Age: 25  

Where on the planet are you currently located: Joburg, Sunny South Africa.

So what exactly is your job and how did you go about achieve that career path:

I’m a professional photographer but not really the corporate kind that most would find in this town, I deal mostly in the beauty of this city and all it has to offer…I studied at the National College of Photography doing a 2 year diploma not because I had a mad passion for photography at the time but more because I knew I had this creative side to me. I wasn’t the best painter or drawer in my art class at school so I had to express it somehow and I thought this would be a great medium to do that in. It was a technical thing yet if I saw the beauty in something I could capture it, if I learned to use this tool in my hand and the light outside and all around me I could produce results that were a lot better than my painting abilities. I then started to shoot what I enjoyed seeing all around me, at first I was inspired to shoot commercial images for big corporate types but that slowly changed with my dislike of what people were like in their fancy suites and with their power ego’s, so I decided I would shoot what couldn’t talk back to me, the city all around me.

What’s a typical working day for you:

Well not the most stressful of days to be honest, usually up at 8, into the editing room at home if I’ve done a shoot or really just planning the next one, usually checking weather patterns for the week, running around town in peak hour traffic scouting new locations or researching on the web. If it’s a bad day, doing a event shoot on a Friday night. (FirstStep.me says: Loving it!)

All jobs have challenges, what would you say are some of yours:

Definitely people in the industry, I’m not a big people person at all so doing shoots for companies with directors telling me what to do doesn’t sit so well but when I’m out in the city shooting I forget all about that. Also I would have to say the advances in camera technology, its hard to keep up sometimes.

Current age: 28

Where are you currently situated on the planet: Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape

Last time we spoke with you, you were taking off with a web development company called RedFerret…fill us in on what has happened since: I was badly bitten by the traveling bug, spending a month or more each year backpacking new places. It came to a head in 2009 whenI took two months and backpacked from Cape Town to Cairo. It completely changed my perspective on the world and kicked off a new life studying Journalism at Rhodes University. I'm not sure why yet, but the change has been invigorating.(FirstStep.me says: Insane yet uber cool!)

Your career has progressed, would you say that is went according to plan or you just went with the flow…was there any surprises on the way: I think I had a plan originally. But it looked nothing like what I am doing now, and I am happier for having changed my plans as life did. I certainly never expected travel to become such a feature of my life, but it has changed a great deal of who I am for the better.

Since we last spoke to you has there been any major or career highlights which has happened:Traveling Cape to Cairo on public transport was absolutely a highlight. Nothing else really comes close to the thrill of completing that journey. It has created a high bar to try to live up to now, though.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time and what will you being doing during time to get there:I would still like to stay involved in web and new media work to a degree. I am good at it, and enjoy the creative elements behind it. That said, I would like to combine it with an increased focus on my photography – in particular looking at becoming a more accomplished photojournalist/documentary maker.

FirstStep.co.za's Youth business interview of 2007! 

Age: 26

Current Occupation: Producer/Director/Script writer/Photographer

So what exactly is it that you do: I produce Television programmes, Corporate Videos/events, Commercials, Music Videos and I also do Photography (Publicity Photography, Corporate Event Photography, Deco Photography).

Why in the world would you choose a career in Television and Film Production? I’ve always loved watching television from a young age. It has been my addiction from then and it still is. Before I even knew that television was a career I could pursue, I was always curious about the workings and creations of what i was watching. So I have always looked at television shows with a different eye compared to people who watch television just for entertainment. Another factor is that I’ve always loved drawing but I got tired of drawing. I wanted another art form of expression and television and photography proved the better choice. (FirstStep says: Nice One!)

Spirit of Adventure!

The young entrepreneurs of South Africa are the key to youth development and the creation of a realistic trend whereby young South Africans make it on their own strength. FirstStep show cases a number of young entrepreneurs who are becoming pioneers for today’s ambitious youth.

We venture to the east coast of South Africa where 23 year old KwaZulu-Natal based businessman Rudi Clark owns and runs the Spirit of Adventure Camp for youth leadership. We find out more about Rudi and his progress from Camp instructor to now owner of the camp.

Whilst in his matric year of high school Rudi researched the idea of becoming an instructor at Spirit of Adventure. Having attended the camp throughout his school career Rudi knew he would become the success that he is today by getting involved in Spirit of Adventure.

Last time we spoke with Richard he had started a really cool business called RedFerret. We caught up with the Durban born lad to find out what has happened in the last six months!

First things first, what do you think of the all new FirstStep?
It is very cool – I love the new colours. The site seems to go from strength to strength!

What new developments have happened since we last spoke?
My company has started a new student accommodation portal at firstdigs.co.za in collaboration with FirstStep – it is something that I am very excited about, and which I believe has massive potential for entertaining and informing students across SA. (FirstStep note: Its our First joint venture!!)

Any crazy obstacles that took some major overcoming?
Hmmm. Learning to cope with an increased workload as the popularity of Red  Ferret has grown has been a major learning curve. I have had to figure out new ways to get the last drops of efficiency out of each day, and yet still find enough time for myself to keep sane.

Is your job description still the same and what new responsibilities have come your way?
I suppose my job description, on the surface, is the same as it was before, but that was never really accurate in the first place – so I wouldn't use it as much of a measure of what I do. If there were a job title like 'Executive Everything', I would say that I had been promoted to that! (FirstStep Note: Hence the Title...)

We met Tasmin sometime back when she had started her own Magazine, we caught up with her to see how things have developed since we last spoke...

First things first, what do you think of the all new FirstStep?
You guys are growing from strength to strength and the site looks great! It’s so suited to the target and it really makes life pretty simple for all the curious minds out there.

Is your job description still the same and what new responsibilities have come your way?
Everything is pretty much the same. There aren’t any new responsibilities, just the day to day experiences and running.

2007 is just around the corner what are your projections for yourself and Cheeky Magazine for next year?
We are hoping for Cheeky to establish itself as the youth market leaders in the mag industry. We have a massive circulation coming into play which will in turn create a huge awareness and a much desired Cheeky influence amongst the teen market. Where will I be? Right behind Cheeky, pushing strongly all the way! (FirstStep says: Good Stuff!!)