Global award-winning photographer and visual storyteller Tolani Alli, on Tuesday, February 24, led the Hatricks Masterclass in Accra, training about 30 photographers, filmmakers, students and content creators at Payaza Africa Limited.

During the training, he urged them to prioritise preparation, authenticity and bold self-belief to build lasting relevance in the creative industry.

The Hatricks masterclass brought together participants from Ghana and beyond for an intensive session on photography, visual storytelling, leadership, branding and digital media strategy.

Throughout her keynote themed “How to never be a one-time story”, the award-winning creative challenged attendees to move beyond chasing trends and instead build substance, character and competence.

“If there’s anything I want you to learn today, it’s that you’re never going to be a one-time story,” she said. “It’s that you’re a one-of-a-kind student… never to be duplicated, never to be replicated.”

Drawing from her experience working with global institutions, presidents and high-profile personalities, she emphasised that preparation and excellence are non-negotiable.

“Preparation is power. It is what arms you. If you are going into a place and you are not prepared, you don’t have a vision, you don’t have a structure… everything is chaos,” she told the attendees.

She encouraged creatives to understand their worth and refuse to settle for less than their value.

“You don’t have to be rude. You don’t have to be proud. They can offer you rubbish, but you don’t have to be rubbish,” she said. “Be kind. Be valuable. Because you know what you carry.”

In one of the defining moments of the session, she led participants in an affirmation: “I am one of one. Never to be duplicated. Never to be replicated,” stressing that authenticity remains the foundation of enduring impact.

She also urged participants to define their own voice rather than rely on social media algorithms for relevance.

“Your voice travels faster than trends. Your voice is as powerful as what you want to make of it,” she noted.

The masterclass also featured other notable speakers, including Creative Consultant & Genius Winner, TFAA for Creativity & Innovation '24, Anita Ashiru, Prince Gyasi, the internationally recognised Ghanaian visual artist known for his vibrant Afro-surrealist photography and the former programmes manager of Joy FM and currently the Head of Corporate Communication at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), Edem Knight-Tay.

They shared insights on branding, resilience, storytelling and building globally competitive creative careers.

Participants described the session as transformative, highlighting the intimate setting which allowed for interactive discussions, networking and practical engagement.

Certificates were presented to attendees at the end of the programme, marking the completion of the intensive training.

In her closing remarks, the award-winning photographer expressed gratitude to participants for investing in their growth.

“The fact that you decided to take money out of your pocket and put it into this class is one honour no one can ever take from you,” she said. “When you leave this building today, you are walking out as an excellent person… I truly pray for you that you will never be a one-time story.”

The Hatricks Masterclass by Tolani Alli forms part of a broader initiative to empower Africa’s next generation of storytellers and creative leaders with the skills, mindset and networks needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive digital world.