Buffalo Boss Babe: Alana Adetola Fajemisin

This week’s Buffalo Boss Babe is Alana Adetola Fajemisin of Alana Adetola Arts Photography. Similar to some of her fellow boss babes, Alana has found a way to make a living doing what she loves – it’s a dream come true.

What made you start or brought you where you are today? Tell us your Story. What makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe?

I’ve always been a creative person. I’ve always been the kind of person who has to be doing something with their hands. I use to draw and paint regularly as a child, and then I purchased my first camera and I really fell into a groove of painting from the photographs that I was taking. I’ve always wished for the two worlds to collide.

Fast forward to the day that a co-worker of mine asked me to photograph her wedding. I felt under qualified and overly terrified, but I went for it anyway, with the ever-present encouragement from my partner, Keith. Now here I am, photographing people and places and things…for a living. It’s a dream come true. 

What does being a Buffalo Boss Babe mean to you?

I don’t know if I would necessarily go as far as to call myself a “boss” just yet. But babe, I’ll take it! 

Personally, there’s nothing more ‘babely’ to me than mastering what you choose to do. Working towards mastering my craft makes me feel very empowered. So if empowerment and boss can go hand-in-hand in this scenario, then yeah…that’s what being a Buffalo Boss Babe would mean to me.

Who are your favorite people to follow?

Joshua Kissi [joshuakissi] - is an entrepreneur, photographer, and creative director. He is ever inspiring and extremely relatable. 

I N D I G O [indg0] - is a fantastic artist that works in many forms. Their work can best be described as a psychedelic rainbow-palette parade on an acid trip to the moon. I find inspiration in this kind of artwork daily. 

Kayley McCabe [thekitchenmccabe] - is a brilliant photographer, recipe developer and food stylist. I stumbled upon her Instagram feed one day and I’ve been drooling over both her recipes and the way that she captures her process, ever since. Her photographs are moody as well as inviting. And to me, that’s the perfect way to tell a visual story. 

What are your favorite things to do in the area? Buffalo and greater WNY?

Forest Lawn has come to be a really special place to me, so I really enjoy just grabbing a coffee and taking a walk through the grounds. No matter the season. I really feel at peace there. My maternal grandmother [who passed away before I was born] is buried there, so it’s always nice to pay her a visit when I’m there. 

I also really enjoy going out to eat. I love trying new restaurants and bars and I’m big into restaurant and bar interior spaces, so that’s another plus to visiting new places. I’m always curious to not only see how these spaces are decorated, but how their decor balances with their function. That entire experience is really pleasurable to me. 

Tell us about your favorite collaboration or dream collaborations?

I would love to be able to photograph some of my favorite chefs in their own personal kitchens. I have a passion for food and cooking. [One day, I’d like to write and photograph my own cookbook.] But in the meantime, I think being able to photograph chefs at home would be a wonderful way to combine two of my passions. 

If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be? 

My grandmother. 

What are your hopes, dreams, and goals. Big or small? 

If I can continue to wake up every single day for the rest of my life, and feel like I have a purpose…that would be my ultimate dream. I hope to never grow bored with myself and with my life. I hope to always have the willingness to set attainable goals…daily…weekly…yearly…whatever. I am already living more dreams than I ever thought imaginable. And for the sake of living in the moment in this ever-changing world, for now…I am very, very happy with that.

Tell us about your family.

My family is very close and very blended. My parents are my closest friends. I’m also very blessed to call my partners’ family, my family as well. We look out for each other and we care very deeply for one another. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that this isn’t always the case for many people. And for that, I am thankful. I don’t take these kinds of relationships for granted. 

Favorites!

Food

Steak - Lamb Chops - Mashed Potatoes - Carnitas Tacos - Carbonara 

Color

Black 

Super Power

Shapeshifting

Animal

Great Pyrenees 

Season of the Year 

Spring

Favorite thing about Buffalo 

The pride and the food. 

Isn’t Alana amazing? Head on over to Insta and give her a follow alanadetolarts___photography or email her at alana.adetola@gmail.com if you’re so inclined to book a session! We’re so thankful for Alana taking the time to chat with Buffalo Boss Babes and allow us to share her story with our community.