Aubrey Odle…From playing at being a cameraman to becoming an award–winning videographer

Dec 17, 2018 News

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It started with his love for the arts. Photography was not his first choice for a career; it was not even a choice at all, but judging from what he has become, and what he has been able to produce with the Cannon, it seems as though God had other plans for his life.
As a child, Aubrey Odle would often make models of video cameras from plastic bottles and pretend he was shooting a movie in his backyard.
He would spend hours drawing; drawing anything that came to his mind. And as he grew, so did his passion for the Arts.

But the St. John’s College grandaunt said that though he knew what he wanted to become, it did not seem possible at the time because “there was no one person teaching Art, or anything to do with the Arts, in school, at that time.”
As the possibility of him becoming a videographer became bleak, Odle said he began having thoughts of becoming a cadet officer, or maybe a graphic designer, since there was a higher possibility of him being able to easily attain one of the two.
After graduating from St. John’s College in 2006, Odle began working part-time in accounting with his pastor, Wade Ridley; by doing this he subconsciously suppressed his passion for the Arts.
However, no matter how much he tried to be good at what he was doing at that time, his actions showed that he was not happy.
“My pastor saw that I loved videography, and he made the connection for me to go to Channel 2 to learn all I needed to know about videography and what it entails,” he said.
He understood how rare and precious that opportunity was and ensured he made the most of it.
“I would stay back late and watch YouTube tutorials on how to use the cameras,” he said as he reflected on his earlier days at Channel 2.

Odle would constantly research what he needed to do to master his craft with the hope of becoming the best in his profession.
After showing significant progress, Odle was hired as a videographer and worked at BTV Channel 2 for a few years. He then left for a job at Congress Place. It was not until then that his journey as a photographer truly began.
HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT
“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared,” Odle reciprocated, as he quoted Whitney M. Young JR, before sharing the memory of his first photography assignment.
“Working at Congress Place taught me a lot,” Odle revealed.
Odle further explained that his decision to get into photography happened by chance.
“I was hired to work as a videographer for one of the political parties currently in Government, but the person who was the photographer at the time had left and I was somewhat forced into doing it.”
It’s an opportunity he said he has never regretted and once again took full advantage of.
Odle said that President David Granger, who was at that time Opposition Leader had a courtesy call and a photographer was needed. He explained that since he was the only next person, he took his still camera and proceeded to capture the moment. “I was happy with the images, but looking back now, they were not all that good,” he laughed.

Odle worked with the party until 2015 when they were elected to serve.
While working for the party, Odle did not limit himself by only working as the PNC’s photographer, nor did he became complacent.
He continued to educate himself about his craft, not allowing the fact that there was no photography school to deter him.
“I researched, I bought books about photography, I worked, I watched tutorials on YouTube and I gave out a lot of free photo-shoots, all because I wanted to get better, I wanted to learn, I wanted to grow and the only way I would do so is by being persistence and persistent I was,” he told this publication.

Creating the APRO brand
“I have a lot of support in my corner, from friends and family to persons who may leave an encouraging comment under my photos on Facebook or Instagram, and I am very thankful for the support,” Odle said. “I genuinely think that God uses people to help with leading you down the right path and I have had that throughout my years as a creative person,” he added.
With the love and support from all those who are by his side, he was able to create the APRO brand—Aubrey Odle Photography. There, he is able to capture great moments, such as weddings, birthday parties, corporate portraits and actually be praised for his work; so much so that he recently won big in the PAHO/WHO Media Awards. Aubrey placed third in the Photo Journalism Category for Best News Feature; second in the Edutainment category for Videography.
“Having won an award makes me proud, I had to tap myself on the shoulder and I say ‘Aubrey, good job.’ because it is good to know that all the work that I have been doing throughout the years is being recognized, that is good, that is really good,” He said, with a smile.
THE ROAD AHEAD
Today, in the minds of many persons, the words APRO is synonymous with quality.
Aubrey displays his photos on Instagram, and other social Media sites. He also works with the Ministry of health as the Minister’s Photographer. His encouragement to young persons who want to follow their passion is to go after it. “If you love something, go after it, it does not have to be photography. You can be the game changer, you have to be prepared mentally to go through battles, because these battles are there to make us stronger,” he said. “There were some times when I wanted to quit, but I knew I have a purpose to fulfill and I knew it is something I loved so that kept him going.” He added.
He added that constructive criticism has also helped him in his journey and encourages young people to not think that they know it all, but to listen to persons who have walked the road before them.

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