N.P.H. Spotlight: Fabolous Banji

We recently had the opportunity to interview Abuja based fine art portrait photographer (and now instructor); Fabolous Banji!

How would you describe your style?

It goes without saying that I love to shoot portraits, but my personal style would be what I like to call "Intimate Portraiture". That’s like shooting one subject at a time, I don’t know why but it does something to me because I get to pose and get the emotions I’m looking for out of my subject.

More recently, I’m trying to develop a new style which is "Fine Art Portraiture"; where my pictures get look more or less like a painting or drawing. I’m still trying to perfect but so far so good.

What motivates you to continue taking pictures?

I will say the people I take, the expression on their faces when they see their pictures or when they see the finished work more or less. Most people are very insecure about being in front of the camera and what they would look like. They typically say: “I don’t photograph so well, I’m not a picture person”.

I actually like to define those questions or those thoughts in their head and say that everyone can be photographed and look amazing. And another thing that motivates me is just the love of photography. Before the money came or started coming, I used to just like taking pictures. Over time I haven’t lost the zeal to create for the sake of it. It is what actually made me grow big time.

As a photographer, whose work has influenced you the most?

Here in Nigeria I’ll say, Aham Ibeleme. I like to call him my mentor/sensei. Because more or less, he does the kind of work I think glorifies portrait photography at its best. I love his style of shooting, I love lighting style and his cinematic tones are the best ever! He is a major influence in my portrait work. I look up to him like a lot. Outside the country, for my natural light pictures, I like Danny Diamond a lot. Most people know him, he’s like a natural light god. He hardly ever shoots strobes. I like and respect him a lot. And for my more recent works, there’s this lady, she shoots fine art portraits. Her name is Paulina Duczman. She’s not really popular but yeah.

What was your first camera and lens?

My camera was Nikon D90, which at the time wasn’t the best camera but it did some pretty decent work for me. The earliest part of my career, I sort of made my name shooting with my Nikon D90. It is part of why I preach; it’s not about your gear, it is about you developing yourself as a photographer. I had not the best camera back then but I was taking some pretty decent pictures. My first lens was the kit lens that came with Nikon D90. That was an 18-105, F3.5- 5.6. After about a year, I got my 50mm lens (nifty fifty).

What type of gear do you use today?

Most people know I’m a Nikon shooter. This my second body my Nikon line; I shoot with a Nikon D750. I’ve been with for about 3 years and she’s amazing, she’s the best thing I’ve put my hands on and I don’t think I’m changing anytime soon. I might get her a sister but she stays. For my line of lenses, for my work, I tend to favour primes over any kind of lenses. I actually shoot only primes. I have a 28mm, I have a 35, I have a 50, I have a 60mm. I have an 85mm, 1.4, and more recently I got a 135mm.

What advise will you give to an amateur photographer wanting to change their passion into full time profession? Do they need fancy equipment?

Focus more on you, focus more on growing more or less. Most people come into photography thinking it is very lucrative, coming in thinking they’ll make a sh*t load of money. Yeah, the money would come but it is very important to focus on you in your formative years. Like you need to put in the work. You need to do a lot of work before you get recognized. Focus on shooting more or less, you’d get better and the money would come.

Do you need the fanciest gear to be a professional? No. Because before I got my D750, I use to do some really decent work with my D90. So that’s why I always preach that yes a good camera is important, but a better photographer or a more seasoned photographer is important, because if I give a D750 to someone who just started photography (say 5 months or year) they won’t be able to do half of the things I can do with my camera because I’ve grown through the process and I understand somethings better. So it is important to invest yourself into your craft and grow through the process.

Questions from the Community:

What is the job of portrait photographer?

The job of a portrait photographer is to create timeless images of your subject. Timeless in the sense that, two years from now, five years now, ten years from now, I should be able to look at a portrait taken of me and still fall in love with over and over again.

How does a portrait photographer find clients?

I don’t think you find client exactly; I think they find you. There are so many ways to showcase your work and what not but once a good picture is out there, it always finds a way to sell itself or speak for itself. If they see how amazing your work is, they’ll find you. Focus on doing you and them come to you.

What is your best gear for an outdoor portrait?

My best gear for outdoor portrait would my 85mm; 1.4 and my white reflector. That basically all I need.