We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ekemini Gerdel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ekemini, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

My sister is a fitness instructor and had been invited to host a segment on a fitness video by an established brand. I accompanied her to the set and was speaking with the owner of the brand, she said they had a shoot coming up in Chicago but their photographer had dropped out last minute. I told her that I had been a photographer for a while, and joked that it was my expensive hobby. She asked if I would be interested in doing the shoot, for a paid amount. The amount she offered was more than I would have asked so I jumped at the opportunity.

When I delivered the images, she responded saying that they were worth so much more than they ha paid, and when I was ready to launch my business to reach out to them with my rates and they would add me to the vendors list.
A few month later they were doing another shoot in Chicago, and reached out for my availability and rates, I doubled the rates from last time, and they booked me.

With the confidence from that, I reached out to other clients and with each booking and satisfied client my confidence grew. That was two years ago, but I was always only able to work part time as I had young children at home, now my youngest is in school full time so I’m moving into launching my business officially.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Photography for started in high school. I loved being able to capture moments and tell stories with pictures. As I’ve gotten older and become a parent, that has translated to documenting and capturing my family.

When my father passed away I noticed how few photos there of us with him. He was also a photographer, and was always the one behind the lens. My passion is capturing families together, I honestly believe photographs are heirloom items that we can pass on from generation to generation.

I love what I do, I encourage parents to get in the frame with their kids. To leave on paper, something your children can hold onto and cherish after you may no longer with them. It’s not just a photo op, it’s not just fall photos or holiday cards. It is sacred work. I get invited by people to hold sacred space and it fills my heart every time.

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

I wish I had known about photography groups and working with other photographers to push myself creatively and technically. I put a lot of time in by myself, but you van learn so much more with others. There’s an old African saying “If you want to travel fast, go alone, if you want to travel far, go with others.”

I wish I had learned to walk with others a lot sooner.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My family emigrated from Nigeria when I was 8 years old. Any ‘good Nigerian child’ will tell you that there are only four acceptable career options; Doctor, Lawyer, Architect on Engineer.’ I discovered my love for photography as a teenager but I followed the medicine and then eventually scientist route for my career. It wasn’t till I was an adult that I learned that you can make a career out of your passion. My creative journey is driven by a desire to model for my children that you don’t have to follow the expected or safe path for your life. Follow that path that make your insides sing, that satisfies your soul as well as puts food on the table.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: essiengerdelphotography.com

Image Credits
Image of me taken by HawaImages