Wednesday Apr 22, 2026

071: Breaking Barriers: How Rani and Uduak Redefine African Food Photography

Breaking Barriers in Food Photography

What if the opportunity you’re waiting for doesn’t exist yet?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stopped waiting and started building anyway?

In this episode, we meet Rani and Uduak, the creative duo behind 117 Collective, a food and lifestyle photography team based in Lagos, Nigeria. They have worked with global brands like Coca-Cola, Baileys, and Krispy Kreme while carving out a space for African food to be seen, valued, and celebrated.

From unseen to undeniable

Rani and Uduak share how they built a business in a market that did not fully understand the value of food photography. They walked into restaurants, created demand, and trusted their vision even when confidence felt shaky. As their work grew, they faced imposter syndrome, pricing challenges, and the pressure of commercial expectations.

Over time, they discovered something deeper. African cuisine was not being visually honored. That realization shifted everything. They moved from chasing perfection to creating images that feel real, cultural, and alive. Now, they are expanding into storytelling through documentary work, highlighting voices and stories that deserve to be seen.