Rich Allela is currently an award-winning Kenyan photographer at age 28. Though it might seem like an obvious goal to target for a man and his camera, his story gives us insight into why his career path may have been unforseeable; a stark reminder on the key our hobbies hold when navigating careers – the things we truly love to do.

Village Life …

At the tender age of 9, Rich’s family moved away from the city, to a village in the  Migori county of the country. Connecting the dots backwards, this offered him a nurturing mix of urban and rural life, aiding his scope of thinking and creativity. “For a long time, we never had electricity hence books and friends became our refuge. If we were not playing outside we were indoors reading,” Rich explains, reminiscing on how his siblings and he once got into big trouble for trying to swim in one of their uncle’s fish pond. His rural life was made even more colourful by his grandfather having three wives, as is customarily acceptable in the traditional Luo community. All his uncles and his father too had two wives. This means he grew up in a very large family, influenced by many characters.

Rich recalls first coming across a camera at age 11. His father owned a camera and as we often joke, fathers are not seen in most photos because they are the ones behind the camera. But it was not until he joined university that he got access to a professional DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera and acknowledged having a passion for it.

Photography as a Career …

“I never imagined it would be a career,” asserts Rich. Having come from a family of engineers, it is the norm for parents in Kenya to expect that their children follow suit, and if not, aim to pursue careers of similar ranking: medicine, law … By profession, Rich is actually a Footwear Designer, which he studied at the University of Nairobi. Given his upbringing and the associated expectations, it never did occur to him that his photography could be more than a hobby. When people started paying him to take photos, Rich realised it could be a career. He never looked back!

But his mother is still in working progress toward accepting that this is her son’s career. “It took a lot of adjusting for my mum to accept that I was going to choose design as a career. Just as she was beginning to accept design I decided to leave a well-paying job as a footwear designer to pursue photography full time. It was one of the biggest shocks of her life,” says Rich.

Photography Heals …

Photos have the power to communicate a message and touch people’s soul without saying a word. To Rich, photography is also an escape, a form of meditation that calms his mind and carries him through challenging times. What many do not know, is Rich often finds himself dealing with anxiety. Though many of us do not openly share this, we can relate. The speedy pace and high expectations of modern life can often leave us, as Rich aptly describes “prone to ecstatic highs and depressing lows”. As a child he read more than he played outside because he was a stammerer. Photography gave him the space to come out of himself and by default become a people’s person.

Photography shapes worldviews …

In Rich’s words:

“Photography is the eye through which people see other worlds. However you choose to portray what you see through your camera, whether positive or negative, that’s what your audience will believe. That level of influence requires high levels of integrity and should never be abused.”

Although he has no favourite photo and is always driven to create new top shots, he holds dear the series he did on the Maasai people of Kenya. See more here. “You know a photo is good when it stirs emotion in you,” he adds.

The Kenyan photography market is growing …

… and gradually getting the respect it deserves. Rich explains that although some clients still struggle to understand why quality photography costs a fortune, there are a good number who are willing to spend what it takes to achieve the ultimate results. We have seen that increasingly happening with prominent and upcoming brands.

Rich’s Camera …

He often uses the Canon 6D with a 24-70mm F2.8 Canon lens; he finds the lens to be one of the most versatile for any situation.

Currently working on …

Telling stories of forgotten African Heroes and Heroines like the series on Mekatilili wa Menza* of Kenya.

Hopes for local photography …

Rich hopes that creatives keep raising their standards so that their work can compete on a global scale. “This will lead to more International gigs that will help grow the local standards and set a high benchmark for those who come after us,” he says.

Did You Know …

Rich worked as a door to door salesman to make ends meet at university.

*Mnyazi wa Menza was a Kenyan woman leader, who led the Giriama people in a rebellion against the British Colonial Administration and policies actively in 1913 – 1914. She became Mekatilili after the birth of her first son Katilili.

Get in touch with Rich, his work and listed awards on his website and let us know what you think. Better yet, get him to capture your stories.

Byawoman is dedicated to enriching our lives and experiences through the authentic stories we share and would be pleased to hear from you. Is there a story I can help you put together and share?

Check out byawoman.lifeandliving on Instagram for a daily dose of navigating life together. If you enjoyed this read have a look at the coffee series with Vava.