Belia , photographer to the stars, tells alt.SA about her career
Thanks for taking the time to sit down with alt.SA and answer some questions.
You're predominately known for your music photography, when did you start taking photos and at what point did you decide this is it, I want to be a professional photographer?
I photographed my first gig in Dec 2011. I started a new life in July 2012 and needed to get a job. Tried to make freelance photography my work and everyone was very kind and suportive. It turned out to be the right thing to do.
Have there been times when you wanted to hang up your camera and become an accountant?
Haha! No way! I have always been a creative and this has been the best thing that has ever happened to me, even though it has been hard work. I still love it and I can see myself doing it forever.
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How do you feel about the industry today?
I think there is so much talent in SA. It is such a pity it isn’t supported enough. I recently went to Mississppi, the home of The Blues. I spent some time experiencing the roots of the blues and I went to a few blues festivals and gigs with some of the present, well known blues legends. I can tell you now that SA has great talent in music. Some of the musicans here are on par and even better than some of the greats there.
What is the greatest thing about working in this industry and specifically with music as a topic?
I love the emotion that I can capture on stage. The movement, the facial expressions. I have always been musical and music is a huge passion of mine. I have met some awesome people and had fantastic opportunities to spend time with SAs best and experience some incredible talent.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Definitely still doing portrait photography. I have just started teachning dancing again so maybe running a dance studio. I want to be succesful so that I can go back to photographing live music for free. I know how hard it is for musicians to make money and I feel they need as much support as possible.
Who is your favourite photographer or something that inspires your work?
I fell into photography by accident and I never had any influences. I just did my own thing and it just seemed to work. Annie Leibovitz again. I love how she captures rad celebs in comfortable and different settings.
Do you have any pointers for people who want to be music photographers?
Go to gigs and just photograph. Try to make money from it (not easy). Meet the musicians you’re photographing. Get a rad lens for low light.
What's the most challenging aspect of being a music photographer?
As musicians don’t have a lot of money (many of them have other jobs to support their passion) it isn’t very lucrative for me, although I have been able to make a living. A lot of bands have been very kind to me. Although I started photographing in low light and I have a great lens, I still find it difficult to photograph in the venues’ lighting. And persistance.
Share with us your proudest moment in your career so far?
After photogarphing as a hobby for nine months, I had an exhibition. There wasn’t a great turn out, but the people who were there were so kind about my work. I sold about nine of my twenty canvases, four of them A0 which are huge (Josh Roxton, The Beard, Sannie Fox and Zolani). I felt like a rock star! The same month I had two photos in the printed Rolling Stone Magazine (Ard Matthews and Toya Delazy).
What's next for Belia Oh?
Sheesh, I’m not sure. Probably same old: dancing and photography. Sorry to be boring!