Self proclaimed At that particular time So you have learnt on the job And you're good at it considering where you are right now So at that particular point Did you look at it as a business Like you can actually look This can sustain me at that particular point So I need to improve on my skills For what angle and what perspective In the beginning It wasn't Kama job But It dawned on me that I am starting to Get into that industry And I can make money from the industry So nika make So the first thing I actually I was told Register company What you can register Where in the leah You can register So apparently Kumbi niku iku jaisa ide So it kind of And then I used to shoot a lot Niku huku And are you getting paid as you're doing this Yes Niku So here you are You were told to open a company What are the requirements And how important is it for A young person who is looking forward To be a director of photography So a photographer in general To just have a company running And uh First you have to have the interest And the energy to To start a company Number two you have to have support Like a mentor That will show you this is the way Don't do this, don't do this He avoids And then You have to do a lot of research Especially for me like Nimeji Funza You have to do a lot of research You have to have all that information with you So Basically Kwa tu na interest You will just find a way Okay for someone who is watching us I have interest But gaining cameras, lighting It's not cheap So how did you hack that situation For you I think I got lucky Because I had the zeal To work on it I saved Na pata gigapa Pale pale na save kiasi kiasi And then At first I didn't buy a new camera A new camera is expensive I got an entry level camera The first time I started The camera that I started with I was given by a friend And he was a laptop But he also loved photography Director said So he gave me a camera A brand new camera Go make money So I used to go shoot Na piga Niki piga tu So I used to push There's a time when there's a job Na ya ya So I have to give him back his camera So I started saving I started saving Through his camera I got my own camera Ata Nikiwa na ma jobs Sasani tukuliko tu nenda na ya ya And also the same Because he also played a big role In building my skill What was your first project And then When revenues kicked in This one can actually be a business What was the first project I don't know if I remember I can remember that one But there's a time I did The graduation Shoot for Graduation ceremony For Students wali kwa na Graduate from supersport That was the first time I had a cheque I had a feeling Thank you I was happy to hear that And how Did that shift your mentality Concerning What you were doing as a photographer Um He your cheque I actually took it to show show And he did And we met So kumbe si lasi maulipu e kakash ama through kwa si mu, naza li puna ah, then I can have my own company and get paid in check. So tata ni kanza kukwa serious, tata that is where it kicked in, ni kanza kukwa serious. Even when I'm pitching for jobs, niki yandika proposal na Google na yandika, tata zi nila li kwa la download templates na yandika. And then when I used to get calls for jobs, mimi nila la shikasimu. Tata say ma, this is some sort of photography reception, how can I help you? Even do li kwa la shikasimu. Clienta wakiyo naivo wali kwa na… Yes, level of professionalism. How many photographers will you send? Let me talk to our boss and then we can get back. The next call, the next time I call them, na banisha sa utiki dogo. Okay. And this is Moana from Sanchoia Photography. We are going to dispatch two photographers. Okay. Yes. So and I was alone at that time. Yes. And how important is it, sorry for categorization. Kwa we have young guys who are starting off their businesses at an early age and they want to have, they want to go higher at receptionist, they want to go higher an accountant. They are just starting off. So how important is it to just be, you know, like, you wear all the hats? Yes, it is important. What was the manga, fake it till you make it, it works. It works. But as long as you have legit content or product. Yes, you have to deliver good work. Another thing that, I don't sound out much, but another thing that makes me, makes my work of photography and video ikue dogo different. Like for events, when we shoot an event, I usually make sure we have an editor on set. By the time to not occur you event, atuna, atuna deni. Oh, everything is done. Everything is done. Maybe video, but when you deliver work within a short time, come out on the photoshoot, after interview, by the time you're getting back to your location, uta patatu link. You have your photos and then your showreels. So when you do that, people start noticing the professionalism in you. Oh, do you feel like that builds also credibility? Yes. The point, apart from showing that you deliver on time well, another thing that made me start doing that, delivering immediately after the shoot, is because client tange kumbe ya, ukitu wa pichandionita ku lipa. Ukimali za kumbe, the footage, the camera of the photos, nili lipa location na emcee, wacha ni kipata yun ginen taktafu. So stories after stories? Yes. But when you deliver, umemali za kazu mempati ya, ataka blue token umembe ya, eh, ni wakitu ya kazi. Ya, I've done my parts. Yes. Another thing, have a contract when you're getting into a business with someone. Have a contract. Miki fanya hivi wa wuna fanya hivi. Yes. Okay. So let's go back to now, here you are, you're running a company. Yes. And what was your first package? Just for you starting off as a business. What was your first package? When it comes to the things that you do. Okay. So that you may look as a profession you are a professional here when you, you know, have your conversation with a client and you tell them that this is what we have on our catalog, this is what we do. So what was your first package looking like? The first one is, we understand what the client needs. If it's photography, we have that. If it's video, we will know how to do that. If it's things like live streaming, we actually have a department for that. That actually, but there's a team that works with that. Even off-late, I don't edit as much. I'm not gifted in editing. That's why I got an editor to work with us to kikuna footage, kikuna he. So we work with what the client needs. So it's not a tikuna he package, we're not photographers. So we are just a group of creatives. Photographers, editors, videographers, evo. So everyone has their own role to play? Yes. Was Kapitol an issue or a challenge and how did you cap that situation? Definitely Kapitol is always an issue. Especially when you look at other photographers on equipment, on adi van, on adi security. Uniforms? Yes. Sisi to vendor to freestyle, just cameras. So what we did, the first time we started like a company, to lishikana creatives kama four. One videographer, one editor, one photographer, evo. Kila mtu akuna ikut mendi ake, ako solo. So kama job ni mimi ni meitiwa na itna sema, I have a crew, doale, so na pikiya wale. Ule mojaki tuwa job, tuna enda, kama jobi ake. So tuna enda kama employees wake. That is how, back to real statement angu, fake it till you make it. That is how, tuna enda kwa event, we are a whole team, mwenyali pewa yu job ndobos wetu, at that time. Chukenda kwa kwingine, that's the way. I feel like it's not like literally like faking it because you guys are professional in what you do. Yes. But now what you needed was a package. Yes. Total package when approaching a client and how you actually want to look in the eyes of the client. So couple of challenges that you faced along the way, number one capital, number two is security. Apa inja kameraz naibi wa. Another thing is making a client understand that times are changing and prices change also as you also grow your equipment and skill beilazimaz change. There are clients wajetulianza now and they're still they're still clients up to now. Some of them have understood their growth. Some of them want to say Nasi 2012 ule mele pisha hibi. Muna size hibi. And also you've also improved in your skills along that time frame. Inventing skills is actually more expensive than buying equipment. Yes. So client na kwa mbia e moka ule le pisha hibi. Muna bei me panda. So how did you get to be like working with the Timuakurungesi wa sepa lehum abil mutu and what he does on YouTube. My favorite content will be the one that he I think he connects what happened from way back to like a current situation or something of the sort. What does he call that? I think you're talking about headline hitters. Headline hitters, yes. That's one of his episodes. He has that. He has celebrity encounters. Young and stupid. So how did you get to work with someone who has been into the industry for like over a decade? Yes. So how did that connection come through? So we were during the time of covid last last year. Yes, it was last year. Ani last year. We were watching Tumatulia home. We were with director Dambis and a photographer called Zibi. We were chilling at home watching content on YouTube. There was nothing to do. So we had with time we bought we already had equipment. So when watching Tumatulia, hey Abel and I shoot videos and see them. And then Dambis decides see we call him tell him we have equipment and we have manpower. So that is when we akakzept call and that's how it began. So that as simple as that as it was that? Yes. You know most of us from the from the outside side when you look we always think like when you look at Abel Mutua and the kind of name he has made for himself in the industry. And then you think like will he actually even accept to work with me. So we question a lot and just you making it clear that it was that simple. What made you what gave you guys confidence, that level of confidence when I reach out? You see the music videos that we had done me and Dambis the music videos that we had done at that time or before that time is it because in the kitchen or TV everywhere We have shot for Moji Shot Baba we have shot Vimba Da we have shot Kuzitoka we have shot So you guys have made a name for yourself? Yes. That's important. Yes we've done very many even for Chris Aero. So we already had a name at that time I was doing photography for Mo Sound that was for groove groover ones we were doing event event photography we were doing adverts so we already had tundu kwa nakaji nakindogo So when we called Abel all tungefanya ni kumonesha what we have done and what we can do and then we had recently done almost a similar thing but it was live but it was live we were the same crew that we were doing kaleche mumo live enankat when she was doing live on Facebook Alright yes Okay so for someone who is watching us and they want to work with a particular celebrity content creator what will be your word how should they go about it? First understand what you do and what the content creator does if it goes that's the number go for it also consider does he have a crew hours was because we know Abel works with is a co-founder at Philly Productions so that's a whole production already On its own now so Aki by the way it's true to me it's true to me tuli kuna confidence calling Abel to kijua kuna whole production but that one call it may be evo too but it works so from that from then from that time I don't only shoot for Abel it opened up other doors other doors because I did photography for TTNT that's for I also do some of their photos and videos for Ketak Chess I can confidently say that I am the director to director Phil Okay Okay a whole journey there it's just saying that anything is possible if you just believe in yourself because you're a student of YouTube now from student of YouTube does YouTube pay because all this you're talking about from TNT to Abel Mutual's content content is from YouTube so from where you sit and the people you've interacted with which are content creators you can be sustained by YouTube Yes you can Wakuru Genzi just the shows that are in YouTube the whole crew that is involved with that they are almost for everyday shows they are more than 11 just the crew that is employed by Wakuru Genzi so yes YouTube pays and from YouTube that is where you get sponsors Advertise Advertisers yes Okay so clearly it does pay Looking back what would you say that was one of a hell of a mistake for someone who is studying of please don't do this that would be your your advice What do you need to do don't doubt yourself just go for it Yes Okay so how can people reach out to you if they want to keep this conversation going if they want to work with you like I'm going to in a few minutes from now Yes so how can people reach out to you I need to get my camera ready So my socials Samsonia Photography Facebook, YouTube everywhere Facebook, Instagram Samsonia Photography even the email is samsoniaphotographyatgmail.com Yes Okay Thank you very much Maura Kamau for creating time to be Okay that's the ID name so thank you very much Samsonia for creating time to be with us we appreciate and I'm looking forward to working with you and people back at home as well I'm so sure of that looking forward to this conversation again Thank you very much Achan kachkua kama Please do Lazi mat fanyi manianos So I try to find my channel as well as across all our social media handles that Michelle Ashira as well as across all my social will be right back with another interview