THE AFRICA BUG
When I was a teenager if you’d asked me what I wanted to do with my life I’d have told you I wanted to work for an NGO in Africa. Live Aid was part of my formative years and the images of those poor children and their families will haunt me forever. All I could think of was that I wanted to help.
I waited 15 years until I finally made it to the continent (Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar) on my honeymoon, booked as a surprise by my husband and little did I know when I was there I’d be bitten by ‘the Africa Bug’.
Back in the early 2000’s I ended up working as a Tour Leader on Overland Trucks in Africa. I was lucky enough to have visited some of the most beautiful countries on that continent; Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and I always said that Malawi was my favourite.
Life took it’s course, I found a vocation that I absolutely adored, built a photography business I was proud of and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fast forward 15 years and I found myself capturing some personal branding images for Kate and Dom, from Orbis Expeditions, at their home in Devon. After a fun morning capturing their true spirit and personality of the business, we spent lunch recounting tales of Africa, how it captures your heart and I eagerly soaked up all their tales of life in Malawi.
They are truly an inspirational couple, who adore the country and it’s people and have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They specialise in Educational, Philanthropic, Experiential and Sustainable travel throughout Malawiand create totally bespoke expeditions for university students, schools, businesses, charities and independent travellers and…they were looking for a travel photographer to bring to life what they did on the ground in Malawi.
Being commissioned for one trip led to being commissioned for three and before I knew it I was embarking on a month in Malawi. The preparation began. It’s no mean feat ‘extracting’ yourself for a month as a wedding photographer, especially not in the ‘wedding season’, but with the help of family and friends who knew how much this trip meant to me and LOTS of 7 day a week, 16 hour working days, I was on the plane with my camera kit in tow!
Want to know what life as a travel photographer in Malawi was like?!
Venetia xx
