Professional white backdrop for my photography business

Naomi    Sep 22, 2015

An improvement in business

Naomi    May 22, 2015

I can now afford to pay slightly more and on time

Naomi    Feb 5, 2015

My business is at its lowest season currently and i am trying to balance the little income verses the bills i have. I hope to increase as soon as it picks up and hopefully clear it faster.

Naomi    Sep 18, 2014

My first marketing tool, 1000 business cards ready to be given out. Am still working on the others step by step and as soon as am done i will post more photos.

Naomi    Sep 3, 2014

Dear Lenders,
Thank you is not enough to express my sincere gratitude for all your contribution towards my loan. I finally feel like my business can move to a whole different level thanks to all of you. I have started working on my marketing plan and i will post photos where possible to show you the progress i will be making. Now walk with me step by step through this journey as i continue to grow my business. May you all be blessed abundantly.

Diblo    Aug 29, 2014

I practice raising chickens, turkeys and geese. visit my profile and you'll see very beautiful image in my small farm I convert. your support will be essential to me.
www.zidisha.org/fr/microfin...

Victor    Aug 9, 2014

keep up the good work Naomi

• Naomi    Aug 11, 2014

  Thanks Victor!

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Naomi    Aug 7, 2014

Dear Lenders,
Below is a photo of my studio showing the white backdrop i bought with the loan i received. I apologize for taking a longer time to post the photos. I had to move to a bigger office space and studio and so i was settling in first and setting up the office. The backdrop is way bigger and better than what i had to hire before. I have earned good money from studio shoots since i bought the backdrop and i have managed to save up now that i do not have to hire anymore. I am also very happy with the outcome of my photos. I am deeply grateful for all the help and assistance i got. May God bless you all abundantly.

Naomi    Jul 19, 2014

Dear Lenders,
I am very happy to inform you that i finally have my own backdrop for the studio. I bought it last week and it was delivered yesterday. I do not have to hire anymore all thanks to you guys. I cannot wait to put it up and start using it. I will post pictures of it here very soon. Again thank you so so much. I cannot explain how excited i am.

Boaz    Jul 18, 2014

Naomi she is doing well and am happy of her she had forgot the zidisha pay bill number,i reminded her.Thank you naomi for paying your money to lenders.

• Naomi    Jul 19, 2014

  Thanks a lot Boaz for your help. I look forward to meeting you soon.

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DavidHenning    Jul 16, 2014

Dear all,

After an hour matatu ride (local vans/buses), I finally met Naomi Chepchumba. She was already waiting for me outside one of the malls in Eldoret (the town where some of the best runners in the world come from), and over a coffee she told me about her life and how she has come to do what she does now.

Financing her studies was very difficult for Naomi. Due to some in-family issues she moved away from home right after high school (very unusual for Kenyan girls). The same issues and the fact that Naomi moved out, made her family reluctant to financially support her further education. Her mom eventually came around, but Naomi saw herself forced to take up one of the loans offered by the government. However, these loans only cover part of the fees and Naomi therefore had to work to be able to endure herself throughout university. It was this work that opened the doors to what she does at the moment, photography.

When she started her university degree she also started working for Oasis Multimedia. Being placed in the photography department she was introduced to the art of photography. Throughout her degree she learnt more and more of the skills and crucial know-how needed to be a good photographer. Towards the end of her degree, which btw is a degree in development studies, Naomi became the head of the photography department at Oasis Multimedia, earning around 230 USD a month. Having achieved this, and since the pay was not fantastic, she felt it was time to move on and decided to become independent. Currently, she works as a private photographer and has her own studio in the middle of Eldoret and earns in a good month up to 910 USD! “What kind of photography do you do?” I ask her. “I focus on people at the moment. Though my passion is nature, people photography is what brings in the money. I have not focused on anything specific within that art form though, I take pictures of weddings, family portraits, model shoots, really anything people ask me to do.” She says with a smile.

Naomi just received her first loan from Zidisha. With that loan she will buy her own white background, which she until now has borrowed from others. In this way she can easily increase her profit. “what are your plans for the future?” I ask her. “Photography, but different” she immediately replied.she smiles as she continues “I don't really enjoy people photography. My passions are traveling and nature photography, which it is difficult to make money out of, and therefore I want to continue photography as a hobby. To be able to pursue my hobby, I will need to not only expand my current business, but also invest and probably take up another job, hopefully within community development. I for sure want to continue with photography for the rest of my life!”

After we finish our conversation Naomi takes me to her studio, which lies in the very center of Eldoret. As we go into the studio, without me uttering a single comment she looks at me and says “It is quite small, I know, but the rent is cheap and it is big enough for what I am doing at the moment. In addition, the central location really makes up for the size.” For me it’s more than big enough, especially considering that she started as a private photographer only a year ago. It has a white background, the one she is boring now, and otherwise green with a window looking out on the nearby street.

Being the young, energetic and courageous woman Naomi is I am sure her life will unfold as a life full of happiness and joy. She has already come further than many of her peers and it seems to me that nothing can hold her back at this point. Whatever path she will choose later, I am sure it will be successful. Naomi really inspired me. I leave her with a feeling of happiness and in deep thought, trying to determine how I can make the most of my life.

David Henning,
Client Relationship Manager, Kenya

1. The open door to the right is the entrance to Naomis studio
2. Naomis studio
3. Naomi in her studio

Naomi    Jul 10, 2014

Dear lenders,
I am glad to let you know that i have received my first loan and i can now purchase my backdrop. I want to thank you all for the support you have given me and the opportunity to grow my business. I will be posting photos of the backdrop and its results. Thank you so much!

evinpa    Jul 9, 2014

HI Naomi,

You're welcome!I look forward to seeing some photos with your new backdrop.

I'll have to think of what I have to share as photos. I don't have a dedicated website where I post my images. I have not put many online.

The photo of myself that I submitted for the Zidisha blog interview is one that I took using a mirror and you can see the 20 mm lens and camera which I used that is almost the same as yours.(But the big flash like yours that is great for bouncing light off the ceilings is not attached.)

The photo is here:

p2p-microlending-blog.zidis...

I also took this photo of a plant with a flower just for my Zidisha forum profile. I prefer to shoot nature late in the day when there is bright light and a lot of shadows. The photo is here:

zidisha.org/forum/members/e...

Evelyn

• Naomi    Jul 10, 2014

  Hey Evelyn,
  I just checked out the links above. I really love the mirror photo of yourself. I also have a series of different flowers i have been shooting. As soon as i am done working on them i will post some. Its also good to see your face.
  If you ever get a chance to show me your "people photos" i would appreciate it. Thanks for your time.

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evinpa    Jul 7, 2014

Hi Naomi,

In reply to your post with the photos below:
You’re welcome! I’d had not heard of that proverb before, but it makes sense.

Your lenses are similar to what I have for my SLR camera. I started with a 70-210, but it was really challenging when I had to be close to a subject. That led me eventually to add a 20 mm fixed lens, which I love to use. I really got hooked on using the wide angle lens.

Thank you so much for sharing your facebook site with me. I looked at your facebook page and some of your albums. For a brief time I worked in a portrait studio and really learned timing. A split second off and you can miss the only moment that a young child smiles. It also can be very challenging to pose people. I see you have a few very spontaneous feeling shots in a studio setting. They come across as playful and not uncomfortably posed. This is great!

I also like to shoot nature and like the images you posted here. My style in photographing people is more documentary. I like to capture life as it happens. I see that spontaneity in your “family shoot” album where you’ve captured some wonderful expressions.

The details you included in a couple of the wedding photo albums I looked at are really nice. The trend here in the US is now to have a more documentary feel with wedding photography and to include these details as memories.

I look forward to seeing more of your work. I hope that continue to build your customer base and have fun with your work.

Evelyn

P.S. I tried to post this a reply below your comment with the photos, but it showed up as a reply below something else.

• Naomi    Jul 9, 2014

  Hey Evelyn,
  Thanks for the reply and the good comments you said about my work.
  First, i just want to let you know that my loan was completed and disbursed and i just ant to thank you personally for your contribution. As soon as i purchase my white backdrop i will post photos here so you can see them.
  Secondly, i would love to see some of your work too if you don't mind. I always feel there is room to learn everyday and i am sure i can learn a few things from what you do.
  Looking forward to hearing from you again. And please like my facebook page.

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  • evinpa    Jul 9, 2014

    HI Naomi,
    
    You're welcome!I look forward to seeing some photos with your new backdrop.
    
    I'll have to think of what I have to share as photos. I don't have a dedicated website where I post my images. I have not put many online.
    
    The photo of myself that I submitted for the Zidisha blog interview is one that I took using a mirror and you can see the 20 mm lens and camera which I used that is almost the same as yours.(But the big flash like yours that is great for bouncing light off the ceilings is not attached.)
    
    The photo is here:
    
    p2p-microlending-blog.zidis...
    
    I also took this photo of a plant with a flower just for my Zidisha forum profile. I prefer to shoot nature late in the day when there is bright light and a lot of shadows. The photo is here:
    
    zidisha.org/forum/members/e...
    
    Evelyn

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David    Jul 5, 2014

Dear Naomi

If you need a professional website to show case your products and services please contact us through [email protected].

We currently have an offer for small and medium size start-ups where we design them websites FREE of charge.

You are only charged for your domain name [www.yourbizname.com] and hosting space charged at 1000/- for the former and 2800/- for the latter.

You can also reach us through David on 0720475664.

Own your professional website today and showcase your prowess online!

See samples here www.ryantechkenya.com

• Naomi    Jul 5, 2014

  Hi David,
  Thanks a lot for the above information. I have been hopping to create a website but the people i have approached are very expensive. I am definitely interested. Just looking through your samples. Let me contact you via your number.

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evinpa    Jul 4, 2014

Hello Naomi,

I also have a passion for photography and have worked in several capacities as a photographer in my community.

I have a digital camera, flash and lens that is similar to what you have in your profile photo, but mine is a Nikon instead of Canon. What is the range of the lens you have?
If it doesn't infringe on anyone's privacy I'd be interested to see some of your work if you don't mind posting some photos here on your profile page.

I am happy to support your loan, even though my bid right now is small.

Evelyn

• Naomi    Jul 5, 2014

  Hey Evelyn,
  I am so happy to hear from you. First of all thanks a lot for your bid and your support. In Kenya, we have a proverb that says little by little fills the jar so your support is very helpful.
  Am glad to know we share the same passion. I have two lenses, an 18-55mm and a 70-300mm. I hope to get better in future. I would love to show you some of my photos. However, i cannot post photos of my clients due to their privacy rights but i can post photos of nature and other stuff. But i have a Facebook page where i share my work. If you do not mind please have a look at it. I would like to know what you think of my work. The page is called Naomi Samantha Photography.
  
  
  Here are a few photos that i have taken. Again thanks a lot for your support. I hope to hear from you soon.
  
  Cheers!

  

  

  

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  • evinpa    Jul 7, 2014

    Hi Naomi,
    
    You’re welcome! I’d had not heard of that proverb before, but it makes sense.
    
    Your lenses are similar to what I have for my SLR camera. I started with a 70-210, but it was really challenging when I had to be close to a subject. That led me eventually to add a 20 mm fixed lens, which I love to use. I really got hooked on using the wide angle lens.
    
    Thank you so much for sharing your facebook site with me. I looked at your facebook page and some of your albums. For a brief time I worked in a portrait studio and really learned timing. A split second off and you can miss the only moment that a young child smiles. It also can be very challenging to pose people. I see you have a few very spontaneous feeling shots in a studio setting. They come across as playful and not uncomfortably posed. This is great!
    
    I also enjoy photographing nature and like the images you posted here. I like to saturate the color with my exposures.
    
    My style in photographing people is more documentary. I like to capture life as it happens. I see that spontaneity in your “family shoot” album where you’ve captured some wonderful expressions.
    
    The details you included in a couple of the wedding photo albums I looked at are really nice. The trend here in the US is now to have a more documentary feel with wedding photography and to include these details as memories.
    
    I look forward to seeing more of your work. I hope that continue to build your customer base and have fun with your work.
    
    Evelyn

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Boaz    Jun 26, 2014

Eldoret is distant from my place but i can help.

• Naomi    Jul 3, 2014

  Thanks Boaz, I will highly appreciate your guidance.

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