Esteemed photographers Neo Ntsoma and Hilary O’Leary, who serve as judges on the second season of the nine-part reality series The Perfect Picture, are not ones to lose focus. While speaking to BONA, Neo and Hilary shared their experience and passion for capturing picture-perfect moments, and how women can break barriers and change the perspective of this male-dominated field.
Humble beginnings
Growing up in the tiny village of Logageng, Neo spent most of her childhood at the Mmabana Cultural Centre, taking part in many artistic activities which greatly influenced her career path. Says Neo, “My childhood dream career was to be a filmmaker although at one time I had also considered a career in dance but photography seduced me and I have never looked back.”
In 1992, she enrolled at the Peninsula University of Technology – one of the few tertiary institutions in South Africa that opposed racial indifference. “However, I was met with racial discrimination that ultimately disrupted my plans of obtaining a formal qualification in photography.”
Hilary, who was born and raised in the Jacaranda City of Harare, Zimbabwe, began her artistic journey in the southeast corner of the Zimbabwean lowveld, immersing herself in wildlife photography, and earning recognition for the compelling stories depicted in her images. “Fortunately, my time spent at a wildlife ranch proved to be a realm of endless possibilities; opportunities seemed to appear when I least expected them. I’ve always been one to grab those chances without hesitation,” says Hilary.
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Having won numerous awards and being a part of international projects, Hilary, who has been a full-time professional photographer for five years, now focuses on local equine sports photography, working closely with renowned sports horse studs and elite competitors.
The Perfect Picture
With Neo and Hilary’s level of expertise, there is no doubt as to why these two women were asked to join the team and guide the celebrities on their photography journey.
Hilary shares that working with the cast was an enriching experience for her. “I loved how doubtless yet honest they all were. Observing their deliberate dedication and transformative growth was very interesting to me… Watching their journey was an action-packed extraordinary adventure, and sharing their energy and passion served as a refreshing mirror for my own dedication to the art.”
Having served as a resident judge on season 1, Neo states, “From the get-go, I felt a massive pull to the contestants. I saw some aspects of my younger self in most of them, for sure – determined to succeed against all odds. It was so amazing.” She adds, “When you do a show like The Perfect Picture, it’s very hard work – but in all the right ways. Every day on set is a new challenge, a new adventure, and there’s always a new opportunity for everyone involved, particularly the contestants to achieve a new goal and make something amazing happen.”
Women breaking barriers in a male-dominated field
Sharing what people can do to change the perspective of photography being a male-dominated industry, Neo states, “It gives me great pleasure to see similar concerns as mine being raised in various public platforms of late. This journey hasn’t been easy and I still don’t have the solution, besides that, I have done the best I could when it mattered the most.”
Neo, whose company is 100% black-owned and managed, adds, “[The new breed of women photographers] are unstoppable and incredibly creative yet there aren’t enough platforms created to support them. My company was formed as a way to open space for these young women in the male-dominated media industry. It aims to create an environment where their competency is recognised and acknowledged.”
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Speaking about how women can break barriers in the field of photography, Hilary shares that she has unwavering faith in the determination and success of today’s women. “This spirit is evident across various realms. To me, it’s an incredibly exhilarating era. Seeing so many female celebrities part of The Perfect Picture season 2 gave me so much hope for the barriers faced and breaking these.”
She added, “My advice: Draw inspiration and challenge limits. In the natural world, boundless creativity and motivation await. Follow your mentors, collaborate, give more than you take, and remember, you needn’t justify your choices to your most demanding critic – yourself.”
As for advice to those starting in photography, Neo says, “Think like an entrepreneur, that’s the best advice I could give to just about any creative starting. At least, in that way, they will be able to grow their career more effectively and sustainably than if they ignore the business side of things.”
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