Capturing the Moment with Women in Photography: Pooja Shah
As we continue to build our Kahani community, we are incorporating new ways to involve fellow creatives, entrepreneurs, and all-around-amazing individuals. This new series we’re starting includes mini Q+A’s with folks we feel represent what Kahani and our team is all about. We aim to cover a variety of topics, industries, and backgrounds - so if you have anyone in mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Our second edition features the talented Pooja Shah of The Tembo Tones! You may have come across Pooja’s stunning Instagram as well. Pooja founded The Tembo Tones after experiencing discrepancies between creatives of color, our capabilities and talents, and the way we were represented and talked about in the world. With The Tembo Tones, Pooja is changing that while building a creative studio to help entrepreneurs and storytellers of color craft meaningful and deeply personal experiences.
You can now find Pooja’s story (and very, very thoughtfully put together answers) on our blog. Continue reading to get inside the mind of an incredible creative, and storyteller!
1. What are your inspirations when it comes to photography?
“In essence, I endeavor to unravel the intricacies of our search for belonging and the pathways we carve within our communities for support.”
My photography is rooted in the rich tapestry of my childhood home, Mombasa, Kenya. I am inspired by the resilience of the country, the diversity of its people and the sheer beauty of the savannah plains and white beaches. Every aspect of how I choose to capture light, as well as my choices in post-processing, is an homage to the vibrant ways I've witnessed Kenyan culture flourish.
My inspiration is drawn from Kenya’s heartwarming hospitality: it begins with a warm welcome, conversations shared over a cup of tea or coffee, communal song and dance, and it ends with new friendships and an overwhelming sense of belonging—a feeling I strive to evoke within my photographs.
I am also deeply inspired by our unique sense of self. Pursuing travel opened my eyes to the many layers and dimensions to the human experience that shape our identities. From our relationships with our bodies, our connections with the environment, our understanding of culture and how it evolves over time, to how we choose to intentionally build and nurture life. It was during these explorations that I came to fully appreciate my own heritage as Kenyan-Indian, living with a legacy of four generations of entrepreneurs, and our story within the diaspora.
In essence, I endeavor to unravel the intricacies of our search for belonging and the pathways we carve within our communities for support. I wish for my photography to embody self-discovery, cultural celebration, and the universal longing for meaningful connections—rooted in Kenya and resonating across the world.
2. How did you discover your style?
“I cared less for the technical parts of the process and focused more on the feeling”
A lot of play and many iterations until it felt just right. I knew I always resonated with warmer tones and deep textures. High grain for nostalgia. Low contrast for that soft and moody feel that makes you want to melt into the frame! I cared less for the technical parts of the process and focused more on the feeling–both when taking the photo as well as post-processing. The holistic experience for all people involved is very important for me to feel fulfilled.
3. What is the most important part of your photography process?
“The groundwork is an immersive, personal exploration that requires vulnerability, compassion and collaboration. My role is in asking questions that seek to honor, understand and energize my clients’ intentions and success metrics.”
When engaging in my photography process, the most important part is our H.U.E of Humanity groundwork. My testimonials say it produces the most value in our work together. For me, it is the most special, sacred space we carve out together.
The groundwork is an immersive, personal exploration that requires vulnerability, compassion and collaboration. My role is in asking questions that seek to honor, understand and energize my clients’ intentions and success metrics. We dive into brand and business truths and search for clarity in what our client wants versus what our client needs to ultimately meet their goals. From there, I pull inspiration to craft a mood-board and strategy that guides the rest of our journey together.
Without that groundwork, we would only have a vague sense of understanding of our project. We would likely be working robotically, making a one-size-fits-all deliverable that doesn’t stand a chance in today’s market.
4. What are your dreams for Tembo Tones?
“I envision TEMBO TONES to be a house for many different creative mediums. I’m dabbling on a few ideas to create our first product…I’d love for our community to have the opportunity to hold something, wear something, or bring something into their homes that evokes the same feelings of belonging and cultural celebration”
In the short term, I hope to grow my team of creatives. I’m always on the search for photographers, videographers, project managers, set designers, etc. that I can learn from and involve in bigger projects. I have big dreams to scale this brand, and I know I need a team of skilled creatives to make that magic happen!
For the long term, I envision TEMBO TONES to be a house for many different creative mediums. I’m dabbling on a few ideas to create our first product…I’d love for our community to have the opportunity to hold something, wear something, or bring something into their homes that evokes the same feelings of belonging and cultural celebration that I strive for in my photography and design.
No matter where the future leads me, TEMBO TONES is my daily reminder to live big and bold. Like the name implies, I am empowered to take up space unapologetically, on my own terms, on my own timeline. I set the tone for the course of my journey and my dreams will reflect that as I grow and evolve with this business.
5. How has your identity shaped your vision for Tembo Tones, and for your life?
“TEMBO TONES is my commitment and manifestation to show up big and bold for myself every day.”
My cultural identity shapes how I see the world, and how I show up in it. It’s the rich soil that cultivates my art, philosophy, and communications. Yet as a woman of color, I have witnessed the ways in which society has dishonored, misunderstood, and undervalued our creativity. TEMBO TONES is my commitment and manifestation to show up big and bold for myself every day. Before soft-launching in 2020, I recall recognizing that my work in building this brand and business was a reclamation of my voice and my art. Today, it’s become a practice of following joy and building a career with a heart-centered approach.
TEMBO TONES is fundamentally an extension of my identity—a platform upon which I amplify the very essence of who I am. I hope TEMBO TONES not only stands as a testament to my own journey but is also a beacon of empowerment for people of color in the creative sphere who may feel underestimated or unappreciated.
Moreover, my cultural identity has shone light to the boundless opportunity for connection that exists in this world. I envision my life as one filled with forging new connections, as I seek to explore, learn from, honor, respect, and celebrate people from diverse walks of life. Through these connections, I aim to contribute to a broader narrative of unity, belonging, and shared humanity.
