From books to nightlife: How Nick Ombodo became Nakuru's top club photographer

In Nakuru's vibrant nightlife scene, where the rhythm of music resonates through speakers and neon lights illuminate crowded dance floors, club photographers move almost invisibly. 

Weaving between groups with their cameras poised, they capture the fleeting magic of a night out: the laughter that fades by morning; the style statements people spend hours preparing; the rhythm; the chaos; and sometimes, raw emotion.

This wasn’t the career Nick Ombodo pictured for himself when he enrolled at Kenya Methodist University to study International Relations. Back then, his world revolved around books and the quiet solitude of lockdown. 

Like many others, he took up photography in 2020 almost by accident, initially using only his phone. He took photos of friends and family, recorded short videos at home, and taught himself how to edit. 

To his surprise, they loved his work. This praise encouraged him to upgrade his gear and dream bigger.
A turning point came when a friend introduced him to Nairobi’s nightlife scene. Ombodo got his first paid job working as a street photographer in the Central Business District, charging Sh300 for unlimited shots on Sundays. 

Feeling nervous but determined, he threw himself into the club scene, and got his first job at the Tamasha Club in Hurlingum, earning Sh22,000. 

“My first club gig actually went well, since I was still at school and really nervous. That night became the launchpad for my career,” he recalls. 

Today, Ombodo is a familiar face in clubs, having worked with venues such as Space Next Door. He notes that he earns between Sh25,000 and Sh60,000 depending on bookings. 

What began as a side hustle has become both a livelihood and a form of self-expression.

He draws inspiration from international creatives such as Gakuyen and Nigeria’s Club Voyage, who blend artistry with nightlife documentation. 

He uses his camera to capture stories in pictures, from intimate embraces between old friends to expansive scenes of crowded dance floors bathed in light. 

“The end user is the client, and they want to see every aspect portrayed,” he explains.

However, consent remains a grey area in nightlife photography, and he often finds himself having to convince with reluctant partygoers, striking a balance between diplomacy and persistence. 

“It depends on your persuasive skills, and it's important to respect boundaries, especially since the content will be uploaded to social media,” he says. 

Over time, he has also mastered the technical side of nightlife photography, particularly lighting. “The more clubs you visit, the better you understand how to balance the light,” he says.