Some portraits mark a birthday. The best ones mark a season of life. These images of Dr Oluyemisi Shittu at 50 were made in that spirit, with gratitude at the centre.
As a portrait photographer in Ibadan, we are lucky to meet people at moments that matter to them, and a fiftieth birthday is one of the most joyful. Dr Oluyemisi Shittu, also known as Dr Yemisi Shittu, is the executive director of corporate business at Capitalsage Holdings. She came to us marking her 50th year, and her note to us was simple: a grateful heart, and thanks to God for this new chapter.
We kept that sentence in mind through the whole session. It told us what the pictures needed to feel like. They should be warm and settled, with no hurry in them.
Emerald green, gold and a calm studio backdrop
Everything in these portraits was built around one colour. Dr Shittu wore a rich emerald jacquard outfit with softly structured, wide sleeves and covered buttons, and a pleated satin skirt in a matching green. The fabric has a woven texture that catches the light, so we let the lighting do gentle work rather than add anything busy around it.
Behind her is a deep, painterly olive-green backdrop. It is quiet enough to let the outfit and her expression lead, and it sits close enough to the dress in tone that the portraits feel like a single, unified piece. Her gold jewellery, a necklace, bracelet, ring and drop earrings, adds a small, steady sparkle against all that green.
In the first frame she sits at an easy angle with her hands resting together, composed and smiling, a full portrait that suits a profile, a press feature or a place on the wall. In the second, she leans in with her hands near her face and laughs, and the formality melts. Then comes the head tie. Tied in a soft knot in the same green, it frames her face for the last two portraits. In one her eyes are closed and her hand rests against her cheek, a still moment that reads almost like a quiet prayer of thanks. In the other she looks straight at the camera and smiles.
Planning a milestone portrait session in Ibadan
If you are thinking about a birthday or milestone portrait session in Ibadan, a few simple choices make a big difference.
Start with a single colour. Choosing one strong shade for your outfit, and a head tie if you wear one, gives the portraits a calm, confident look. Tell us what the milestone means to you. A few honest words about gratitude, a new chapter or a hard-won achievement help us decide on the mood, the poses and how much light and shadow to use.
Bring your jewellery and accessories, and plan your hair and make-up so that they photograph well under studio lighting. Think about how you will use the images afterwards. A formal seated portrait, a laughing close-up and a quiet profile each serve a different purpose, from a professional biography to a family keepsake, so it helps to ask for a mix.
Above all, arrive ready to enjoy yourself. The strongest portraits come when the person in front of the camera is relaxed, and our job is to make that easy.
Congratulations to Dr Oluyemisi Shittu on turning 50. It was a pleasure to photograph her as she stepped into this new chapter. If you are planning a portrait session of your own, we would love to hear what your next chapter looks like.
