Wolfpack: Thank you for taking time to talk to us. Please tell us about yourself. Who is Barak?
Barrak: I’m just a simple guy who loves to have fun doing what I love to do the most, photography! I’m interested in the world of creative arts and all forms of imagery. I was born and raised in Ghana by a Ghanaian father (Said of Said’s Jewellery, Adabraka) and a Lebanese mother. I graduated at Achimota Sec. School, completed some courses at NIIT and thereafter moved to the U.K. and worked at a major motor-cycle outlet in the sales dept. for less than a year. I then returned to Ghana and worked unappreciatively at a department store for 3 years as an assistant manager whilst doing freelance graphic designing. I then resigned and took the bold step and put my passion to work, full-time! (gunshot!)
Wolfpack: What is Capture?
Barrak: Capture is many things! my baby, my love, my crush (laughs). Capture is a photography/video company that I want to nurture into a franchise in the near future. The aim is to provide high-end photography/video services at affordable prices. My ultimate goal is to build a brand that when someone mentions the word photography in Ghana, it will be synonymous with “Capture”. A one-stop-shop for covering all kinds of events, ranging from personal photo shoots through to weddings, social/corporate events.
Wolfpack: Did you have any role models when you were growing up?
Barrak: My role model has always been my father.
Wolfpack: What experiences have shaped your life?
Barrak: So many events have happened in my life to make me who I am today but it all bores down to the influence of my mother. She is the one I picked up my interest in arts from and coached me to be a good person at heart and that is what I’m selling as Capture, a brand with a personality. One other major factor that’s affected me is a near death experience and once you come in contact with that, your whole perspective and take on life changes.
Wolfpack: What traits or values drive your personality?
Barrak: My kindness and big heart. I have a strong urge and drive for success, thus I’m always committed, dedicated and motivated towards my goals and objectives, always keeping in focus the bigger picture!
Wolfpack: What are some challenges you face on a daily basis?
Barrak: Capture is all about ensuring deadlines and quality, keeping the customer comfortably satisfied. In line with this objective, it is difficult to get others in sync without the GMT - “The Ghana-Man-Time factor” involved (laughs). For instance, a booking has been made at 1pm and second at 4pm, first booking arrives an hour late! the rest, I leave for your imagination (mtchewww). Another challenge is the amount of working hours that the team and I put into a project. After shooting an event for 9hrs, clients think that’s where our work ends, but that’s where it actually starts. For every hour of photo coverage, it takes two hours to edit that worth in our office.
Wolfpack: What would you say are your motivators?
Barrak: The vision I have for Capture to become a global brand, that’s it.
Wolfpack: What makes you unique as an individual?
Barrak: The journey of my life’s experience is what makes me unique, and although formal education is important, It’s not what made me who I am. Truth be told, I didn’t do too well academically in visual arts at school but that never stopped my dream.
Wolfpack: Could you elaborate on some of your personal achievements and future aspirations?
Barrak: Capture in itself is an achievement and it’s an achievement for me every time that I take a picture because at the end of the day it’s the memories we capture in life that we look back upon as our individual legacies. I have also had quite a number of big clientele such Price WaterHouse Coopers, Banks and various political parties, and all these were as a result of high recommendations, thus motivating me to work harder.
Wolfpack: What sacrifices have you had to made to become a successful entrepreneur?
Barrak: Personally, I don’t think I’ve reached the level of success I’ve envisioned. There’s a lot to be achieved. My sacrifice is personal time and that is invaluable.
Wolfpack: Where do you see yourself and your business in the next ten years?
Barrak: I see Capture on a global scale.
Wolfpack: What three pieces of advice would you give to an entrepreneur starting out today?
Barrak: Be passionate about what you do, be dedicated, be relentless. I’ll give you a fourth as a bonus, be prayerful (smiles).
Wolfpack: We are grateful for this interview and insight you have granted us and we wish you success and you can always count on Wolfpack for support.
Barrak: I appreciate the opportunity you have also given me, thanks!
