Above Photograph © Patience Ojionuka

How do you transition from being simply “a friend with a camera” to landing paid gigs with top fashion brands? All while juggling a budding photo career and the rigors of post graduate study, along with sharing insider tips to inspire your community on the side. 

We answer these questions and more in this, our second episode of Next Frame, a monthly podcast series shining a light on rising creative talents. 

Today's guest is Patience Ojionuka, a trendsetting creative known for multitasking between enviable photo assignments and working towards a PhD in psychology. We get the low down on her experiences in the power of pitching and the magic of sharing on social media.

“There's always projects happening, and I think that is the biggest thing I learned,” she explains. “There's nothing more powerful than sharing your work.”

Patience also admits, “I was waiting for the perfect time to start, which reminder to anybody listening, the perfect time to start is right now. I just posted it, and it got a reaction that I just wasn't expecting. And that could happen to you. That could happen to anyone.” Guest: Patience Ojionuka Episode Timeline:

2:07: Patience Ojionuka’s start in photography as an undergraduate doing senior portraits and school events.

4:09: Figuring out how to make photography fit into her life, plus getting past the stigma that part time artists don’t have a stake in the industry.

6:20: Connecting with ASMP’s Bridge Mentorship Program, how this changed her life, plus finding time, space, and resources to create at Shotti’s LR2 Studio. 

13:32: A love for lighting and the viral lighting tutorials Patience posts on TikTok.

17:19: How Patience has evolved as a photographer both technically and as a tastemaker.

19:56: A memorable assignment and the value of being kind and personable in a tough industry. 

22:53: Learning the power of pitching and sharing your work on social media.

26:13: Patience’s current social media strategy, plus the Instagram reel that changed her life.

29:16: Drawing inspiration from outside the photography world and merging the different parts of her brain. 

32:58: The most important thing that Patience has learned from mentoring and aims to impart to others.   35:21: Where Patience aspires to be as a photographer five years from now, plus news about a recent project for Teen Vogue.

Guest Bio:

Patience Ojionuka is a queer, Houston-raised, NYC-based photographer and psychology PhD student. Specializing in fashion and portraiture, Patience has worked on and assisted in projects for Teen Vogue, Wall Street Journal, Self Magazine, Who What Wear, Allure, and has had clients such as Tinder, Lex App, and National University. Outside the studio, you can find her singing a cappella, editing videos, or probably inappropriately doing doctoral homework at a party.

Stay Connected:

Patience Ojionuka Website: https://patienceojionuka.com Patience Ojionuka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patienceojionuka/ Patience Ojionuka LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/patience-o-051531212 Patience Ojionuka YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@patienceojionuka/ Patience Ojionuka TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@patienceojionuka     LR2 Studio: https://www.lr2.studio/about ASMP’s Bridge Mentorship Program: https://www.asmp.org/newyork/the-bridge-program/

Host: Derek Fahsbender

Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman

Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein

Executive Producer: Richard Stevens