Banji Abioye: Seen, Felt, and Remembered
- TAMRON Americas
- Feb 25
- 3 min read
An interview with photoED Magazine
Banji Abioye, a.k.a. Fabolousbanji Studios, is a wedding, event, and portrait photographer based in Toronto. “The Fab,” as he’s fondly called, says “every story deserves to be seen, felt, and remembered.”
photoED Magazine spoke to Banji about his work.
photoED: How did you get started in photography? And what keeps you motivated and inspired to keep at it?
Banji:
I started photography about 10 years ago, fresh out of university. During my time studying quantity surveying and construction cost analysis, I found I had a knack for taking photos. I was not doing it professionally, but I was always the go-to guy in my department when people wanted to take nice photos. As for what keeps me motivated and inspired, I’m deeply inspired by art. At my centre, I really just love to create for the sake of it.
photoED: What’s the story behind your company name?
Banji:
It’s kind-of cheesy, but as a teenager I was obsessed with a certain rapper’s charisma. I added his stage name in front of mine, and it stuck. Most people just call me “Fab” now.
photoED: What do you love most about creating stories through photography?
Banji:
I love the ability to freeze moments in time and to carefully translate what I saw and experienced in a single, unrepeatable moment.
photoED: Whose work has influenced yours?
Banji:
My artistic influences have shifted with the seasons of my growth. Artists who’ve shaped my perspective in no particular order include Annie Leibovitz, Chris Knight, Lola Melani, Big H, Lindsay Adler, Paulina Duczman, Sue Bryce, Prince Meyson, Oyè Diran, Felix Khunze, Ale Vidal, David Urbanke, Alsu Leyman, AJ Hamilton, and Aykut Aydoğdu.
photoED: What makes a good photograph?
Banji:
Soul is what allows an image to move you before you even understand why. It’s the photographer’s ability to evoke deep, powerful emotion through the harmony of light, shadow, expression, and pose, all set within a space that complements the story.
photoED: How has working in photography influenced you personally?
Banji:
This journey has transformed how I experience the world visually. Everyday moments, a scene in a movie, a conversation, a quiet walk, are all filtered through my understanding of colour theory, lighting, shadows, and composition. It has awakened a deeper way of seeing, training my eyes to search for meaning, mood, and beauty beneath the surface.
GEAR UP:
What camera and equipment do you most use now? What’s your favourite lens? Tell us about your experience using Tamron lenses?
Banji:
My current camera is a Nikon Z 6II. For lenses, I love primes. I have a prime in almost every focal length: 16mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 90mm, 135mm, and more recently a 200mm. I also have the 90mm macro lens, which is becoming a favourite.
My experience using Tamron lenses has been phenomenal.
Their lenses are tack sharp. It’s almost like they were built ahead of their time. Their zoom lenses contend with my love for primes. The 28–75mm and the 70–180mm are ranges I never thought I needed, but after trying them out they are always in my camera bag.
See more of Banji’s work - HERE.
Check out Banji's fave Tamron lens - HERE!
