Thuto Motlhamme, a 28-year-old photographer/ model from Mafikeng’s Modimola Village, says he had always been a creative at heart and that his main focus is on honing his skills and establishing his brand. “I have always been someone who dresses nicely and formally but I fell in love with photography in 2017, when I acquired a digital camera from my uncle. Due to my fine style, I fell in love with the camera as a model and a photographer,” said Thuto.
Thuto’s Spodja Photography focuses on portrait urban photography, professional studio setup, and event photography. “Professional photography strives to be high-end because the focus is to always think of billboards, fine print and to ensure that the pictures are good enough to be edited and not lose pixilation or quality.
Hobby photography does not pay too much attention to detail,” said Thuto. For Thuto, it took word-of-mouth and recommendations for his business to become well known. “It is crucial to know what your clients want to have photographed even if it does not make sense from a photographic standpoint. I always ensure that I take shots that will accurately capture significant moments for my clients,” he added.
Many photographers take great professional delight in producing images that not only live up to client expectations but also have a purpose. Thuto believes that the originality of his work will help people realise that what sets a photographer apart from another is not how they do it, but rather the distinctive quality of their eye. “I want people to look at my pictures and feel the experiences that make sense to them were honestly captured as if they were the ones taking the picture,” said Thuto.
What inspires me is being a part of the creative process of capturing moments that mean a lot to people and enhancing them with my photographic skills to make the photographs exceed the client’s expectations,” he said.
Thuto, who considers himself a “one-stop shop” for creativity is also a musician, designer, and stylist. He says he wants to grow the ‘Spodja Photography’ brand since it is the first step towards the entertainment conglomerate that he is attempting to build. “The trick for me is that I am not looking for success, I am a firm believer in the saying: ‘Drive quality then success, and money will follow” he remarked.
Thuto gave advice to budding photographers telling them to cultivate their abilities, to be as collaborative as possible, to learn from other photographers and to avoid becoming fixated on the idea of becoming famous in favour of falling in love with the creative process.
