The Story of My First Photobook

When my brother approached me with a special request for his 30th birthday—a coffee table book featuring my photos—I was both proud and deeply honoured. It’s one thing to share your work online, but creating something tangible, something personal, felt like an entirely new challenge.

The Journey

Little did I know that creating a photobook would be such an intricate and time-consuming process. Selecting the photos alone was a journey—each image brought back memories, making it hard to choose. Beyond that, arranging the photos so they not only told a story but also matched in tone and colour was an unexpected challenge.

Thankfully, I didn’t go through this process alone. My girlfriend played the biggest role in helping me curate and design the book. She had an incredible eye for detail and was instrumental in ensuring the photos flowed seamlessly from page to page. From late-night debates about which images to include, to perfecting the layout, it became a collaborative project that we’re both incredibly proud of.

The final result, This is Africa, is more than just a photobook; it’s a reflection of my photographic journey and a book filled with memories. Seeing my brother's reaction made every moment of effort worthwhile. My dad was also enthusiastic about the book and even asked for his own version for his 65th birthday.

Looking back, creating This is Africa taught me a lot. It’s a project born out of love for photography and family, and it marks a milestone in my creative journey.

If you’re interested in seeing more of the book, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear your thoughts or share more about my process.