About

hello and welcome to the spanking new blog of WalePhotos. i am wale akingbade, a photographer based in washington, dc. i shoot weddings, families, kids, various events and any other random projects that catch my eye here and all over the world. this blog serves as my own personal journal for all of my professional work, personal imagery, travels, and other randomness. so please feel free to leave comments or questions.

below are pictures from uche and lekan's traditional engagement ceremony (nigeria). the whole process was interesting, to say the least.  everyone had a blast!  i'll upload the "white wedding" soon.


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dotun:

Very refreshing too see both tribes come together, I love the couple and I love the pics..very nice work.

(10.22.09 @ 06:13 PM)

i made a commitment last month to blog everyday for 30 days. by day 5 i changed computers, traveled thrice, had issues with my site/blog being down, had 3 major photoshoots and a couple of wedding coverages.  not to mention the past assignments i had to edit for my clients.

 

yeah yeah...excuses excuses...i can hear you. LOL.

 

the good news is that i do have quite a bit to blog about. but i'm not making any more 30-day promises :-) things happen.

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Feuza:

yeah yeah, you better start putting some pixs up soon! glad you have been busy!

(10.19.09 @ 11:51 AM)
September 25, 2009 // portraits
quick update while i have the chance :-)

tope is a musician with "MelodicAffair" (i'll update with her website/blog soon). she was one of the artists that responded to the free portrait session. we did her shoot mostly outside my studio here in DC. these are just a few of the pictures we took.

tope_Page000.jpg
i got a few emails after the deadline from artists that wanted to check on the special. feel free to contact me, i may have 1 or 2 openings, or put you on a wait list. but if you definitely need it soon...i'd suggest you hire me ;-)

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Temi Adeniranye:

Thank you soo much I really appreciate it.......I LOVE IT!

(09.25.09 @ 10:57 PM)
Fola Adewole:

I absolutely love your collages...always very detailed... nice images...

(10.07.09 @ 12:19 AM)
September 21, 2009 // portraits

just wanted to drop a quick post while i contemplate when i'll fix isadora (she's my car and that's another story of it's own :-) )

 

tounfemi_preview1.jpg

toun and femi came down to dc about a month ago to visit, and i thought it'll be perfect to shoot their engagement session. they are both fun-loving (great sense of humor, what more can i ask for??) and i absolutely can't wait for their wedding in november in atlanta. here are just a few of the pictures we took:

tounfemi_preview.jpg   

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Dare Kumolu-Johnson:

Love it! Great stuff! I wish you guys all the best and may your marriage be an epitome of what God intended marriage to be from the beginning! May nothing on earth or even out of the earth :) have the power to break your marriage! Can't wait till November! Bring it on! :)

(09.23.09 @ 10:53 AM)
Dupe:

These are great pictures, very photogenic couple.

(09.24.09 @ 09:03 PM)
Feuza:

That first one is top notch!

(10.05.09 @ 11:50 PM)
Dami:

Awww, really nice!

(10.14.09 @ 11:59 AM)
Afolabi - Fotos by Fola:

Definitely a fun couple. Nice seesion!

(10.15.09 @ 12:05 AM)
September 21, 2009 // weddings

i know i know!! my daily posting got delayed big time. no excuses. i'm just going to have to make it up to you. i have a bunch of pictures and things to write about. anyway, let me move on with the postings...

 

kemi and tunji had a small wedding a few weeks ago in upper marlboro, md. it was hot and sunny earlier in the day, but everyone had a great time. here are just a few of the pictures from that night.

 

Kemi2.jpg Kemi.jpg kemi3.jpg

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yinkuslolo:

Hi Wale,

i am a passive commenter, yet a religious follower of your blog.

Great pictures like always.

(09.21.09 @ 12:39 PM)
September 9, 2009 // Personal
staying true to my word, i have some ramblings. just a couple ;-)

monday, labor day, is a blur right now. i think i slept most of the time. meant to do a bit of shopping, but ended up trying to relax after a long weekend covering uche and lekan's wedding in atlanta. so, i'm back to work. doubling up on editing and editin.

yaaaay...NFL is here. can you tell i'm excited? fyi, i'm a dallas cowboys fine. and i don't know what to think about how we'll do this year.  can't wait.

obama has got to be one of the best speakers in the world. whether you support him or not, there's no denying that he's a great inspiring speaker. listening to his latest speeches sparked a few things in what i want to ahieve in my business. more on that later.

lastly, my godson is coming to hang out with me this weekend. maybe i'll have him assist on 'maku and nnmadi's wedding on saturday.

_MG_3706.jpg

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dotun:

nice shot of your God son, I see him with a Canon 1Ds 5.

(09.10.09 @ 09:31 AM)
Wale Akingbade:

haha. his mom would wrangle my neck! thanks.

(09.10.09 @ 09:47 AM)
Iquo:

he's adorable! so glad i found your new blog! it's been awhile. :)

(09.19.09 @ 09:54 AM)

"igwe" has become one of the most popular songs in africa, thanks to the nigerian musical group called midnight crew. it's rare for a christian group to have one of the most popular songd in nigeria, let alone africa.

 

083.jpgi had the pleasure of covering their concert at jesus house dc a couple of months ago, and had a great time. above is a picture of the group members along with the mc, and the rest of the folks that helped out with logistics.  click here for a few of the pictures set to their popular song, "igwe." enjoy!! 

the mc of the event was a comedian by the name of jedi (also from nigeria).

this was actually posted today, 9/11/09 :-)

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September 3, 2009 // weddings
i know...i know. it's been ages. and it seems like i'm not fulfilling my promise. a long list of valid reasons, but i won't bore you. i'll just tell you that i'll be making it up for sure!!

i had the pleasure of photographing tayo and sola's wedding last month. and we had a blast. they decided to see each other before the wedding, which in my opinion, is a very smart option since- you simply get more, and better pictures without the stress of rushing to take pictures before the reception. i'll write more about that at a different time. for now, enjoy the short slideshow.  notice anything :-)

here's the link- tayo and sola.


TSbw038.jpg

edit: i changed the date of the blog to reflect the day it should've been posted :-) gotta love technology.
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dotun:

love the slidehow and the main shot, those tender moments weill be cherished for life by the couple. The tones on the BW look very great as well.

(09.10.09 @ 09:34 AM)
Wale Akingbade:

thanks!! appreciate the comment

(09.10.09 @ 09:56 AM)
September 2, 2009 // Personal

going forward, i think i'll start posting more of my thoughts (some might call it rambling. LOL).  i'll also use this medium to talk about some of my favorite photographers since they've all helped me along the way in my photography business. also, i'll talk about what i perceive as my style of photography (which isn't a style really) and any other random thoughts that come to mind. anyway, for now, here some of my wednesday morning rambling-

 

the weather is unbelievably nice in washington, dc this week. almost tempted to stop editing photos, and just head out to do some shooting. not sure my clients would like that though.

 

i did a bit of traveling the last couple of weeks for weddings, getting schooled, and a bit of vacation.  usually, i concentrate on making sure my ipod has the right mix of music and i pick up a few magazines to read in the airport/on planes. this time, i decided to pick up a book called Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends by Tim Sanders it was published a few years ago, but I highly recommend it. it'll enrich you in your personal and professional lives. i try and follow the tune of being loveable and smart in everything i do- this book supports that!  i love photography books (and magazines, of course) but i'd like to expand my library beyond just that. any recommendations?

 

i want the new Canon EOS 7D. it comes out end of this month.

 

NFL season is here. and i'm very excited. it's been rough watching baseball- no offense to you baseball fans.

 

lastly, i leave you with this- "A child can always teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires."

 

oh...so i don't leave without a picture, here's one from my hotel room in vegas. and i promise, i'll get back to the regularly scheduled photos tomorrow:

 

DSC03774.jpg 

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Shardayyy:

Nice one and interesting read. I would surely look into the book recommended.

(09.02.09 @ 11:05 AM)
Rele:

Oh wow!!!....love the photo

(09.03.09 @ 07:28 AM)
Wale Akingbade:

thanks!!

(09.10.09 @ 09:44 AM)
Omonye U.:

Great shot. You should enlarge and frame it..

(10.06.09 @ 06:18 AM)
September 1, 2009 // Personal / weddings
i went to stockholm, sweden last week for my friends, lola and urban's wedding.  it was weird being just a guest...but after a couple of glasses bottles of champagne, i got used to it ;-) just kidding.

of course, i had to take pictures...here are just a few:

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i didn't get a chance to roam the city as much as i wanted to, though this time of the year is perfect to just walk around and take in the city and of course take street pictures.  it's okay though...i've already invited myself back to lola and urb's house in the near future.
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Lola:

Yayyy!! Love the pictures. So glad to have you guys celebrating in Stockholm with us!

(09.01.09 @ 06:17 PM)
dotun:

No you were not a guest :) obviously you were a stunning photographer taking all these great shots.

(09.01.09 @ 07:51 PM)
Wale Akingbade:

@lola. it was our pleasure. had an awesome time.
@dotun. LOL. thanks bro.

(09.02.09 @ 11:45 AM)
Tunji Sarumi:

Beautiful !!!

(09.03.09 @ 01:08 PM)
Afolabi - FBF:

Really nice pictures for being just a guest.. Great shots!

(09.10.09 @ 10:33 PM)