Bright Hub (BH): How did you get started as a photographer? Did you go to school or take any courses?
Jim Engelbrecht (JE): I first took to photography in high school. I saved my money and graduated from a Kodak Brownie to a 35mm SLR Nikkormat, so I could work on my high school yearbook. I also took a part time job in a photo studio’s darkroom (remember those?). I majored in photo illustration and communication design in college, but took a job as a designer and art director. I art directed hundreds of photo shots over the years and hired photographers for travel assignments. Starting in 2004, I decided I wanted to shoot assignments and get out from behind a desk. Having worked on the inside of the travel industry, I had made valuable contacts and had learned what photo editors were looking for.
Lisa Engelbrecht (LE): Photography has always been a hobby of mine; I took photography classes in college. I started to include photography as a service for my graphic design business, which later expanded into doing on-location shooting for travel companies who required photographs to be included in their marketing brochures and catalogs.
BH: Obviously, as an international travel photographer, you’ve seen a lot of the world. What has been your favourite place to visit and why?
JE: Because I love to travel, every place has been an adventure and I have loved them all. One place that really stands out, and I’m sure Lisa will agree, is Croatia. It’s such a magical place. An African Safari is at the top of my list also.
LE: Yes, I loved Croatia for its natural beauty, the quaint coastal towns, the friendly people, the food and the old-world charm that is very apparent today.
BH: As a travel photographer, who are some of your clients and what did you do for them?
JE: We have focused on the major direct mail travel tour providers, as they have a large demand for images to support their marketing efforts. We photograph the passenger experience, which is very different from how a photographer might photograph an editorial assignment. We also photograph resorts, hotels, restaurants, events and will be bringing our travel and event expertise to the wedding market. In this changing economy, we need to expand our client list. We also have stock photos on http://www.danitadelimont.com.
LE: We have worked for Vantage Deluxe World Travel, Tauck World Discovery, Viking River Cruises, Grand Circle Travel and GWV Vacations. We went on the trips with their passengers, photographing the scenery, the iconic landmarks, the people, the culture and the passengers having a great time. We often photograph the interiors of the riverboats or hotels also.
