Is your passion for photography enough to make it as a photographer today? If you ask today's interview guest, South African photographer Ett Venter, his answer would be a resounding yes… and that answer comes from living the question.
Ett Venter is a portrait, wedding and street photographer based in Pretoria, South Africa. He spent four years studying IT, landed a fantastic job and quit to be a full time photographer, because that's what he realised what he wanted to do. He discovered this passion after taking a single photo at a church retreat and knew then, photography was it.
His business has been growing rapidly in the last couple years and he recently opened a large studio space and made it available FREE to other photographers.
His work is beautiful and recognisable, no mean feat in todays world, overloaded with imagery and photographers.
Here’s some of what we cover:
What’s on Offer for Premium Members
If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this episode where you can hear lots more content from where we dive deeper into some of the earlier topics plus some new ones that I pushed hard for that include:
If you're on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interview with Ett Venter, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.
What is your big takeaway?
Following this interview, I’d love to know what your biggest takeaway is – what is the one thing that you’d like to implement or learnt from what was shared? Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.
I shoot less work but I make more or less the same amount of money shooting less – Ett Venter
If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Ett or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below.
iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs
Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!
Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners means more interviews and ultimately a better show.
If you have left a review in the past, thank you!
If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL like I have with the reviews below:
Barley Monks Photography
In iTunes by Nick Peel of Barley Monks Photography in Australia on October 6, 2015
This is the absolute best photography podcast no matter where you are at in your photography business.
It has built my business from the ground up, and my premium membership has already paid itself off many times over.
You are not ahead of the game if you aren't listening to this podcast.
Thanks Andrew for giving me a lesson to look forward to every week.
I don't ever want to feel like I'm working. I want to feel like I'm taking photos and enjoying myself, and I won't feel like that if I'm taking photos that I don't enjoy taking – Ett Venter
Very nice and informative
In iTunes by Michaelami from USA on October 6, 2015
It surprises me that with how popular photography is, but there are not more quality podcasts on the subject. I tend to listen to the same couple of podcasts that I've been listening to for years.
It isn't very often that new ones with merit pop up. This is one of the good ones and although I'm late to the party I'm enjoying catching up.
I think what I enjoy most is the fact that the guests are not the same in your face everywhere, workshop touring, book selling, speaker circuit variety that you get everywhere else.
I find it silly when most of the time, all you hear is somebody trying to sell you their secret to success. I would much rather hear an honest discussion and that's what this is. It's a conversation and I'm enjoying listening in.
Wedding Photography Pricing – Spencer Lum
Long time listeners will be familiar with Spencer Lum, he's been interviewed twice before on the podcast and is a master tactician in the area of wedding photography sales and pricing – something I am constantly asked about via email from listeners.
Now Spencer has released a FREE resource on the topic and it's perfectly simple to understand and apply to your business. Spencer has a very cool knack of taking a seemingly complicated subject and breaking it down into easy to understand chunks – I love how he does this!
Click here to get Spencer's ebook, Pricing For Profit. It is free but you will have to give your email address. It's a small trade!
I shoot a specific way and I won't shoot another way – Ett Venter
Is Your Website Mobile Friendly?
It's no secret more clients are finding wedding and portrait photographers via mobile devices. What you may not know is Google is now penalising sites by ranking them lower, no matter the quality of their content if they are not mobile friendly.
By mobile friendly, the term used is “responsive” meaning your website will adapt and look good no matter the screen size being used to view your site – phone, tablet or monitor.
I've mentioned Alex Vita a heap of times on the show since interviewing him and if you're not already on his email list, you really should be. Last week he released an article on what to do if your website is not mobile friendly to still rank well. Here's the link if you haven't seen it: Foreground Web Newsletter
Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:
Street Photography video at Pretoria, South Africa
Pricing for Profit – the free ebook from Spencer Lum on simplified wedding photography pricing
Foreground Web Newsletter Article – what to do if your website is not mobile friendly
Equipment
Fujifilm X-T1 16 MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR
Thank you!
Thank you again for listening to the show and thanks to Ett for just being himself – It was a real pleasure to have him on the show, I know you’ll love his candid answers as much as I did.
If you learn something the hard way, you understand it better – Ett Venter
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!
That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!
Thanks and speak soon
Andrew
This was a fun episode. I liked the idea of boosting a post once a month. I love Ett’s attitude toward community. Thanks, Ett!
Thanks Amanda! It’s easy to hear when someone is just a plain old good guy like Ett obviously is.
Not sure if you checked out his Iceland pics on Instagram but what destination!
I have followed Ett’s work for at least a year on facebook. His work is stunning, so I was really excited when I found out that Andrew had interviewed him via my email! I think Ett is carving his own path and finding that it is pretty darn successful. Need to take the leap myself and go do what I love!
Thank you for taking the time to put together such a wonderful Podcast Andrew! As always, keep up the good work.
Sharon
Elegante Light Photography
Great to read your comments Sharon – and YES, you definitely need to make that leap when you know where your passions lay. I believe that’s the secret to happy, fulfilling life – doing what you love and having time to do it.
Love to hear how you go after making the jump. I can see a future interview!
BTW – love the title and post you linked to. 🙂
I listened to the interview with Ett on my drive to work. I couldn’t wait to get to my office to look up his facebook page and web site. Ett’s wedding photography brought tears to my eyes and his portrait work is absolutely inspiring.
Like Ett, I also had that one photo that changed everything for me. I haven’t made the kind of leap that Ett has made but with the combination of PhotoBizX and Ett sharing his positive and enthusiastic experiences and observations, I’m feeling so empowered to make some changes.
My deepest gratitude to Andrew and Ett.
Oh wow, you HAVE to elaborate now Brian!
What was the image and the circumstance that changed everything for you?
And so good to read you’re feeling empowered and motivated after the interview with Ett – I hope you’re taking action to make things happen.
Come back and fill us in on that image – or link to it here.
Another cool and candid interview, I relate to having had a technical job in the past and love the creative opportunities of photography and it being a big driver of the reasons why.
And yes, long hair and tats can either give you street cred in some circles and not so in others. Us humans are funny like that.
BTW Andrew, when I carry the D750 at all day events I use light weight primes only, the weight is very reasonable but you have to be a little like Fred Astaire on your feet.
enjoyed it
Cheers guys
Thanks Orlando – glad you enjoyed the interview – difficult not to with a guy like Ett on the other end… long hair, tats and all! 😉
I’ll remember to channel some Fred Astaire at my next shoot, thanks for the tip O.
I love getting a few minutes in to an interview and liking it so much, I have to stop to leave a comment. Not finished it yet, but it’s ace. Ett’s got such a cool attitude. I think I will also post more to my personal page, as I have a lot of potential clients who don’t follow my business page but are on my friend list.
Let’s see what happens. Happy days!
Love that you’re enjoying the interview so much you have to stop and add a comment – thanks Rahim!
Let us know how you go with your change in FB tactics and if it works for you or not.
Love Ett’s work. Could I recommend another SA photographer whose style I absolutely love?
http://jackibruniquel.com
Thanks Randhir and I checked Jacki’s site and have set a reminder to be in touch with her early in the new year. From what I can see, she’ll make a terrific interview guest – thank you!