Daily Inspiration: Meet Damola Otegbola

Today we’d like to introduce you to Damola Otegbola

Hi Damola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Maryland, Virginia, but quickly moved to Lagos and later Abuja, Nigeria. By age 11, I moved to the UK, where I spent my teenage years. These changes in scenery and culture shaped my worldview, exposing me to the vastness and diversity of the world. This global awareness deeply influences how I approach storytelling today.

As a quiet child, I often felt “new” wherever I went. While others thought I was shy, I was lost in daydreams, imagining stories from movies and cartoons. Details like the characters’ clothes and the color of wallpaper fascinated me, sharpening my creative instincts, even if it affected my schoolwork. This early focus on narrative and visual detail laid the foundation for my future work.

In my early teens, my interests shifted as I discovered the internet and became fascinated with technology. I spent hours watching Apple keynotes and YouTube tech reviews. This fascination led me to cinematography, the perfect medium for me as a young artist in the modern age, combining visuals with tech to bring my stories to life.
By 17, societal pressure to choose a career path weighed on me, but high school subjects didn’t spark my interest. What truly excited me were the side projects I had been doing since age 13—taking photos at sports events, filming dance performances, and designing graphics for school. These experiences unknowingly built the foundation of my creative direction skillset.

I pursued cinematography in college, recognizing it as a starting point for my talents and passions. It allowed me to dive deeper into visual storytelling, while also blending my technical knowledge and creativity. Over time, I’ve learned that patience, resilience, and a calm approach are just as important as the technology itself in this fast-paced digital world.

My artistic influences span music, fashion, film, animation, and design. Music, particularly Afrobeats and hip-hop, drives my creativity, inspiring the pacing, mood, and emotion in my visual work. Fashion also plays a major role, with its ability to define culture and identity. Whether it’s the bold colors of African fashion or the minimalism of contemporary design, style tells its own story and fuels my inspiration.

After finishing college, it was time to put my skills into practice. On a last-minute impulse, I moved to LA with a friend who was coming to study. The move was daunting, as I was leaving behind the network I had built in the UK. But I knew growth required stepping out of my comfort zone. LA felt like the right place to push my boundaries and explore new opportunities.

As I continue to expand my creative direction, I’m excited to work more in music, fashion, and feature films, bringing my unique perspective to these fields and exploring new avenues for storytelling.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been navigating the expectations of having African parents while pursuing a career in the creative field. Coming from a culture that often places a strong emphasis on more traditional career paths, it was difficult trying to find a balance between meeting their expectations and following my own passion for filmmaking and photography. There were times when I felt torn, trying to prove that what I was doing was valid and meaningful while still earning their approval.

Another challenge I’ve consistently faced is being taken seriously as a young creative. From the beginning, it was tough to get executives and companies to believe in my ideas. Many times, I felt like I had to prove myself twice as much because they saw me as just a “kid with a camera.” Getting people to trust in my vision and understand that creativity doesn’t have an age limit has been an ongoing battle. Despite these challenges, they’ve motivated me to push harder, stay resilient, and continue creating, knowing that one day my work will speak for itself.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a filmmaker, photographer, digital artist, and creative director, my work spans multiple creative fields. I specialize in visual storytelling, blending my technical expertise with a strong creative vision to create unique, engaging content. Whether it’s directing a short film, shooting editorial fashion photography, or producing digital art for a brand campaign, I’m driven by the challenge of telling stories in new and innovative ways. I’m also passionate about blending technology with creativity, which allows me to push the boundaries of what’s possible and deliver visuals that resonate deeply with audiences.

I’m particularly proud of the versatility in my work. I’ve been fortunate to work across a range of industries—music, fashion, and film—and each has helped me refine my creative approach. What sets me apart is my ability to balance the technical with the creative. Having a strong understanding of the tools I work with, whether it’s a camera or software, allows me to execute my vision with precision, but it’s my creative instincts that bring the heart to my projects.

I’m most proud of the impact my work has had on people. Whether it’s evoking an emotion through a photograph or sparking a conversation with a film, knowing that my art moves people is incredibly rewarding. I think what truly sets me apart is my dedication to detail and storytelling. From the visual composition to the mood I create, I aim to make every frame, every shot, and every project something that connects with people on a deeper level.

some of my proudest works can be found in the links bellow:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C7VaptiRR4y/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXpZ_66-W20
https://www.instagram.com/p/C2xa3ziLz3z/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkWCKQS6pEk
https://www.jaegrills.co.uk/pages/your-smile-speaks

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor and networking is one of the most underrated soft skills. to start keep your ear to the ground, people are looking for others who are problem solvers you might have an aunt who is starting a cafe and she need photos for her business. helps solve that problem.

For me I have found that another good gate way is attending, lectures talks and events can be a huge gateway to that sort of thing from there, I always try to stay true to myself, don’t try and be anyone you are not. talk about what inspires you and what your dreams are. from there you will naturally find people who can relate to that or are on the same path. another great way is finding people to grow with. Pharrell Williams has a quote, I can’t remember exactly where I heard it but it stuck with me, he says,

“if you ever wanna be faster you gotta run with people who are way faster than you. When you are surrounded. By those who are like Superior. In their. Performance than you are you’re bound to be lifted up if you’re as ambitious. If not you’re wasting everyone’s time.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.damolaoteg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damola_oteg/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Damola_Oteg