0
0
A serendipitous encounter happened to Chenesai Alice Monera, the lead creative behind PXEL Foto and PXEL Business. This encounter set her on a path of entrepreneurial journey, artistic discovery, igniting a fire within her to capture the world through a lens and share her unique perspective with others.
“My journey started 10 years back as I awaited my university graduation day. My mentor suggested I join his friend’s mentorship class for a 3-week course. In those 3 weeks through the sessions, I learnt I had a deep passion for photography.
“After that he went on to link me with a female photographer friend of his who not only gifted me my first camera but also gave me an all access pass to HIFA 2013 which really confirmed photography was something I really wanted to pursue.”
After she discovered her true passion for photography, she wholeheartedly pursued it by establishing PXEL. The company was born out of an in-built, inspiration ignited by a common phrase: “do what you love.” This mantra resonated with the founder, who had heard it repeatedly over the years and found impactful. Photography brought an indescribable sense of joy and fulfillment, allowing her to connect with people, listen to their stories, and capture the essence of their being.
Inspiration and entrepreneurship often go hand in hand, as they both involve a deep drive to create something meaningful and make a positive impact. Entrepreneurs draw inspiration from various sources, such as personal experiences, challenges, or a desire to solve a problem in society.
“I have so many people who fall under “biggest inspiration”, it’s a very long list. I think more than anything it’s actually Zimbabweans who have faced so much uncertainty, huge discouragement, opposition and struggles but they continue to rise up every morning to pursue their passions and dreams. I am generally inspired by go-getters, the movers and shakers and 90% of those kind of people are actually Zimbabweans.”
Women frequently face challenges that can hinder their upward mobility within an organization or impede their progress in business endeavors. These challenges can have a significant impact on their ability to strike a balance between work and family commitments.
For Monera, being single has been her greatest advantage, as it allows her to make decisions solely for herself, and while she acknowledges that achieving work-life balance may be challenging, she emphasizes the importance of setting specific priorities to ensure she can be present for what is truly important and urgent.
“I have also defined my quality of life by other aspects besides my work which has allowed me to separate work and family but also money vs value. My personality also helps because I don’t struggle to make time for conversation online or in person so I’m generally able to keep an eye on things and be in average communication with friends and family.”
Over the years, numerous debates have arisen, questioning the achievability of gender equity or equality, leading to doubts about whether it is simply a moral theory or a feasible goal. Monera holds the belief that Zimbabwe is heading in the right direction towards attaining gender equity.
“…however, the way any change happens is in circles and layers and it takes times. Who would have thought there would ever be an actual bank created just for the empowerment of women in Zimbabwe? Telling that story in 1982 would probably have been absurd. Change takes time, change is happening, equity is very much possible and significant milestones have been reached and more will continued to be reached over time we just need to continue being intentional about it.”
As a female photographer in a predominantly male-dominated industry, navigating the challenges and stereotypes has played a fundamental role in defining her journey. With each click of the camera, she defies expectations and showcases the power of breaking boundaries.
“Learning to communicate with the men and expressing opinions and sharing ideas in a respectful way has very helpful. I realized most of those that I interacted just didn’t know better in some cases because they have always had to work with men only.
“The second thing I did was to adjust my mindset that I was not a female in a male dominated industry but I was a photographer in a growing industry that happens to have males. So I have had to measure my performance and growth not against females or males but against creative professionals regardless of gender.”
Sharing on some of the pivotal moments or experiences that helped her survive and thrive in the photography industry she said: “The first one would be awards and recognition. They have allowed me a lot of times not to over explain whether I have the capacity or not because the evidence is there.
“Secondly would be working with other creatives that are super talented and way ahead of me in terms of experience and influence. When they trust you and refer you, you tap in their clientelle without necessarily having to pull out your portfolio. Lastly, I would say being intentional about building a brand that’s honest and has genuine intentions. With time even when mistakes are made, clients have respected the work ethic and professionalism and still continue to come back for business but also refer others and speak of us in rooms we can’t even afford to be in.”
Photography requires technical skills as such, Monera successfully overcame the initial learning curve of operating a camera and honed her expertise through a self-taught approach. Utilizing the vast resources of Youtube and online videos, she absorbed treasured knowledge and techniques. Equally important was the guidance and advice from her mentors, who offered insights into best practices and served as role models for both their work and leadership. This combination of self-guided learning, mentorship, and emulation has not only saved her from unnecessary mistakes but also accelerated her growth as a photographer, allowing her to thrive in the industry.
“I think the most important part in my creative process is always asking myself before, during and after a shoot two questions. Firstly, how do I show this person in their best light. Secondly, how can I bring out the essence of the aura I feel.
“My artistic style is based on answering those two questions whether I am taking photos of the President, capturing a bride walking down the aisle or editing a photo of a young boy fishing by the river bank.”
Milestones
– 2014: Started photography.
– 2015: Won Photographer of the Year at the Zim Bridal competition.
– 2016: Recognized as one of the young entrepreneurs to watch by the Netone One Fusion series.
– 2018: Nominated for Wedding Photographer of the Year at the CZW Industry Events Awards.
– 2016-2020: Photographed both Presidents on multiple occasions.
– 2023: Worked under the AU Special Envoy for the inaugural youth participation at the 2023 Presidents’ Summit in Addis Ababa.
– Collaborated with industry professionals and heads of organizations, including Kevin the Wedding Planner.
– Featured as a guest on various radio programs and served as a panelist at business seminars, discussing photography and business.
Keytakeaways on International Women’s Month:
For me it speaks into advocating for women at all levels, respecting the different voices represented within the female demographic and making sure that both women and men can be intentional about including these voices and opinions in decision making and policies to allow for better equity in society at all levels.
