Photographer: Leonard (Leon) Hugo

www.hugostudio.co.za, www.zoomwiz.co.za, www.go2explore.com

Born in the early 70s in the Capital of Namibia, Windhoek. Leon went to boarding school in Windhoek, after his family moved to a small town, Okahandja. After school, he left Namibia for South Africa to complete his studies. He attended the Port Elizabeth (MMMU) Art and Design (Textile Design) department in the 1990. This is where the artist in his photographic career was born. As a student his community work started early at PENSEN as the Creative Arts Director where the unemployed poor were teach to do basic skills in Mohair weaving. In 1994 he partnered with Lin Smith and started a curio business at the Port Elizabeth Airport, Momento's of Africa. This business expanded from one at the Port Elizabeth Airport to a second shop at the Donkin Reserve & Lighthouse in only 5 years. In 1999 Leon sold his part in the business and took up a managerial position at Funtasia Entertainment Centre at the Bridge Shopping Centre.  During the long hours of work, he took up photography as his hobby to find balance in the rush of everyday life.

Photographer in the making.

The hobby then changed to the full time business in February 2005 when Hugo Studio was started by him. Photography became the everyday life of Leon and by hard work and dedication to success and outstanding quality, he became well known in the corporate world as a hard worker. Today he has the privilege to be associated with many local and international brands and clients. With these clients he has met everyday people, celebrities, and presidents and has travelled the world. Leon celebrates 5years in business this year and hopes to give back to the community that he meets day to day. Good business practice, Leon believes is in the support you can give back to the community around you and in return you will be rewarded in goodwill! One of these success stories is when, in Jan & Fed of 2010, Leon help to capture visually the Building of Hope project in Kenya, Mombasa (where a polytechnic was build for the underprivileged) This adventure unfolded into a International Photographic Exhibition in Aug & Sep 2010 in Ireland. You can view Leon’s photo experiences on www.hugostudio.co.za.  www.buildingofhope.org.

To be part of this great story, become part of Hugo Studio's friends and clients by making an appointment to meet the person behind the camera.

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