I'm just Relentless

The Fruit Tree Magazine
May 9, 2018
7 min read

Updated: Sep 30, 2022

Overtime, I’ve become so many things in my quest for fulfillment – A creative/ interactive designer, Advertising professional and now a conceptual photographer. I love chasing my passions as they are the best motivations anyone can have.

When I’m not working, I’m at home chilling or watching a movie - I still love cartoons.

I’m a Christian. I’m married to the sweetest lady in the world and we are blessed with the most adorable kids.

I presently run EMSTUDIOSng, a bespoke commercial photography studio based here in Lagos, Nigeria

What was your childhood years like – did you have pre-defined hopes and dreams?

I had an interesting childhood. Life was relatively simple and easy back then, void of the complexities of today. I can still remember the seasons, Christmas Eve and some of the fun things kids used to do back then. Most of them are non-existent now.

As a child, I was very shy but I also played a lot too. I had my fair share of adventures, mistakes and learnings as these experiences formed me. I loved drawing and I somehow knew that passion would form an integral part of my life.

Describe some of the challenges you’ve had to face in achieving your goals and aspirations.

It’s never easy making a success out of anything and my story is not different. I had to go through a very long route to finally discover myself.

Back then, being creative came with its own share of discouragements and they started from home. My dad didn’t see a future for me as an artist so he never encouraged me. I had to deviate and comply just to please him. So, I spent many years following a path that wasn’t mine until I was able to think for myself, fend for myself and chase my own dream.

This also required that I had to start all over again, which I did.

It was not an easy experience but it was definitely worth it.

What was your career path? How did you get from being an aspiring photographer to actually doing it full time, for a living?

Ans: I had always enjoyed drawing every time I had the slightest opportunity. Art has always been a part of my life to a point that everyone could tell what I was going to become, it wasn’t farfetched that I decided to study Graphic design as a career. After a few years as creative designer, I wanted more. There was this strong desire to broaden my landscape; this plunged me into advertising where I got exposed to photography.

While as an Art Director, I often travelled overseas for photo shoots on behalf of our clients and agency. The experience from these shoots invigorated my passion as well as crystalized an idea that took 6 years to materialize. I knew my next step after advertising was inevitably photography. I’m not just a photographer but one with an accumulation of acquired skills and experience fused together.

What type of photography do you do most?

I trained as a product photographer and I now specialize on that genre of photography.

But when I initially started, I did all sorts just to make ends meet while promoting my competency as well as build my clientele base.

What is the most challenging part about being a photographer?

Photography as a business (depending on the area of specialization) could be a bit discouraging because it’s largely driven by your competence and skill. It’s a business that requires a good investment in equipment and time especially if one is just starting out. Besides the cost of purchasing equipment; getting quality work is a hassle due to fact that market is quite saturated. Work would often come through referrals or to mostly those who’ve made a name for themselves.

I believe the greatest challenge the industry faces are a lack of appreciation for the profession which in turn translates to poor renumeration for photography services.

Describe your photographic style? How did you develop your style?

I would say that my photography style emanated from my interest in imagery as an Art Director. I love crispy images with fine detailing and styling. These are essential and integral aspects of product photography which requires that keen consideration must be given to the features and look of every subject.

How many sessions do you do per month?

Lol! Unfortunately, not as much as I would want.

Can you describe what your post-process workflow is like?

I use a variety of softwares but mostly Adobe Lightroom. Lightroom offers me flexibility and efficiently handle’s all my day to day post-processing work as I often tether my sessions and shoot in RAW format.

My typical work flow consists of the following:

White Balance adjustments for colour temperature and tint

Exposure compensation to recovering lost highlight/shadow

Noise Reduction – Often during RAW development

Lens Corrections - distortion, vignette, chromatic aberrations (Only if required)

Detailing - sharpening and contrast enhancement

Image straightening and cropping

Refinements - selective enhancements

Resizing - enlarge for a print or downsize for the web or email

Output Sharpening – customization of images for print, screen or web

I also use Adobe Photoshop for my retouching work.

Do you feel you want more work or are you busier than you can handle?

I definitely need more ‘commercially viable’ work as these would pay the bills. As for if I have more jobs than I can Handle? – I’d say No.

Describe a typical day in the life of Ellis Mbeku?

My typical day can be illustrated this way:

At Work – Meetings, Learning, strategizing/ planning and prospecting for new business.

At Home - Family, TV and surrounding myself with people that love me the most.

What is your best photography tip?

That would be:-

Shoot in Manual mode - Be creative by taking control of your camera and decide the outcome of your shots.

Which is your favorite lens? Why?

I don't really have one ad my preference for a particular lens is dependent on my brief. Also, I use both a Nikon and Canon camera gear. I can only say I love using prime lenses, mainly because I do mostly studio work. Prime lenses come with fixed apertures, deliver exceptional quality/ sharpness and mainly because.

How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

Well, besides the training I had abroad, much of my improvements come from the learnings on the job as well as keeping abreast with global trends. I have also been fortunate to have more experienced colleagues who occasionally critic my work as well as share their own acquired experiences.

Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why?

Sentimentally speaking, I love all my work as they express how far I have come.

Each of them presented a peculiar challenge I had to overcome. If I had to single one out of the lot, it would be the Heineken bottle submerged in ice. Why? The shot required special effects and a technique I had not tried before. It was a harrowing task working with real ice and lighting up a subject that reflected everything within its surrounding.

Why Product Photography?

For decades, Ad agencies and clients who required high-end pack shot photography were taking these commercial briefs to either SA or the UK. I was aware as I often travelled to do pack-shot photography for some of these agencies on behalf of their clients. It seemed lucrative but very expensive.

I began nursing the idea of professionally shooting them here in Nigeria as I felt that I could make it less expensive, give value for the money and specialize in this area while making a name for myself.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started photography?

I wished I knew that being a commercial photographer required extreme perseverance and being broke most of the time. Lol!

What does photography mean to you?

Photography is a creative art form of expression.

It is an art that utilizes the manipulation of light to create timeless pieces that capture moments and emotions.

As a photographer, what Inspires you?

I’m inspired by the challenge each project or client brings and the fact that it presents an opportunity to create something beautifully awesome.

Which photographers influenced you, and how did they influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?

I owe all I have achieved to these photographers:

I have been greatly blessed by my friend Mike Robinson, a commercial photographer based in South Africa. He subliminally nurtured my thoughts as he opened my mind to the possibilities and how to create Art using light. His friendship, advice and encouragement have been invaluable.

A Big thank you to the legendary SANDRO MILLER: who took the time to respond promptly to my mails, advice as wells as taking the time to critique my work despite his status and great achievements.

Also, to the outstanding Rob Grimm, a Chicago based commercial photographer. His masterpieces gave me enlightenment and helped me appreciate the opportunities photography can create.

What makes a good photograph stand out from the average?

My views on this are very subjective.

Let me start by saying that photography is also a creative medium of expression, one that thrives on the pre-conceptions of the artist and how he chooses to portray his thoughts. For instance, It’s the prerogative of the artist to shoot LOW KEY or HIGH KEY, either with continuous lighting or strobes. He determines how the photos reflect his concept or idea.

That said, a good photograph would be one with a good composition, creative lighting and a showcase of the subject in the best possible way that tells a story.

How important is it for a photographer to “connect” with his subjects to bring out their true self?

As a photographer, it is by far important to connect with your subject especially if they are human. As human beings, we are naturally impulsive and tend to relate well with people who make us feel comfortable and relaxed. We become true and best express ourselves with people who make us feel good. So, for best results - a connection between the photographer and the subject is very crucial and cannot be over-emphasized.

Locations and weather conditions seem to be a crucial aspect to a successful picture. How do you handle these unpredictable factors?

The only way to handle such is to prepare and plan, put contingency in place.

I rarely experience such as I do more of studio-based work which is in a controlled environment.

What is your best pricing tip for photographers?

I would say - price yourself based on your experience and your gear.

That way, you will be comfortable knowing that you aren’t under-paid or shortchanged.

The photographer who has loads of experience and a high-end studio has more liabilities; the client should expect to see all these reflected in his rates.