Daniel Cole: Nigerian portrait and conceptual photographer using colour and poetry to tell stories

Daniel Cole is a Nigerian visual storyteller and filmmaker born in Lagos, Nigeria, and currently based in Abuja. His work draws from his environment, conversations, and personal experiences, with photography serving as a way to think about people, identity, and emotion. He also incorporates poetry into his work, creating images that invite reflection.

How did you get started in photography?

I never considered myself photogenic, and I wanted to understand how photography really worked. I was curious about why some people looked so different in pictures and how a photographer could use light, angles, composition, and perspective to change the way someone was seen.

The more I experimented, the more I realised photography could be a way to communicate ideas and feelings. Coming from an artistic background, I eventually began using the camera as another way to express myself and engage with the people, environments, and stories around me.

How would you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as curious, creative, experimental, and deeply driven to understand how things work. I enjoy learning through experimentation, and that curiosity continues to shape how I approach both photography and other creative work.

What are the main themes that inspire your photography?

Identity, culture, human experiences, and the relationship between people and their environment are central to my photography. I am particularly interested in stories that often go unnoticed, including the emotions, struggles, beauty, and everyday experiences that shape who we are.

I want my photographs to give people something they can connect with, whether that comes through recognition, reflection, or simply taking a moment to feel something.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?

Giving my mum the first money I made from photography is one of the moments I am most proud of. It may seem like a small moment, but for me it meant a lot. It made me realise that something I started out of curiosity could become a career and something I could use to support the people I love.

Another moment that stayed with me was when someone reached out to tell me how comforting my images were to her after she lost someone very close to her. She told me that whenever she looked at one of my images, it brought her joy and peace.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a photographer?

Turning my passion into something sustainable. When I started, I was mainly driven by curiosity and the desire to understand how photography worked. As it grew into a career, I had to learn how to balance the creative side with finding clients, pricing my work, investing in equipment, and continuing to improve.

I have learned that being a photographer requires patience, consistency, discipline, and belief in the value of what you create. I have worked through these challenges by staying curious, continuing to learn, taking on different creative opportunities, and allowing my work to evolve.

What type of photography do you specialise in?

Portrait and conceptual photography, with a strong interest in fashion, culture, and visual storytelling. I am drawn to portraiture because I enjoy learning about people's personalities, emotions, identities, and the way they see themselves.

Over time, I have become more interested in using photography to communicate something deeper. I experiment with different ways of making an image feel intentional and personal, while leaving the viewer with something to think about or feel.

What is your primary commercial niche?

Editorial and fashion-inspired portrait photography. I also work across personal branding, creative campaigns, and commercial visual content, particularly for individuals and brands looking for an artistic and expressive approach.

What is your unique technical or visual approach?

My approach is driven by emotion and the environment around my subject. I use colour, natural or intentional lighting, composition, and surroundings to build an image's feeling.

I pay close attention to light, skin tones, colour relationships, framing, and the way the subject interacts with the environment. I do not always want an image to feel overly perfect or staged. Leaving room for personality allows something more natural to come through.

Which global brands, photographers, or industries do you feel your work aligns with most?

My work aligns with global fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and cultural brands that value strong visual storytelling and individuality. Brands such as adidas, Nike, PUMA, Converse, and Vogue inspire me because of the way they bring people, culture, fashion, and storytelling together.

I am also drawn to photographers such as Nadine Ijewere, Campbell Addy, Tyler Mitchell, and Stephen Tayo, particularly in the way they approach identity, colour, culture, and contemporary African and diasporic experiences.

I would like to continue working at the intersection of fashion, culture, art, and human stories, while maintaining a strong personal identity in the work I create.

How's the photography and art scene in Nigeria?

Nigeria's photography and art space has grown tremendously over the years. Photography has become increasingly recognised as a form of contemporary art and storytelling, alongside its established role in documentation and commercial work. Platforms such as LagosPhoto have helped create visibility for photographers and connect Nigerian artists with wider African and international audiences.

I think one of the biggest changes is that Nigerian artists are increasingly using photography to talk about identity, culture, history, politics, everyday life, and personal experiences. The boundaries between photography, film, fashion, installation, and other forms of art are also becoming more fluid.

What is one professional standard you never compromise on?

Intentionality. I believe every image should have a reason behind it, whether that is the lighting, composition, styling, emotion, or the story being told.

I also take respect and professionalism seriously, especially when working with people. I want my subjects and clients to feel comfortable, respected, and involved in the creative process. The quality of the final image matters, as does the experience of creating it.

What do you think of the 54Ruum platform?

There is so much creative talent across Africa that deserves to be seen and understood on its own terms. I think platforms like 54Ruum are important because they create visibility for African photographers and give them space to share their work and perspectives.

I am excited to be part of a platform that is helping bring this work to a wider audience.