How YousuFotography Was Born — From One Camera to a Legacy of Memories

A Life We Thought Was Complete

Before the camera, before the business — there was just love and contentment.

YousuFotography was never part of the plan.

My wife and I were living a comfortable, happy life in Dubai content with our routines, our work, and the rhythm of a city we loved. We had just gotten married, started to build our future, and were blessed with our beautiful son, Yousuf. Life felt perfect.

Then, as life often does, it took an unexpected turn. Circumstances changed in ways we couldn’t control and it became inevitable for us to leave Dubai and move back home to Kenya.

I still remember those final days in Dubai vividly. We were surrounded by the life we had built family, friends, stability yet preparing to leave everything behind. Yousuf was only three months old, bundled in his little blanket as we packed up our lives into a few suitcases. It was emotional, uncertain, and frightening, but deep inside, there was also a strange calm a feeling that maybe this move had a purpose we didn’t yet understand.



A New Beginning with No Roadmap

Back home. No job. No plan. Just faith.

Arriving in Nairobi felt like pressing reset on life. We were back in our home country, yet everything felt foreign. There was no roadmap — no clear direction, no savings cushion, and no certainty about what lay ahead. Like many others, I began the process of job hunting. Every morning, I’d send out CVs, make calls, and wait. But deep down, both my wife and I knew there was something else calling us something beyond the 9-to-5 routine.

You see, both of us had always shared a love for photographs.

We didn’t think of it as a business it was simply a passion. In Dubai, I had bought my first camera and would spend hours capturing Yousuf’s little expressions, his laughter, his curiosity. I didn’t realize it then, but those small moments would go on to change our lives. Those pictures became more than just memories they became motivation. They reminded me that memories are priceless, and that maybe, just maybe, what we had loved doing all along could be our way forward.

The Spark of Inspiration

Sometimes a single conversation can light up a path you never saw coming.

But even with that thought, the reality around us was tough. Finances were tight; every shilling mattered. There were nights when we’d stay up talking about what to do next, how to make ends meet.

Then, one day, I received a job offer. It promised stability and a good income but there was a catch. I’d have to relocate away from Nairobi, away from my family. Something inside me resisted. It just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t shake off the thought that there was something bigger waiting for us here  something of our own.

And then, one random afternoon, while sitting with my wife’s uncle, he mentioned something that would change everything.

“There’s an exhibition that happens at Sarit Centre — The Samantha Bridal Show. You should showcase your photography there. It’s full of couples looking for wedding photographers.”

That one casual suggestion hit me differently. It was exciting, terrifying, and almost unbelievable at the same time. Could we really do that? We didn’t even have a company, let alone the funds to take part.

But that conversation planted a seed. That evening, my wife and I started talking seriously — what if this is it? What if this is where YousuFotography begins?


The Moment That Started It All

Dreams start small — but they start when you dare to believe.

Once we found out more about the expo, reality sank in fast. The Samantha Bridal Show wasn’t just any small fair  it was the wedding exhibition of Kenya. Big brands, established studios, luxury vendors — and then there was us, with just a camera, a few sample photos, and a dream.

We inquired about registration, only to find out the expo was already fully booked. My heart sank. It felt like the door had closed before we even knocked. But somehow, we couldn’t give up. We kept calling, following up, checking again and again.

And then, by pure grace, came a call back. The lady in charge said,

“There’s one option left — you can share a booth with another exhibitor. It won’t be the full 3x3 stand, just one table for three days. But it’ll cost you 50,000 KSh.”

At that point, 50,000 KSh was a huge sum for us. We had no idea how we’d manage it — but we looked at each other and decided, if this is meant to be, we’ll find a way.

That night, we made calls, borrowed, budgeted, and somehow, we pulled it off. We registered. We were in.

That single decision made out of faith, hope, and sheer determination became the first chapter of Yousufotography.

We didn’t know what was ahead, or how it would unfold, but one thing was certain:

This was the start of something that would go on to change our lives forever.


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