Jokotade Shonowo is a portrait photographer and creative entrepreneur redefining how people see themselves. For over 14 years, through her Lagos-based studio, PoshClick Portraiture, she has created timeless portraits that go beyond photography, offering clients a journey of self-discovery and confidence. Beyond the camera, she leads the PoshClick Foundation and Beyond the Shutter, initiatives that equip young creatives and students with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to thrive in the creative economy. In this interview, she speaks on shaping the future with photography as a tool for empowerment and lasting impact.
What personal philosophy drives the way you show up in the world visually and emotionally?
I believe that beauty is not just what we see, it’s what we sense. My work and my life are guided by the belief that every person carries a unique essence, and my calling is to help reveal that essence with elegance, honesty, and depth. Visually, I’m drawn to timelessness images that hold soul and story, not just aesthetics. Emotionally, I lead with intention. I show up with presence, with heart, and with a deep reverence for the people I work with. I don’t just want to take a beautiful photo, I want to create an experience that feels like truth. My philosophy is rooted in honouring process over perfection, story over spectacle, and essence over performance. That’s how I approach both life and photography: with clarity, compassion, and creative conviction.
Do you remember the moment you realised photography could be a tool for transformation?
Yes, and it wasn’t just one moment, but a series of encounters that revealed the deeper power of photography to me. One that stands out was with a client transitioning from investment banking to launching her own fintech company. She was at a pivotal crossroads, and during our session, we didn’t just plan outfits or take nice pictures we strategised her visual future. We curated looks that blended her new tech identity with her signature style; powerful, polished, yet still undeniably feminine. Together, we crafted portraits that didn’t just show who she was, they hinted at who she was becoming. We visually stepped into her next chapter before the world saw it. That’s when I knew photography wasn’t just about capturing the now, it could be a prophetic tool, a mirror, a map, a declaration. Since then, I’ve treated every session as an opportunity to help people see and step into the next version of themselves — with elegance, confidence, and authenticity.
Your foundation equips young people with photography skills to earn a living. How have you seen this translate into long-term economic independence or educational opportunities for your beneficiaries?
Two of our early beneficiaries, Taiwo and Chris, learned photography in secondary school through our programme. After internships, one with us at PoshClick and the other with another studio, they went on to start their own businesses. Today, both not only paid their way through university but are also employers of labour. For me, their stories show that when young people are equipped with creative skills, they can translate them into long-term independence, support their families, and contribute positively to society.”
Given how competitive and tech-driven the creative industry is today, how do you ensure your training remains relevant and prepares participants to thrive professionally?
We evolve constantly. Our training blends artistry with today’s digital demands: mobile photography, content creation, digital literacy and AI-powered editing. But beyond the technical, we instill values like professionalism, discipline, communication etiquette, and financial literacy. Internship placements deepen this learning, giving participants firsthand exposure. This balance ensures our beneficiaries are not just skilled creatives but resilient professionals ready to thrive in today’s competitive economy.
What is your vision for scaling the foundation’s impact so more young people can use photography not just as a skill, but as a pathway out of poverty?
Our inaugural cohort trained 80 school leavers in one underserved community the impact was undeniable. Now, imagine multiplying this across many more schools and communities. Our vision is to collaborate with government, the private sector, and international organisations to expand reach. Long-term, we are building toward a dedicated creative hub, where training can run quarterly and welcome wider age groups. This will allow us to provide consistent, unrestricted access to skills that turn creativity into a pathway out of poverty.
How do you use your platform to advocate for the creative economy as a legitimate pathway for education funding and youth empowerment in Nigeria?
I use every platform available to spotlight creativity as a legitimate driver of economic growth and youth empowerment. By showcasing real stories of young people who have moved from the margins into meaningful work through photography, we challenge outdated views of creativity as ‘just a hobby.’ I remind policymakers, parents, and investors that the creative economy is a nation-building tool one that can fund education, create jobs, and unlock opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths.
What does the future of PoshClick and your foundation look like, and how do you hope it shifts the industry?
The future of PoshClick is expansive. We’re building more than a photography brand; we’re shaping a culture. One where photography isn’t just seen as a service, but as a powerful tool for identity, storytelling, and elevation. At the same time, PoshClick Foundation is driving impact at scale. At its core is a belief that creativity can be a catalyst for financial empowerment. We’re using vocational skills like photography as a form of education for young adults in underserved communities. The goal is to equip them with income-generating crafts that can help them support themselves, pursue higher education, and break cycles of financial limitation. It’s about more than just learning a skill it’s about reclaiming agency, building sustainable lives, and experiencing liberation through the arts. My hope is that both arms of this work the studio and the foundation will shift the industry by raising the standard, deepening the meaning of what we do, and proving that creativity and profitability are not mutually exclusive. I want to see more artists stepping into leadership, building with purpose, and creating legacies that outlive the shutter click.
