GREENFIELD – A Greenfield woman has turned her passion for photography into a career promoting female entrepreneurs, and an upcoming gala is expected to bring in thousands for a charity.
Victoria Odekomaya is a luxury photographer and brand strategist who strives to empower and inspire women in business.
Women wear a lot of hats, said Odekomaya, a married mother of two. With so many Indy-area women talented in everything from side hustles to manufacturing to large corporations, Odekomaya says she wants to capture images and help tell their stories so they can inspire others.
“I just want to get the word out there for women to be inspired, for women to be encouraged,” she said. “You know, ‘You’ve got this.’”
Odekomaya has lived in Greenfield about 12 years. Originally from Nigeria, she moved to the states as a student and got a job in drug development sciences. She pursued photography and filmmaking as a hobby for about 10 years, and around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic she knew she wanted to get more serious with her pastimes.
Laid off a little over a year ago, she realized it was time to start her own business. In 2022, she launched the Boss Ladies Campaign with the purpose of giving women a “celebrity photo shoot experience” to create images and videos for women to “level up their brand” and help them feel confident and empowered.
Based out of LiM Studios – her home in an eastern Greenfield neighborhood – Odekomaya provides clients with professional hair and makeup for a photo shoot, wardrobe styling, refreshments, a collection of images, and a feature in her magazine.
Additionally, Odekomaya organizes a gala every year to celebrate her clients and raise money for a charity. Last year, the first Boss Ladies Gala raised $10,000 to support Dove Recovery House for Women in Indianapolis.
This year, the gala is set for March 15 and will benefit Pink Ribbon Connection, whose mission is to provide free supplies and services to breast cancer patients and survivors across Indiana. The funds will go toward free mastectomy bras, prosthesis, post-surgical garments and wigs.
“We are grateful to Victoria and are excited to be part of such an extraordinary gathering to support the work we do to assist breast cancer patients at any stage of their journey,” said Dori Sparks-Unsworth, executive director of Pink Ribbon Connection.
Odekomaya said she was thrilled with last year’s gala success, and is hoping for another $10,000 to be raised this year for Pink Ribbon Connection. She plans to benefit a women’s charity every year, and is still seeking sponsors, auction items and people that want to attend the event. Every ticket earns a credit with her photography business as well.
Odekomaya said her goal is to help small business owners be known and heard. Her website encourages women to “stop being the best kept secret” in their industry.
“I feel like they don’t know how to (market themselves),” she said. “There are women who have no idea how to do this… don’t know how to be strategic about it, to be intentional. People won’t patronize or walk with you if they don’t know you’re there.”
One of her clients, Gabie Benson, is a Greenfield native who now lives in McCordsville. Benson launched Sprout Fundraising and Consulting in 2023, working with nonprofits both locally and nationally.
Benson said she’s known Odekomaya for years, and when she showed up for her photo shoot, Odekomaya turned her tough day around. She was thrilled with the images that came out of the shoot, and was glad to connect Odekomaya with last year’s gala beneficiary.
“I’m so proud of what Victoria was able to create with the first year of the event,” she said in an email. “I know this year’s gala will be an even bigger success.”
Jill O’Boyle is a burnout recovery coach for high-achieving women, and her office is based out of McCordsville. She reached out to Odekomaya for photos and to promote her business.
“She captured my fun, outgoing personality but also showed imagery to support my past story of burnout and stress, which created a visual story that the audience can relate to,” she said, adding that she would recommend any woman business owner to consider the business.
O’Boyle said last year’s gala was a fun way to celebrate and empower women in business while also benefiting a good cause.
Odekomaya said it’s powerful to get women together for a red carpet event.
“That’s what we do – we’re always giving, always loving; it’s great to get women together to have fun, enjoy, network together and also raise funds for an organization,” Odekomaya said. “It’s just an incredible opportunity.”
