While people consider it an art to capture candid images in public places, for street photographers in Maseru city it is all about business and the love of what they do.
Photography contributes to the economy and plays a part in battling unemployment, especially amongst the youth.
In an interview with theReporter this week, Mohlouoa Letsie from Mafeteng who studied marketing management at Lerotholi Polytechnic said he started photography as a side hustle to augment his monthly National Manpower Development Secretariat allowance.
Letsie came to appreciate the reality of a high unemployment rate among both graduates and non-graduates in the country, and this saw him going into photography in 2023 while still studying.
“While waiting to find a formal job I was already practising street photography. With the money I make, I am able to meet my needs such as paying rent. In short, I can this is now my source of income currently.
“I mostly shoot around Maseru town considering than most people reside here. However, I still offer both photography and videography services to individuals, corporates and various events through bookings whenever people need me. I charge according to the time a session takes,” Letsie said.
He indicated that his business was able to flourish even more during the renovation of the main traffic circle in Maseru last year.
Letsie noticed that people from the rural areas and those from outside the country were captivated by the adornment and were eager to pose for photos at the circle. This presented an opportunity to make money.
Speaking about the challenges he encountered, Letsie noted that the photography business is not stable and the demand is always fluctuating. The number of clients dips in the middle of the month and peaks at month ends.
He acknowledged the high competition from other photographers who in every corner of town, and said it is vital to maintain one’s customers, while building up on one’s client base.
“It’s all about captivating customers and satisfying them to make sure they always remember you. We do some sort of editing as it is crucial to make products different from others,” Letsie added.
According to Letsie, photography is not taken seriously in the country, and many people regard it as a ‘cheap’ job despite the expensive equipment needed.
“It is not easy to get investment from big companies, otherwise we would grow to greater heights and receive the respect we deserve. As it is, we look desperate for money in the eyes of other people, since we even accept the M5 some pay for our service.
“I appeal for our work to be treated like other jobs which are officially registered in the country so that we can increase our fees and flourish,” he urged.
Letsie wants to work harder and own a well-equipped studio in a few years as this will enable him to attend big occasions with reasonable fees.
In another interview, Tlhokomelo Shale, an aspiring vocalist from Ha Tsolo in Maseru, said he gained interest in photography since it aligns with his desired career as an artist.
Shale stated that since he began photography last year, he has been able to buy himself two laptops, recording equipment and quality microphones to name a few.
“Even though I only just started last year, it feels like I have been in this business for five years, if you look at the experience I have garnered.
“One of the main challenges we come across is that of men who do not understand what we are doing, and assault us for capturing photos of them. I was once assaulted by someone for capturing him unawares. Street photography entails shooting unplanned pictures, and people do not understand that a photographer immediately deletes a picture if the subject does not approve.
“My dream is to have more cameras in order to hire other people while still pursuing my studies. I would love to see our job recognised to ensure our safety,” he concluded.
