CLICKING AWAY: When his grandfather paid him Shs10,000 after taking photos at a picnic 10 years ago, he had no idea he was laying a foundation for Enock Katongole’s future.
What is the name of your company?
Kez Photography, a section under Kez Art collection.
Why did you choose photography?
It is the passion and art of storytelling.
When did you realise you could do this kind of job?
About 10 years ago. My grandfather had a Kodak camera and he asked me to take pictures at his church picnic. At the end of the day, he gave me Shs10,000, which was a lot of money to me then, and my first payment.
Did you go on to study photography?
No, but I studied art and design, which also has basics of photography.
When did you start doing this professionally?
In 2010.
How much did you buy your first camera?
My first camera was a second hand Canon D1200 which cost me Shs1m.
What type of camera do you use now?
My A camera is a Canon M3, which cost Shs2.5m and my B camera was the first camera I bought and my alternative camera is a Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera, which I use for my B roll and time lapses (I use these to do pictorials or memory lanes).
How much do you charge for a function?
It depends on the needs of the client, because my prices differ but there are things I consider to quote, for example, the time I invest in the job, the sensitivity of the job, the gear I use to do the job, my brand name, location and many other things.
How much do you earn from this business in a month?
Since photography is a luxury for some people, it has no fixed income but I earn between Shs500,000 and Shs2m, depending on the jobs I do.
How many jobs do you get in a week?
I do not have a specific number because every week has its own challenges but at least one or two, depending on how the week goes.
What qualities should a good photographer have?
Good communication skills, creativity, an artistic eye, and delivering work in time.
How much would one require to start this kind of business?
That depends on your entry level. You can start with a camera which does not cost much, say Shs500,000 to Shs1.5m and that comes with kit lenses as well. And if you are a pro, you can start with pro kit lenses and pro DSRs which cost a fortune; from Shs2m and above for camera bodies and the same with the lenses.
— Isaac Ssejjombwe
