A few weeks ago, while in a meeting with my boss, I suggested that it was time for him to have new professional photos, as they were needed for many of his communications, including public, organizational, and corporate communications.
I had compiled a list of photographers I would like to work with due to their track record and their niche in telling stories and projecting the image of business leaders and powerful men and women in various sectors through photography. As soon as I handed him the list, he mentioned a particular photographer he wanted and noticed her name wasn’t on the list.
He then asked why I believed the names I presented were the best. I gave my reasons, and while he reviewed their work and acknowledged their talent, he insisted, “Though they are really good at what they do, but I only want this person. Contact her and book the session,” he said to me.
With the help of a sister, I was able to get the direct contact of the photographer. However, when we were supposed to speak last week, I was so engrossed in a meeting that we couldn’t talk.
This morning, as I was speaking with the photographer on the phone, she told me she was fully booked until March 2025 and would not be able to accommodate our booking. I was stunned; my boss had specifically instructed me to book with her and no one else. Given the circumstances, I had to rely on my communication skills to negotiate what I needed. After a lengthy conversation, she was able to find a day for us, which happened to be her rest day. We discussed extensively how the session would go, the type of pictures we wanted, the styling of the day, the outfit choices, and the message we aimed to convey, something simple yet powerful, with credibility.
We agreed, and an invoice was sent for payment to be processed. Now, why am I sharing this story? The least expensive of her photo sessions costs 6 million Naira, and she’s fully booked until March 2025. According to what she told me on the phone, she’s been working nonstop for the last three years without taking a holiday, and she really wanted to set aside a week to rest, from which she gave me one of her rest days.
This got me thinking about what’s possible when we learn a skill, master it, own it, and build a solid personal brand around it. If someone is booked until next year and has been working nonstop with her lowest package costing 6 million Naira, how much do you think she makes in a year? There are people who will obviously pay for higher packages, my boss will surely not opt for the least package.
This is a wake-up call to every young person like myself out there. Enough of the unnecessary uproar and expectations from the government. Enough of sitting at home after school, waiting for a government job. Enough of playing the blame game, pointing fingers at everyone else except yourself. Enough of wanting the results of someone else’s 10 or 20 years of work within your own 6 months or 1 year of starting. Enough of sitting idle without doing anything or learning a high-demand skill.
Just like this photographer, there are fashion designers who are fully booked until next year. There are hairstylists, event planners, makeup artists, Aso Oke weavers, caterers, clothing stylists, shoemakers, gele tiers, venue decorators, videographers, tilers, plumbers, electricians, POP installers, painters, candle makers, souvenir makers who are fully booked till next year, to mention a few.
Don’t ever believe the thought that there is no money in Nigeria. These people who are fully booked are being patronized by Nigerians who are most likely earning their money here in Nigeria. You can either take charge of your life or sit around waiting for a government that will hand you money.
This is one of the countries in the world where you can make it big and fast if you have a product or service that is in high demand in exchange for money. Learn that skill and master it like your life depends on it, because, in the actual sense, the kind of life you aspire to have truly does depend on it.
