Why I Built The Open Studio: A Bold Step Toward Nurturing Young Photographers In Nigeria – RyanOniFOTO

Ryan Alabi (Ryan OniFOTO) is a Lagos-based portrait and fashion photographer whose work blends simplicity with depth, capturing the essence of his subjects in subtle yet striking ways.

A self-taught photographer, Ryan began his journey in 2017, developing a distinctive approach to portraiture and fashion imagery.

His work has been featured in publications such as Vanity Fair, Getty Images, and GQ South Africa, and in 2024, he was recognized as one of Lagos’ Top 50 Photographers.

Through his work, Ryan seeks to tell stories that go beyond aesthetics, exploring themes of identity, perception, and self-expression.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by colors, shapes, faces, and patterns. My dad used to buy lots of newspapers when I was growing up, and the images in them piqued my interest.

He emphasized,” I was also exposed to movies and cartoons. All of these influences subtly nurtured my love for photography. But it wasn’t until 2012 that I realized exactly what this interest meant. In 2017, I finally started the journey.”

He explained that “when I started photography in Ilorin years ago, I didn’t have anyone to turn to for guidance. I admired many photographers in Lagos from afar, but I had no real access to them. So, I know exactly how it feels to be eager to grow yet stuck with questions and no one to ask.

The Open Studio is my way of changing that. It’s a space where I have honest conversations and answer questions as openly and practically as I can, all to help young photographers find the clarity I once searched for, he said.”

According to him, The Open Studio is evolving into a community for young photographers who desire to grow not just in the technical aspects of the craft but also in the seemingly intangible areas.

“This community will foster learning, collaboration, and the overall well-being of photographers. I believe that as we grow in number, clarity will emerge on how best to navigate the industry, he said.”

The world has gone digital for decades now. Al should be seen as a new innovation. Embracing innovation is the best way to adapt and move forward. Every new innovation has, at some point, been feared and rumored to signal the end of an industry. Al is no different.

The reality of potential job loss is concerning. However, Al is a tool and should be used as such. It should augment the skills that are already present.

For photographers who are afraid that Al will take their jobs, I would say this: if all you have to offer is nice photos, then yes, you should be concerned. But if you sell an experience that isn’t just photos, Al will make your work even better

We call on the government to provide grants or creative industry funding to help expand the studio’s training programs, equipment pool, and outreach to underserved communities.

Supporting policy frameworks and incentives that make creative entrepreneurship-including registration, taxation, and import duties on gear-easier for emerging photographers.

The private sector can accelerate the studio’s impact by sponsoring training cohorts, competitions, or mentorship programs, ensuring young photographers can leam for free or at subsidized rates. Partnering to provide equipment support (e.g., cameras, lighting gear, software licenses) that can significantly raise the quality of training.