BANFII - logged!

Over the years, I've often asked myself this one question - what is my philosophy? In order to remain grounded and to keep deriving the same level of satisfaction from what I do, I have to make sure that I have identified my core competencies and aligned them with my beliefs.

Since the beginning, I had always be drawn to images that captured emotions and those that document the true essence of a moment! I always wanted to be the first to see the smile, the tear-drop, the expression on the face as a bride rests her head on her Dad's shoulder while dancing, or the squeeze of the arm as they both walk down the aisle to meet the groom.

How do you capture the first meeting - where the groom sees the bride for the first time? The long expected day - the one day where they both would become one. I would tear up on the inside because I could see the amount of love that exists between the two people who are right before me.

Throughout the day, I would see the exchanged looks, the gentle squeeze of fingers as they walk around the reception room, or the sigh of relief that the months, days and hours of planning are finally over.

When it is all said and done, I'm so emotionally drained from the intense level of concentration! I literally immerse myself into the day because I want to see the day through the eyes of my bride and groom, I want to feel what they feel, hear what they hear and also be attentive enough to see and hear all that is around and behind them! It sometimes seems like I have a thousand eyes around my head - I have to perceive what would happen next without being too eager which may ruin the moment. 

My philosophy had always been to capture a wedding in a way that the resulting images are an embodiment of everything that took place on the wedding day!

People ask me today "do you do the photojournalistic style"? Photojournalism is pictorial representation of news. For me my images have to tell your story. I want my images to reflect your personality, your lives, your day, your style, your life! Your images have to tell your own story!

Why am I going into all of these especially after 9 years of a successful business?

I need to remember ALWAYS what brings me the most joy in what I do and REMAIN TRUE to that one thing!

I am a photographer that shoots from the heart. I capture images of things that tug at my heart. I often cry during the first dance as I pace the dance floor with the bride and groom and I listen to every word from the song being played. I literally I'm dancing to the song in my mind and looking through the view finder at the beautiful couple to see how they would express their love to one another - most of the time, their expressions end up being those I had just thought about in my mind. Sometimes, I'm praying for the couple as they dance - praying for longevity, praying for anything good that comes to mind!

So, am I a photojournalist? Yes, but NOT the misused word!

I'm more of a secretary hired to take notes of an important meeting. Marriage is perhaps the most sacred of all of life's ordained institutions. And as such, I come in prepared to witness something huge, something of a magnitude like I had never seen before. Armed with my camera, I want to take notes of events that would never repeat themselves ever again!

Okay, I had better stop right here before i end up with an epistle!

~Roland

 

Ashley and her Mom booked me several months before her wedding. I met them briefly at a Bridal fair in January 2005 and I can remember telling Ashley as she walked away "I wish you all of God's blessings as you plan ahead". I just felt compelled to tell her that despite that it could have been viewed as not the cool thing to say. A few months went by and I finally heard from Ashley sometime in April of 2005. Ashley booked us on the same day as our first meeting!

My first meeting with Blake was during their Engagement session. Boy, was I blown away when I was shown the huge lake behind Ashley's home. Blake actually tried teaching me out to fish! I had spent about an hour after my shoot trying to catch a fish, but I had it give it up after breaking a few lines!

No, I didn't travel to Jamaica to shoot the wedding, but it was at least an hour away from Overland Park - "Cameron, Missouri"!!! The people were super nice and I particularly enjoyed spending time with Ashley's Grand Father who, like my father, is a retired church minister!

At the reception, Ashley's Mom literally stopped the buffet line because she wanted to make sure we had something to eat before heading back to Kansas City. She told her guests that were already in the Buffet line that "these people have been working all day and I want to make sure that they have something to eat!" Although I don't make it a habit to eat at weddings, it was rather impressive that Ashley's mom would take it upon herself to ensure that we had something to eat!

Congrats - Ashley & Blake!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Somewhat belated but still timely as I would not forgive myself if I fail to congratulate my first couple of the year 2006!

Sarah and Mike were amazing to work with! Mike was particularly cool and extremely polite...so was Sarah! It seemed like I had known Sarah and her family for years. Considering that I was booked 15 months prior to their wedding, I felt like I was shooting my sister's wedding!

Congrats!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since August 2005, I had embarked on building a new website for my wedding photography business. Like every website design I had ever implemented, I wanted the outcome of the new project to be unique and different. One of the comments we hear a lot from our clients and friends has to do with the Profile/Bio page.

I decided a long time ago that I want my clients to know that I am a Christian. Why does this matter you would ask? Well, I feel really blessed to be doing what I do especially since I didn’t have any formal training. My faith in Christ has been perhaps the most dominant aspect of my life and it had kept me grounded for the last 15 years that I’ve spent here in America.

Without a penny in loan or even a day of apprenticeship, I embarked on this venture and seven years later, I’m able to look back, reflect and acknowledge that only GOD could have made everything possible. But I’m not perfect. But I also have my vices. So, why profess my faith?

Because I want to be held accountable! I want my clients and their families to know that I’m on a course to lead a life worthy of God’s name. My imperfection has led me on this path to make my life better because I know that my Lord counts on me to be a good example to those that I deal with.

Why this entry?

This morning, I had called a friend of mine and shared with him how my decision to get back into early morning devotions is making a difference in my day-to-day living. I had shared with him how I plan on reading the whole Bible this year and how I found the story of Joseph to be really uplifting. You see, through my daily reading of the Bible, I discovered that Joseph was never charged with a single sin and that he was compassionate, loving, and blessed of the Lord. I also shared with my friend how I believe that my Lord would meet every single one of my needs…and I have a lot of needs!

Less than two hours after my phone call, I received a call from Emily. Emily is getting married on July 1^st at the Longview Mansion. We arranged to have her visit our office within the next hour so she could see our work. To cut a long story short, Emily told me that one of the reasons she had called was because she read on the Bio page that I’m a Christian. This literally brought tears to my eyes because her comments validated my intentions. Emily booked us to shoot her July wedding!

I stand to profess my faith that the Lord is my ever so present help and friend!

This is my first post in what may end up being my first personal journal.  First and foremost, I must thank you for visiting!
As you may have read from the Bio sections of my photography websites, I’ve only been a photographer for a few years now – about 9 years to be precise. I’m originally from Nigeria. I moved to the U.S about 15 years ago to go to School at Southwest Baptist University. I’m married to a very beautiful wife and we have two beautiful children – Courtney and Myles! I will tell you more about my background later on in other posts.
In all of my years of being a photographer, I have always yearned for an opportunity to do something special with my talents. Shooting weddings is special, but I always still had this yearning that I could never explain – it’s always a feeling that keeps me digging deeper for answers.
Not long ago, I decided that I would like to go back to Nigeria and spend sometime doing pictorial documentation of issues facing my people like AIDS, Malaria, Poverty, the list is endless. With as much desire as I had for this project, I’ve not been able to get myself to go - I need to have a few thins lined up before I can embark on these trips. The thought of doing this brought me somewhat closer to filling the void that I had felt for a long time, but what has completely filled the void is being able to put my talents to work at my Church Lenexa Christian Center.

There is so much to talk about. This is officially the beginning of something special!

I pray and hope that you would come back from time to time to see what the Lord is doing in my life!