WHEN George Qua-Enoo made money on the side as a model, he thought he would do it for a long time.
But little did he know that he would fall in love with something else.
George fell in love with the camera when he took photos at a shoot in Canada, and it was love at first sight.
The 45-year-old born Ghanaian but raised in the Eastern Cape has his creative studio in Sandton, Joburg, called George Q Studios. He has shot photographs of big names like Canadian actors William Shatner and Stephan James, and local stars such as Blue Mbombo, Londie London, Babes Wodumo, Nandi Madida, and Lunga Shabalala.
"In 2006, a friend, impressed by my athletic physique, suggested that I try my hand at modelling as a side gig. I dabbled in modelling for a while, and during one of the sessions, a photographer handed me his backup camera to play with during a break," he said.
He said unexpectedly, he found himself capturing the other models in the studio, which felt remarkably natural.
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"The experience was captivating, prompting me to make the decision to invest in a professional camera. In 2009, I made the transition to becoming a full-time photographer, and I've been passionately pursuing this career ever since," he said.
He said having his own studio space has been one of his main goals since returning to SA from Canada in 2019.
"I had entertained the idea for a while. I was waiting for the 'right time'. But after my health scare earlier this year, I decided life was too short; the 'right time' is now.
"I underwent a heart surgery early last year. When you experience something like that at my age, you see things through a different lens, no pun intended," he said.
He said photography is still relevant and vital.
"While mobile devices and smartphones are central to our lives, photography remains a fundamental and integral aspect of modern culture, communication, and personal expression. It plays a pivotal role in shaping our digital experiences and preserving the visual history of our world," he said.
