Dara Banjo is a talented Nigerian photographer, creative director, and entrepreneur who has made a big impact on the Afrobeats music scene and fashion world. She was named the 2025 Lifestyle Photographer of the Year. Her photos are known for being real, raw, and full of emotion. She’s especially famous for photographing top Nigerian musicians, like shooting the cover art for Olamide’s 10th and 11th albums back-to-back.

Dara left school in 2018 to follow her dream of becoming a photographer. Since then, she started Nigeria’s leading company that specializes in behind-the-scenes (BTS) production work. Her style is simple and natural, focusing on capturing the real connection and personality of the people she shoots, without making things look too perfect or staged.

She also created Jelenke, a visual archive and magazine that shares African stories with the world, preserving culture and memories in a beautiful, meaningful way.

Her work ranges from energetic photos of music shows, like one she took of CKay at a festival in Morocco, to quiet, personal photo series like "Beauty 23." Whether it’s a big star on stage or a close-up moment with a friend, Dara always focuses on the true spirit and style of the people she photographs.

Dara has also worked as a model, which helped her understand how to bring out confidence and real emotion in her subjects. This experience makes her great at directing people during shoots to get the best and most honest pictures.

She lives in Lagos, a city she sees as endless inspiration for her work. Dara is passionate about helping other Nigerian artists grow by working with them and sharing her knowledge. Through her photos, she shows that the truest way to represent culture is by capturing the simple, honest moments.