“I have in several ways used my camera to represent the fold well and recently I have been receiving wonderful feedbacks about my pictures. I have a non-Seraph friend that naturally developed love for C&S because she saw the beautiful side of the church that she never thought was in existence”….SOLID ROCK
As the Cherubim & Seraphim church is going through reformation with regards to public perception, seraphs in the fold had taken to exploring various mediums to tell her story exactly the way it is. Meanwhile, a young man on his own part thought it pertinent to contribute his quota through his lens.
In the C&S fold, as a pen is to Seraph authors and media personnel, a microphone to Seraph preachers, so is a Camera to Seraph Ogundeyi Oluwanisola Temitope, better known as Solid Rock.
There are many photographers in the C&S fold , in Nigeria and the world at large, but what makes the difference in their services is not unconnected to the passion, vision and soft spot for humanity that drives them. One of such with the aforesaid qualities is this committed and dedicated Seraph.
Seraph Temitope is a Photographer/Visual Story Teller and also the Creative Director of Solid Rock Photography. He has been an active and effective photographer in major C&S events, just as he aspires to do more with the use of his camera to portray the fold in good light.
According to the graduate of Mass Communication from National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, the passion to be a Photographer was borne out of the desire to show the world to be a beautiful planet and this burning passion had subsisted for over 6years, “What actually birthed it was the idea of presenting a better view of the world to people and showing them that there’s more to Photography than just “Point and Shoot”, but “Creativity.
“The thing that has given that uniqueness credit to my pictures is because I have my own peculiar style of telling story with images and not following what every person is doing. I just choose to be different and I apply creativity at every point in time. I create something out of nothing with my camera, not just something but something beautiful”, revealed Seraph Temitope.
The brand “Solid Rock” was birthed out of a revelation and as an answer to prayers, “I actually came about with the name in 2014 where I was working as an Office boy in a media company. During this time, I had already conceived the aspiration to become a photographer and I have started developing myself on it too.
In the midst of having to get established as a brand, I prayed to God to guide me in the choice of brand name. That very day I was just playing with an highlighter in one editing application on my phone, lo and behold, I subconsciously typed “Solid Rock” and I heard that still small voice saying that’s the name. Obviously the name came via revelation”.
One commendable thing about Seraph Temitope is his unselfish and sacrificing acts. As he gives people a reason to see the world as a beautiful place to live in, so is he also contributing his quota at making their lives better and being self-reliant by giving them a means of livelihood through photography at little or no cost, as he trains most of his workforce for free.
“I have people that work for me both from my church and outside. And most of them were trained by me for free. God is still helping me, I’m still doing more. It’s a way of giving back to the society. Even if I don’t have money to give, people should be able to benefit freely from my craft, I don’t see Solid Rock as personal brand, I see it as a corporate establishment.
“To the glory of God, I have been blessed and I feel fulfilled with what I’m doing. And seeing people that I have impacted photographically is another joy in my heart, it’s part of my accomplishment. The best is yet to come because I still have many grounds to take over for God’s glory via pictures”.
He however pointed out that challenges surfaced in the course of pursuing his passion, but he has remained undaunted because God is his ever faithful Source, “There has been many challenges in term of raising money to get latest gadget and getting potential clients. At times the amount of our equipment can discourage one in going further, but the major factor that can keep one going is passion and consistency. Whatever thing that is done with passion will pass the test of time and with God one would overcome. God’s factor has been my utmost survival to crown it all”.
As it is in the world we are in today that most Seraphs face criticisms at one point or the other for being a member of the fold, Seraph Temitope also had his fair share of it, but points out that godly living would always make people change their perception about us even as the Holy Scriptures say we are the epistle people read.
“I had met a client before that wanted me to cover her wedding and immediately I mentioned my church, she was like “awon isegun”, “fetish people”, I just told her categorically that ‘madam, we are not fetish, we are born of the Spirit. But she was later convinced when she observed some traces of true believer in me. The fact is people would only believe what our church stand for if they see us walking in line with Christ.
I have in several ways used my camera to represent the fold well and recently I have been receiving wonderful feedbacks about my pictures. I have a non-Seraph friend that naturally developed love for C&S because she saw the beautiful side of the church that she never thought was in existence”, declared Seraph Temitope.
The Bible bears record that the diligent would stand before kings, this and more is the story of Seraph Temitope whose choice of career has made him relevant here in our country, and has also taken him beyond the shores of Nigeria. The major events he had been part of include; the Tour of Over 90 members of C&S to Sierra Leone sponsored by Rev’d Mother Esther Ajayi in January 2019. Celebrate The Comforter, July 2019, The New Seraph Event held in August 2019, Seraphim 94th Anniversary, Yes Seminar at Eko Hotel- March 2019, The Restoration Night at MOU Omu Aran, in January 2019, The Experience, in December 2017, The Welcome reception of the Vice President of Liberia by Rev’d Mother Esther Ajayi in December 2018 and host of other events.
Seraph Temitope’s lifestyle has overtime pointed to the fact that life isn’t all about money or gain, but more about finding passion, dream and goal and working to achieve it. He has free and selfless service for people, even the fold. He has volunteered himself as one of the media crew in major C&S events like The Experience in 2017, Celebrate the Comforter in 2019.
“All the Celebrate The Comforter pictures that carry “Solid Rock Photography” were shot by me, all the Celebrate the Comforter pictures were shot voluntarily, I never get paid for it, including other C&S events” stated Seraph Temitope.
Seraph Temitope’s dream is to become a world class photographer that would be of high standard and reputation. He aspires to run a photography school where life of the young ones will be impacted and also help photographers who wants to become better in their field. He also aspires to consistently tell photographic story of pictures that portrays and depicts the glory of every moments at all events or gathering in C&S.
He commended the efforts of the fold in coming as one and also applauds the youth for doing their best in representing the fold well, stating that the glory of the fold would be revealed in great magnitude.
The May born Seraph worships at The Youth Fellowship, Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church, Amazing Grace District Headquarter, where he is undoubtedly an active member. He functions as the Assistant Public Relations Officer and was a one-time Youth Warden Secretary.
His favourite hymn is hymn 806, ‘Olorun agbaye, owo ni f’Oruko re’ while his best Bible verse is Psalms 69:9. His role model is Rev’d Mother Esther Ajayi. While his advice to the fold is for love to be without dissimulation and For us all to abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good according to Romans 12:9.
For colours, he is at his best in black, while he does not relinquish a plate of jollof rice and plantain.
Aside ministering with the camera, Seraph Temitope also covers Weddings, Concerts, Corporate events and other related events. His social media handles are; Instagram: @Solidrock_photography, Facebook: Solid Rock Photography.
Seraph Tosin Akinsanmi is an entrepreneur and is into Fashion design. She loves Writing, Reading, Singing. Favourite Hymn: 444 – Aigbagbo bila! temi l’Oluwa
