A Photographer’s Journey: From Nomad to Artpreneur

A Photographer’s Journey

Every journey starts with a photograph

This is a story of my journey as a photographer and artist, a life story inspired by a camera I received when I was 14. Every story has a beginning; all my stories always start with a photograph.

I am an experimental and multifaceted artist who has dabbled in various art forms and mediums. My career has been focused on visual storytelling as a photographer, journalist, educator and designer since I started my first degree at Stellenbosh Univesity. My passion for storytelling saw me graduate with a master’s degree in journalism, a story for another day.

My passion for travel and exploration (and I guess also my curiosity) has taken me to over 60 countries. As a photographer and journalist, I covered various topics such as hard news, travel, culture, art and the environment. I have developed some serious skills on the road, and from years in the field as a photojournalist, I believe I have a unique ability to take viewers on journeys through my work in visual storytelling.

My journey with visual arts began when I received my first camera from my dad at 14. Since then, I have explored various cameras and niches in photography, starting a professional career in 2007 as a photojournalist for daily and weekly newspapers in South Africa.

A photographer’s journey

I grew up in a small town in the Cape Winelands in the Western Cape, South Africa, and I always dreamed of exploring the far corners of the world, places that only lived in my imagination. Photography and visual journalism opened the world, and my career took off when I worked as a freelance multimedia journalist and photographer in South Africa. Since I left South Africa in 2012 to study multimedia journalism in Asia, I have bounced between photography, journalism, writing, education, and design.

Most of my inspiration comes from a decade of living in Asia and exploring the countries in south-east Asia, the far east and central Asia. Eastern philosophy and living in the East profoundly impacted my work as an artist; I am still learning about this and appreciating all the epic challenges I faced. Finally, after 10 long years of adventure, I was forced by the pandemic to sit down, take stock and strategise the next steps of my career. The pause between the notes was good for me.

Over the past 26 years, my journeys took me to some of the most beautiful islands in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Caribbean and Europe. I had epic train adventures in India, Thailand, Cambodia, Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. In addition, I  sailed around North America and to some countries in South America. I had safaris in Africa and adventurous photo expeditions in Iceland and Greece. I have always been a bit of a nomad at heart. I travelled a lot and still do.

This nomadic lifestyle, armed with my camera and rolls of the film initially, fuelled my passion for photography. I am deeply fascinated with the human condition and our relationship with nature. I love exploring cultures and landscapes and photographing all my cultural experiences and all the interesting people that cross my path.

Ultimately, my background in photojournalism and years of experience in the field gave me a solid foundation in photography. I am still proud to say that I am a self-taught photographer. I dream about studying fine art photography. Setting up shop in Berlin has opened many doors; I might just take on studies in photography in the next couple of years.

The middle of the story

My images are not just photographs; they are stories of the people I met and my experience while on my journeys.

After many years of working on my skillset, selling photographs and accepting work requests and some commissions, I took a giant artistic leap by opening a studio shop – Studio Lizane Louw. This online art photography gallery and print shop will offer high-quality prints of my photographs from my photo expeditions. With the launch this spring, the first selection of images will feature nature and landscape photographs I created on photo expeditions in Iceland and Namibia.

Launching an online print shop has allowed me to create a platform to showcase my work and share my passion for photography, design, art, travel, and exploration with a broader audience.

Photography is more than taking pictures, photography for me personally goes hand in hand with storytelling.

In the end, it is stories that tie all our experiences together. Sharing stories and experiences give us the opportunity to make connections. The process of image-making allows us to express our stories creatively.

Studio Lizane Louw is not just an online print shop; it’s a visual reflection of who I am as an artist. It is a homage to all the places and experiences I keep deep in my heart. Sharing the work I have created as prints is a way of expressing myself creatively and professionally. I hope my photos will decorate walls, stir emotions, and inspire others to invest in their passions and dreams. I also hope everyone who sees my work will dust off their hiking boots, grab a camera and explore.

The new print shop is not just about selling prints. It’s also a means for me to continue pursuing my photography career as a professional artist and also to focus my career on creating more art photography.

A photographer’s journey as an artpreneur

I am busy streamlining my business and career by collaborating with a new print partner to handle printing and shipping. This new venture gives me more time to focus on what I love most – travel, exploration, and adventure.

As an independent creative professional, I aim to run a successful online art photography gallery and print shop. I dream Studio Lizane Louw will become a success story inspiring other photographers and travel journalists.

Every day, I take little steps in following my passions and dream. Choosing this path will not be easy, but being persistent, adaptable, and open-minded about the process, will keep me motivated. I have never been someone to quit; this is just another creative challenge.

In addition to the online gallery and print shop, I offer workshops to share my writing, journalism, photography, design and printing knowledge. As a workshop facilitator and experienced writing teacher, I am always happy to share my skills and expertise; I hope to inspire and empower others to pursue their passions and dreams.

I am a driven artist and artpreneur whose passion for photography, design, culture and art has taken me to the world’s far corners. Through my work, I seek to connect with people, share my experiences, and inspire others.