Teniola Komolafe’s medium is photography, but she identifies, first and foremost, as a storyteller. Born in Nigeria and raised in Australia and United States, Komolafe has a unique curiosity and appreciation for individuality and humanity that radiates through her portrait and stills photography. Komolafe’s passion for showing her subjects just how brightly they can shine is, perhaps, most evident in her project The Dunes, which is a celebration of women standing strong in their power.
Komolafe’s creative journey began at a young age, hanging out on her older siblings’ film sets and observing celebrated photographer, Kevin Russ, at work. Armed with her first camera phone, Komolafe was drawn to capturing the human experience and telling stories ‘for the people’.
In this Colour Box Studio interview, Komolafe discusses the ego, the journey to reconnect with her creative purpose and importance of moving forward with intention.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
I am Teniola Komolafe, but you can call me Teniola. I was born in Nigeria, raised in Australia and on both coasts of the United States. I have lived in a lot of places over the years but for the last 10, Sydney has been my home.
At first glance you could call me a photographer but even more than that I tell stories through imagery for people, productions and publications. You can catch me doing one-on-one or or groups sessions for individuals, artists or businesses or on various film, show or play sets taking photos for their marketing and publicity.
How did you start your creative practice and why?
My case is honestly the definition of “I didn’t choose it, it chose me.” I grew up in a family full of creatives — my two older brothers work in the film industry, my older sister works in TV & production, and my twin brother works in advertising.
When I was in high school my my older brothers were always working on some video (I’m talking like early 2000s YouTube), short film or script. I loved being on the sets they would create, it was the coolest thing to me. All the lights, people and ideas! They worked a lot with this well-known photographer named Kevin Russ and his work always made me pause just to take in what he photographed. I would stalk his Flickr account and look through all his work. However, out of fear I told myself that I could never get to where he was so there was no point in me even thinking about being a photographer one day.
The fear of not being good enough put me put on the sidelines for a long time.
However, when I got a Blackjack (Think 3rd generation Blackberry phones but its knock-off version) my mindset kind of changed. I took that phone and snapped everything around me. Sewer plates, trees, people, angles, seasons… everything. I just wanted to capture things that I found interesting! That phone was the gateway to photography for me.
Then, a few years later at university I upgraded to a my first Canon. It was a simple point-and-shoot but I loved that thing and used it more than my Blackjack. Thankfully, after another couple of years I had some money left over from my study-abroad grant and I used it to upgrade again to purchase a DSLR, a Canon Rebel T1i.
Although I loved photographing everything, no matter what, my eyes would always wander back to people. If I was capturing street photography the focus was on the old man drawing and selling his art on the corner; if it was a wedding, it would be the way the bride’s sister looked as the bride walked down the aisle. If it was a fashion event, it would be the way people felt proud in the unique clothing pieces they wore. I found myself more intrigued by the people and their actions more than the actual event I was asked to shoot.
Sadly though, after having more people ask me to shoot for them, it became less about people and more about me. I wanted people to know me and my name, see my talent. I wanted the praise and applause — and that’s exactly what I got. The more shoots I did, the “better” I felt about myself, until one day it wasn’t enough.
Although I felt on top of everything, little did I know I was slowly declining to an emotional and mental rock bottom. The lowest of lows had me rejecting my camera every chance I got. I didn’t find joy in taking pictures. I didn’t find joy in anything.
One night, I literally cried out to God and asked Him to help me. I was tired of being tired all the time so I begged Him to help. I couldn’t even fake being okay, I needed Him to do all the heavy lifting and carry me out of the state I was in. I am thankful to say I received that help through getting someone to talk to, confiding in my family, taking time to heal, and day by day it got better.
Months later, I still had not picked up a camera but that was okay. I knew my worth did not come from compliments and recognition. However, when I became interested in photography again, I felt God told me, “If you get back into this, you have to do it for the right reasons. Don’t do it for your name but so others can feel proud of their own names and know just how much I love them. Tell their stories because they too are worthy of care and attention.”
It’s been about 6 years since but my new-found reason for why I do what I do still stands firm today. It’s the drive that keeps me going when the days (and/or nights) are long, when I sometimes have to choose between possible job opportunities, when I get serious bouts of Imposter Syndrome or just whenever I need that extra motivation. I do what I do because God truly loves me —flaws and all — and because He loves people — differences and all.
Where did you grow up and how has it influenced your practice?
I was born in Nigeria but my family immigrated a year after. Although I was raised in Australia and America, my Nigerian culture has followed me everywhere I go. It has mixed into my Westernised upbringing and all of that together has made me who I am today. Not only do I have a deeply immense love for my culture but that of all the others around me. I appreciate the factors that make us different but love to celebrate the ones that make us all relatable.
So when it comes to photography, it’s no different. For every person I have had the privilege of shooting, I recognise that they are individuals standing in front of my lens and they have unique stories to tell. It would be a dishonour if I treated them all the same. If they can stand in front of me in all their transparency, I better have the skill and understanding to do their photos justice.
Tell us about your past creative projects. What has been your most treasured creation so far?
I might be biased but my creative projects take up the first 8 spots of my top 10 best pieces of work. Perhaps it’s the fact that they all came from a place of patience, wonder and no one gave me any guidelines, but I absolutely love my past personal projects. The pay never monetary but through the intrinsic joy that came from seeing my ideas on the outside of my head.
I love all my projects for different reasons but my most treasured creation so far is a series of images called The Dunes. That was the first big team project I ever directed, shot and edited. I had 7 women to shoot and an immensely incredible crew of hair & makeup, set designers, a jewellery designer, and producers that helped me bring my random thoughts to life. It was such beautiful feeling for me to have people who were willing to help and see this shoot through all because I asked. They invested their time and resources, and for that I am forever grateful. In addition to that, the outcome of it was more than I could ever imagine it to be. So many people reached out to me afterwards to tell me what those images meant to them. I had countless strangers who were also inspired by the shoot. It was breathtaking to have such a reaction. And what made it even better was that I was in a healthier place to take that all in. The positive feedback didn’t boost my ego, it showed me just how much people need to have their stories told or have someone that looks like them out there for everyone else to see. It made me realise that I am privileged to be in this position.
Tell us about your current project?
Currently I am working more and more on sets for different films and web series and it has been a blast. The last film I was a Stills Photographer for was a film called Seeds of Gold, directed by the incredible (and I mean incredible) James Elazzi. It is a short film about Lebanese migration to Australia, detailing triumph and survival over hardship. I can’t say much more, you’ll just have to see it when it comes out. However, I will add that being entrusted to help tell the story of a people and culture that I did not grow up in is such an honour.
I will forever have a special place in my heart for portraiture but being on set and shooting stills is an experience. I get to see everyday, regular people use their extraordinary talent to step into roles that transport the viewer to a different place and time. So not only do I get to watch people use their talents but I get to watch people tell stories. It all sounds so “meta” (haha) but I think that’s the best way I can put it for now.
Who or what inspires your practice?
I tell stories of the people, by the people & for the people because every story really matters. That is not the line I put in my Instagram bio just because it sounds cool but because it’s true! People inspire me, their stories inspire me, the million ways you can then tell those stories inspire me.
My faith also has a huge impact on my practice. I’ve learned a lot about moving my ego out of the way so I can see people, love people and serve people well. Like I said, it is a privilege to do what I do and I would not be able to do it well if I was focussed on getting the glory all the time.
Where do you feel most creative and why?
Oooh, this one’s a tough one to specifically pinpoint. I would probably have to say when I’m in deep conversation with friends/family and we’re talking about everything and anything. From discussing random thoughts, laughing over wild conspiracy theories, asking them/answering their questions or hearing their perspectives on a myriad of things. I love seeing how their minds work or hearing how they experience the world around them.
Or, if I’m by myself I enjoy watching movies, music videos and shows with actors, directors and artists I regularly get inspired by. It has nothing to do with how famous they are but more so about who they are and how their passion oozes off every project they touch. To name a very small few: Quinta Brunson, Ryan Coogler, Guy Ritchie, Issa Rae, Dermot Kennedy and Riah.
Doing either one of those gets my brain thinking about endless ideas and ways to tell stories through my photographs.
What do you hope audiences take from your work?
I want people to not just feel seen but know that they are seen. It’s a huge misconception that photographs are only for the photogenic. You don’t need to be “cool” to be in front of a camera. You are already cool, the camera is just there to document that fact.
What gets you through creative challenges or tough industry times?
If I’m being honest, there have been so many times where I’ve wanted to throw in the towel and pursue something more steady and financially secure but in those moments when I’m struggling to continue working and creating as a photographer I remember my purpose and why I (re)started. As corny as it sounds, there are so many people on this
Earth and I know they all have stories to tell, perspectives to share. I want to help them do that. I’ve always had this vision of stars. Each star independently shines so beautifully on its own without comparison to the the one next to it. However, when you put every star together you get this majestical view known as a galaxy. I want to show people how beautiful they are on their own but also how remarkable they can be on a larger unified scale.
That vision of individuals shining together, that gets me through.
What future projects are you looking forward to?
I recently made a list of the types of shoots I want to be a part of and the people I want to work with. I’m looking forward to doing more of that. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love working for others and getting creative briefs from clients but it’s too easy for me to keep going with everyone else’s flow and forget about what I alone genuinely enjoy.
So I made a list of my dream projects as a reminder to go forward with intention. I guess you could call it a written mood board or written declaration of sorts.
Whose work are you digging at the moment?
Ahhh! Don’t do this to me. There are always a handful of photographers I look to, but off the top of my head I will say Phil Sharp, Helen Murray, Emily Assiran and Alex Harper. They are all absolute legends!
Where can we find and follow you online?
You can check more of my work and/or get in contact with me through my website, www.tenikomo.com The Facebook and Instagram handle is @Tenikomo. And for the LinkedIn users, you can search for me using my name, Teniola Komolafe.