The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Features Reporter
A gift is an item given to someone, without the expectation of payment or anything in return. For women, the most popular gifts are usually flowers, jewellery, chocolates, perfume, clothes or that perfect classy handbag.
Now, imagine receiving something that you are not so familiar with, how would you react? Ms Paidamoyo Sibanda (30) of Emakhandeni suburb in Bulawayo, received a Canon camera as a random gift from her husband in November last year and her reaction to the unfamiliar gift has started opening up possibilities she never imagined for herself.
The mother of two girls had studied beauty therapy between 2015 and 2016, and also did a bit of graphic designing sometime in 2022 ,but had never worked. She did not know what she was going to use the camera for.
“At one time my husband who is a taxi driver and is also into business, was thinking of what else we could do to make more money. He and his friend did their research and they thought about starting a media company, however, that just fizzled away over time,” she said.
“To my surprise, last year in November, he bought a camera for me as a random gift. So, the debate was now on who was going to operate the camera since none of us had camera skills. The two options we had, were to either hire it out here and there or get someone to be using it.”
Ms Sibanda, said she began to develop an interest in the camera sometime in December last year and started taking random pictures of her children.
“At first, it was just wanting to know, which button I press when switching it on and which one when taking the pictures – just the simple things so that I could take family pictures on days we went out. I began carrying it often for family outings and trips,” she narrated.
Ms Sibanda said the camera seemed non-compliant and the pictures would either come out too dark or at times with too much sunlight exposure, making them white.
She said this motivated her to want to learn more about the camera and possibly upscale her skills in camera work.
“My husband did some research on who would be able to teach me, while I was debating on whether to do home school or be enrolled somewhere. We then decided to look for someone who would be teaching me and that is when I ended up at Innovation Photo Studio sometime in December,” said Ms Sibanda.
She said in two weeks, she had learnt and grasped how to operate a camera from the basics and how to control lighting since she used to take dark pictures.
Ms Sibanda said her instructor (Mr Innocent Ngwenya), was very patient with her, ensuring that he took his time teaching her until she understood what she needed to do.
“For the first lesson, he told me to go out and come back with questions. I went and did some practice then came back with some questions. He said the more you practice, the more you grasp key things. That’s when I decided that after lessons, I would go to the Centenary Park ,to utilise what I would have learnt that day to test my skills,” she said.
“I would then get help for the challenges I would have faced. At first it wasn’t easy going to the Park because it’s mainly male photographers operating there, so I was really scared. However, with time, I got to know them and they welcomed me.”
Ms Sibanda said some of the photographers even advised her to get a permit from the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Parks Department, in order to be allowed to take pictures at the Centenary Park.
She got her permit in January this year for US$20 and it expires in December. The permit states that besides the Centenary Park, she can also do photography in areas where there are recreational parks such as Nketa 6, Entumbane, Sizinda, Luveve and the greater part of Bulawayo.
“When I got the permit that was when I was then able to get people to pay for the photoshoots. It was no longer for free, unlike during the first days when I was still practicing. I then decided to make it a personal project as I realised I could earn a living from photography. I registered my company and named it Glems Multimedia.”
Inspired by the word “glamorous”, Glems Multimedia aims to take pictures full of glamour, charmingly or fascinatingly attractive, especially in a mysterious or magical way, while also full of excitement, adventure and unusual activity.
She said she gets most of her clients from Centenary Park and has managed to build a clientele, while also expanding her marketing on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok among others.
Capitalising on her graphic designing skills, Ms Sibanda, said she was setting up a photo studio to fulfill her photography passion.
“I want to open a photo studio next month, motivated by the skills I have gotten so far and the support I continue to receive from my current clientele as well as my husband. He has been my biggest cheerleader and at times when I feel like throwing in the towel, he pushes me forward,” she said.
Ms Sibanda, who has been able to assist during photoshoots for two weddings in January and a number of birthday shoots, said the tokens of appreciation were a testament that she was becoming good at what she is doing.
She said Valentines’ Day awakened the passion she has developed as an upcoming photographer.
“I really enjoyed the shoots on the day and getting feedback from the happy clients. Hearing that they were satisfied meant a lot to me. To upscale my skills, I intend to study further and do videography. It’s funny how a random gift of a camera has turned into a passion in photography for me,” marvelled Ms Sibanda.
She said she was looking forward to broadening her clientele base to include photoshoots for schools (primary and secondary), businesses and key events.
Like any other profession, Ms Sibanda said she faces a number of challenges in her newly found passion for photography.
“This field is like entering a male territory so to say. Some female clients are even sceptical of having a female photographer take photos of them, as some feel they will be below standard.
“I’m adapting and the other male photographers at Centenary Park are now supportive towards me. They have seen that
I’m also trying to make a living from this and they now advise me like their little sister. Also, as a woman, I have to be on the watch out for thieves.”
Ms Sibanda said if she can do it, she believes other women who may be interested in photography can also discover their passion.
She called upon women not to shy away from women photographers and rather uplift them by supporting their initiatives.
Her story is a testament to the fact that every gift counts. No gift is too small or too big, it is what you make out of it that makes it better or meaningful.
