about the photographer

About

Kingsley Chife, RawfileSELF · IMG_0001.RAW

It started as a job.

I got into photography by accident. In 2018, fresh out of my ND and looking for work, a friend told me a studio needed an editor. I was a graphics designer who had never edited a photo, but I knew Photoshop, so I said yes, then taught myself the rest on YouTube. It was not passion yet. It was the salary.

Editing turned into shooting the day the photographer I worked with left and someone had to pick up the camera. I had been asking him how it all worked, the ISO, the aperture, the reason for every setting, so I stepped in and learned the rest the way I always did. By 2022 I had my own camera and my own name to build. I almost stopped once. Then a friend asked me to photograph her, and that one shoot put me back on track. I have been shooting on my own terms ever since.

8+

YEARS BEHIND THE CAMERA

200+

SHOOTS DELIVERED

7

STATES COVERED

10k+

FRAMES DEVELOPED

The journey

retoucher to Rawfile

2018 · THE FOUNDATION

Started as a professional photo retoucher at G24 Studios, mastering enhancement and post-production for a full year.

2019 · BEHIND THE CAMERA

Moved from retouching to actively shooting while managing De Prime Studio, balancing leadership with hands-on craft.

2020-21 · RECOGNITION

Joined Velox Studio and rose to Senior Manager, overseeing operations and projects while the photography reputation grew.

2022 → · RAWFILE

Bought my first professional camera and went full-time freelance, covering projects across Lagos, Enugu and Delta, etc.