How Tangai, 15, is transforming passion for photography into creative venture

When classrooms fell silent during the Covid-19 lockdown, millions of students were confined indoors, their routines suddenly disrupted.

As the pandemic altered daily life, 15-year-old Tangai Mugo of Crawford International School rediscovered his childhood passion for photography. Confined indoors, he turned to the mobile devices that were available at home to capture moments that caught his eye.

“I enjoyed photographing anything that stood out. From stunning sunsets to lighthearted moments with friends, it was so much fun snapping pictures of things that caught my eye,” he told the Star.

Impressed by the quality of his photos, his father gifted him a professional camera, giving him the tools to sharpen his craft. With it, he experimented with lighting, composition and new styles to bring his vision to life.

He also utilized online resources such as YouTube tutorials to study the work of master photographers and acquire new photography techniques.

As his collection of videos and photos grew, he launched a website, Tangai TV, to share his work with a wider audience.

The platform allows him to tell stories through photography, turning a personal hobby into a space for visual storytelling.

“Photography has been part of my life since I was nine. I would head outside and document anything that captivated me. Over the years, that excitement has only grown as I continue to learn and explore new techniques,” he says.

His passion for photography has now become an income-generating venture, which has earned him several recognitions both locally and internationally.

His school’s emphasis on co-curricular activities allows Tangai to pursue his passion without interfering with his classwork.

While his dedication to photography has been a key driver of his success, the young creative acknowledges that his achievements would not have been possible without the support of his family.

With their guidance, he manages the business side of his craft, ensuring he is fairly compensated for assignments and is not taken advantage of.

“My dad has been very supportive. Recently, when I was building a computer for video and photo editing, my dad helped so much with financing the project, and making sure I never gave up,” said Tangai.

The photographer also attributes his growth to his school, which he says has provided him with opportunities to take photos during sports and official events alongside the staff photographer.

“The school allows me to use these photos on my website; at times, they also showcase my work on their own platforms. This has really helped with exposure,” said Tangai.

Although his first career choice is mechanical engineering, Tangai says he would love to continue pursuing photography as a side hustle, and might even consider making it his main career if it shows real promise.

“I’ll also try and get into sports photography beyond the school, perhaps starting with local games here in Kenya, then grow from there,” said Tangai.

“There is so much emotion in sports and I love that because you never know what is going to happen, you are always on edge. This allows you to create some very beautiful pictures,” he added.

While the initial cost of venturing into photography can be a barrier due to the high cost of equipment, Tangai advises aspiring photographers to start practicing with what they have, as that is the only way they will get better at the craft.