Ever wonder what it’s really like to be a travel photographer? Is travel photography something you’ve considered learning, but still have questions and concerns? Owners of Creative Sparks Design, Jim and Lisa Engelbrecht, are about to help us better understand the challenges and advantages of travel photography, and share with us their top 5 tips that any aspiring travel photographer should consider.
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I’ve asked Jim and Lisa to provide me with a brief bio on who they are and where they come from. Here’s what they had to say:
Jim: Born in Chicago, IL in 1953, I grew up in Cincinnati, OH. After high school, I went to Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. After 10 years in Rochester, I moved to Boston. I have worked in advertising as a designer and at Parker Brothers as an art director (where Lisa and I met). I then became a creative director in the travel industry – hiring photographers till I found that “I could do that”, instead of sitting in an office.
Lisa: I was born in Louisville, KY in 1959. I moved around quite a bit before I went to college at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. After graduation in 1979, I settled in the Boston area and have been there ever since, working as an illustrator, graphic designer, art director and photographer. I live with my husband, Jim, and we work together out of our house.
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.
Please continue on to page 2 to learn what photography equipment and accessories Jim and Lisa consider an essential part of their travel photography. You'll also learn what the greatest challenges and advantages of travel photography are, and so much more.