Tayo Aina is a Lagos-based filmmaker and photographer who creates content around travel and lifestyle on YouTube. He promotes tourism through his pictures and videos, compelling Nigerians and foreigners to visit different parts of the country. In this interview, he talks about his early days, discovering his passion, and more. Excerpts:
Weekend Magazine: When did you conceive the idea of making films on YouTube?
Tayo Aina: I conceived the idea while studying at Federal University of Technology, Akure. I did not attend any special school for creating videos or making films. I majorly make videos and document it for clients. I also make travel and lifestyle videos.
I also run a start-up called spacebook.ng, a platform for booking apartments, event centres and other spaces all over the country. I didn’t start my career making films on YouTube, rather, I started as a photographer. I was taking pictures of places around Lagos with my phone. From there, I started making videos on my phone, and when people started seeing my videos, they loved it, so, I improved on it and started making more videos. I later got a camera and the rest is history.
When I was learning how to make videos, I had some friends who were into photography, but none of them were making videos. When I learnt video making, I decided to find a platform to push out what I learnt so others can gain from it. That was how I started on YouTube.
WM: Do you have plans to go into full-time movie production?
Aina: No, I don’t have any such plans for now. I actually prefer creating content on the internet. I am not really a fan of big movie production set, but things can change.
WM: You currently have over 66,000 subscribers on YouTube and your videos are watched by hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions. Why do you think your work is getting such attention?
Aina: It’s just about being consistent and owning your niche. I love telling stories. If people view the first one and they love it, they come back for more. That is how I get people to view my videos. I also make sure I release good quality. Most of my videos are around five to 10 minutes. I have done one which lasted 15 minutes. It was about Kenya. In the video, I tried out delicious Kenyan food.
WM: What gadgets do you use for your films?
Aina: I mainly use my camera and drone. Sometimes I still use my phone.
WM: How profitable would you say your line of work is?
Aina: It’s profitable in its own way. As far as I am concerned, all businesses are profitable, especially if you are in the right market and if you are ready to learn and fail and actually know what you are doing. If you are providing value, I think it will be profitable.
I majorly shoot for brands and other people who need me to shoot for them. I then use my personal money to fund my own creative sessions. If I want to travel somewhere and I have it in mind to create contents, I work for brands and use the money I get from there to create my personal passion which is travelling and creating videos.
WM: What places have you filmed in Nigeria and beyond?
Aina: I have filmed in some states such as Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi, Obudu, Niger and several more. I have done some work in Kenya, Rwanda, Cape Verde, Ghana, amongst others.
WM: What kind of feedback have you gotten so far?
Aina: There are a lot of people who are happy about what I am doing and many love the fact that I have been able to show positive images about Nigeria. When people Google Africa, they generally feel the continent is all about war, poverty and lots of other such bad publicity. But my videos have created good publicity, and when people watch them, they say it’s nice. It has been an awesome change.
WM: Have you ever felt discouraged? Why?
Aina: Yes, I have been discouraged a lot. I felt discouraged recently when I heard about the Takwa Bay and how people are being chased out of there. Takwa Bay is a vibrant, peaceful community and it’s a good choice for sport. I get discouraged when travelling with the news of robbery and kidnapping along the road every time. Also, creating content in Lagos is always an issue because of SARS, where they can hold someone with a camera down and label you a Yahoo boy, especially if you are not doing the nine to five job.
WM: You once mentioned on Twitter how your mum reacted when you wanted to travel to Niger State. Do such reactions discourage you?
Aina: No. my mum just loves me, that is why. She hears a lot about the issues happening around the country, so she just wants me to be safe. That is the last thing that can discourage me.
WM: When you are not making films, what else do you do?
Aina: I run my start-up, Spacebook. It’s a travel company that focuses on accommodation, where people book apartments and rent spaces online. When I am not doing that, I read a book. I love reading.
WM: What advise do you have for youths who rely on white-collar jobs?
Aina: If you as a youth have an interest in anything, whatever it may be, just try doing it. Even if it doesn’t work out, try out something different. Every human being has multiple interests. Keep trying out different activities and see the ones you can monetize and just build up your skills from there. Your skill is something that nobody can ever take away from you. As long as you keep learning and keep being updated, you will end up improving. You can monetize your skill without waiting for a job because there may not be any.
Since I left school, I have not made a single naira from my certificate. I make money mainly from what I learnt after I left school.
WM: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
Aina: I have no idea. I just know that every day, I want to keep on learning and improving. I love doing what I do. When I wake up in the morning, I try to create something new because creating new things is my passion.
