We recently connected with Ayo Omolewa and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ayo, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of my most meaningful projects, so far, is a personal one about me. When I was in High School, I used to make custom music artwork almost as an inside joke to share with my friends. Over the years, I would think of all these ideas I thought would make great album covers and store them down in my notes app. So, when I first started photography in 2017, one of my biggest goals was to get a chance to shoot album covers. As life would have it, I ended up shooting only concerts nonstop for the next 4 years. I had completely forgotten my goal and a big part of why I picked up a camera in the first place. I decided to take a break and stopped shooting concerts in October 2021, and finally thought about how I wanted to move next. Since I didn’t know the first thing about shooting album covers, I eventually decided to just take self-portraits and see what I came up with. Looking back at my first project, “D.E.M.O.”, I think that’s why it looks the way it does. I’ve been so used to seeing nothing but artists on stage all this time, I began to see myself there. It was a meaningful project to me because it wasn’t about making the most amazing piece of art, but about starting something new and fulfilling that dream I had as a kid in High School.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Music Photographer & Creative Director. I got my first start at shooting concerts by contacting local schools and asking their event committees if they needed a photographer for their concerts and events. I was able to build my portfolio until I was able to submit my work for touring acts that would have concert stops in local venues. I eventually was able to start shooting festivals and press events. These days I’m leaning heavily on the “Creative Director” tag because these ideas can’t stay in my notes app forever. I’ve been shooting more of my own concepts and ideas and I feel a lot more satisfied knowing I can bring an idea of mine from thought to execution.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Photo grants and competitions! I think because I was so stuck in a box of shooting just one thing, I never thought to get my own ideas out. But this year I started to realize that I would need more resources to help further and fund my dreams, and that’s when I started researching photo grants and competitions. A simple Google search gave me hundreds of nationwide platforms I could submit my work to, and because of this, I ended up Winning a $5000 cash grant via Createviley Made’s monthly contest this year.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I’m a person who loves coming up with ideas. I’ve found that the rewarding aspect for me right now is finally letting go of these ideas and sharing it with the world – or at least those who care to see it. For me to see a concept start from scratch and watch it go through the process of adding details, scrapping ideas, changing directions midway, and having it finally published, is a reward in itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: thetribevision.com
• Instagram: thetribeguy

Image Credits
All shot by me – Ayo Omolewa