Spreading joy and positivity one photo at a time

Infecting people with joy, boosting their confidence, and uplifting their spirits are some of the main goals behind his photography services, said David Sekokotla, a freelance photographer at Strand Beach and founder of his own media production company.

As an entrepreneur, David, 28, originally from Pretoria but now living in the township of Lwandle, Strand, decided not to sit idly and wait for photographic work to come his way. Instead, he took to the streets to hustle for customers, eventually setting up his ‘office’ at the beach each day.

It’s here where beach goers will spot him with his camera on hand, and an even brighter, warmer, and welcoming smile.

David’s zeal and passion for life are the first things one notices about him.

He said if he can spread positivity and share his upbeat energy and passion for life with others while doing his ‘job’, that’s a bonus.

“I spread positivity every day with my camera, I come here and make sure I do something nice. Shooting people’s photos is not only about that, but also about making them feel beautiful, giving them a pat on the back. Sometimes people go through a lot and just need that pat, someone to say you’re alright, you’re doing fine, or you’re gonna make it,” he said.

The idea to work at the beach and the surrounding areas, he said, happened organically.

“I really didn’t decide to do it, I just came and tried to do marketing here, and the more I did it, the more ideas came to mind.I realised that actually, the more that I’m here and tell people about my work isn't that marketing? and when I make a sale, isn’t it doing business? then why shouldn’t I call this my office?” he said.

David said he was first inspired by photography after being blown away by a photograph someone took of him. The first photo he found to be visually appealing and complementary.

“Somebody shot my photo with an iPhone when I was in varsity, and then I was like,, wow, it was my first photo at that beautiful level. I even dropped the phone that day because I was shocked at how good I looked. It changed how I saw myself and for a minute, I felt that I was beautiful and that’s what I wanted to give to others.”

Due to financial constraints, he was unable to complete his actuarial science studies at university and chose instead to become an entrepreneur, using the skills he had developed over the years to do what he loves.

He’s made the beach his outdoor office for more than two and a half years, bordering on almost three years. “I can still go ten years doing this,” he said.

The life of an entrepreneur is one riddled with hurdles to overcome. Challenges in his job on a daily he said, are heavy rain and windy conditions.

While a good day at the office, he said, consists of perfect weather conditions, and people being out and about enjoying the beach.

“The sun is out, there is no wind, then I can meet people and talk to people, that’s good enough for me.”

Besides bracing the elements daily, he’s also had to brace many a mean or unhappy encounters with people he approaches. But even these experiences, he said, don’t put a damper on his positive, happy-go-lucky attitude, and he brushes it off.

“It’s normal, it’s part of business, although I’m so positive it doesn’t mean that I can’t take negativity, I understand people's point of view, like if somebody says no to a photo, I take it and respect it.”

His marketing strategy is simple. “The most important thing is for people to see you and to see what you’re doing, cause for them when they think of photography, they might think of that guy at the beach, and you never know, then you can get bookings and make friendships.”

Capturing people’s memorable moments is what he’s passionate about, and he is at the beach every day.

While David hopes his work at the beach will lead to being noticed and booked for bigger gigs, he said it’s also about making meaningful connections.

One of his regular customers is Catherine van Wyngard from Gordon’s Bay, who recently relocated from Gauteng to the Helderberg. She met David on the beach in October last year and asked him to take her photo.

David’s photography has boosted her confidence, she said.

“My confidence really grew since David started taking my pictures. I used to be very overweight, and I didn’t enjoy taking photos. Since I met David, I feel free. He always makes me feel good about myself,” she said.

She praised both the affordability and quality of his services.

“For R10, the quality of the pictures is very good, and David even taught me how to use some of the features on my phone to improve my own pictures.”

She would recommend his services without hesitation.

“He is humble, connects easily with customers, and is always cheerful,” she said.

Contact David at 071 413 8858.