Simple smartphone shaped my photography career

When one thinks of talents that translate into an income source, several things pop up. They include music, football games, athletics, modelling and so forth. But for 24-year-old Koko Arre, the future to making a fortune started in the palm of his hands when he held a smartphone to take pictures as a novice. This has blossomed into a full-time job that keeps his hopes alive. In this interview, the young photographer talks about his humble beginning and the plan to capture the industry.

BOKA Jr: Thank you for creating time and honouring an interview with The City Review. Kindly introduce yourself.

Koko: Okay, thanks for the opportunity. I am Koko Dimu Arre. I was born on March 9 in 1997 in Terekeka County and grew up in Uganda.

BOKA Jr: Tell us about your schooling. When did you start and where did you study?

Koko: I started in Uganda, at St. Lawrence Junior School and completed secondary level at the Crown City of St. Lawrence.

BOKA Jr: And, how was your childhood like? How did you realize your talent?

Koko: I was born with the talent of drawing and painting and that is how I used to kill my time.

BOKA Jr: When did you develop a passion or love for photography?

Koko: It all started in 2019 when I was working at Notos Lounge Bar and Grill. And by then I was determined to be self-reliant and thought of what I could do. I remember when I got done with Secondary School level. I developed a skill of editing photos using Android apps like Picsart, SnapSeed, Adobe Draw, Befunky and Lightroom. Many friends used to come for me to work on their photos to turn them into illustrators and even manipulate them into what they do not have. I took it as a joke not realising it would be my profession. So I started visiting pages of famous photographers in Uganda like Henry Balit and Stuart Brown and the works of their hands greatly motivated me. Thankfully I was supported by a friend and got my first camera in 2019.

BOKA Jr: Koko, what is so breathtaking about photography that most people overlook?

Koko: I highly regret the old times of my great grandparents when there were no cameras. We are missing a lot of histories of our societies because of that. Photography reminds people about old memories and precious moments.

BOKA Jr: So how long have you been in the photography business?

Koko: I have been in the business for 3 years now.

BOKA Jr: Do South Sudanese understand photography and take it as a serious business?

Koko: The majority takes it seriously but some undermine it. It is a fair earning project that requires patience, risk and hard work.

BOKA Jr: Who are some of the popular photographers you know within South Sudan and outside?

Koko: Within Juba are Aladdin Karama, BowBow, Royal Te and many others and outside South Sudan, there are Stuart Brown and Ronnix from Uganda. Richard Jonathan and G-factor from Nigeria.

BOKA Jr: How do you generate income to keep it progressing?

Koko: I have recently started doing the cinematography. I generate income out of events and street, and private photoshoots and videography as well.

BOKA Jr: What do you do apart from photography?

Koko: At the moment I only concentrate on photography and videography because it gives me most of my needs.

BOKA Jr: What challenges have you faced or still facing when doing photography?

Koko: Insecurity. My country is having many beautiful places but I get scared to go on an adventure due to insecurity.

Then there is restriction where the good places where I feel like doing photography have too many restrictions.

At times as a photographer, I am being paid less than we agreed which makes my work difficult.

The clients do not give us enough time to work on their photos; they are always in hurry and forget that good thing take time to come.

Most people also think it’s an easy work yet it requires a process.

There is also disunity among the photographers. People misunderstood photography and turned it into a way of being known; not a business.

And finally, we don’t have enough equipment around us.

BOKA Jr: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Koko: Yes sure. When all goes well, I will first of all open up a photography station where the young people who have a love for photography but have no chance to learn will be trained because we do not have one. I really want that when they talk about photography, they should talk about South Sudan.

BOKA Jr: Do you have any message to young photographers?

Koko: To my young photographers, if you admire being a photographer, let no one stop you because you never knew you might be close to it. Keep it real.

There is one thing the photography must contain: The humanity of the moment.