Testimonial
Despina Karatzias 0:00
There we go. Hello. Hello, and welcome. And welcome to you, Paul. Such a pleasure to work with you. And thank you for taking the time to have a little chat together. Today. Tell me a little bit about you and your beautiful business, Wildfoto.
Paul Thomsen 0:17
Yeah, thanks, Despina. Good to see you, too. Yeah, so I’m a wildlife photographer up in Darwin. In the top end, I’ve been doing it for a couple of years. So you’re mainly doing your traditional sort of photography and calendars and prints, and workshops and that sort of thing. But yeah, in my training of other people, I’m often taking people out to locations, taking photos. And so the obvious sort of expansion, I guess, was to do tourism, actually do photographic tours and that sort of stuff. So it’s all fairly new. But I’ve got a commercial boat now about the license, and the fall. All approved. So I can actually take clients out now, taking photos and actually the experiences as well, as well as just the training. So exciting times. It’s all new. But yeah, it’s looking good.
Despina Karatzias 1:07
Such exciting times your work is exceptional. And I love this organic you, you were through your sharing and teaching photography, you naturally came into this delivering these extraordinary experiences. Tell me, Paul, what motivated you and inspired you to join the Digital Blitz Program through Northern Tourism intake?
Paul Thomsen 1:32
Yeah, good question. I guess probably for a while there, I was guilty of thinking I have had could it be but it’s, it’s a whole new ball game isn’t the whole new industry and all that. Although I’ve got a bit of technology experience in it, and all that sort of stuff. Just you know, all the networking in the, you know, the strategies you need to be successful at tourism. Yeah, when I saw it, I thought, yeah, it just makes so much sense. And yeah, having just that, yeah, you know, all those resources, such as yourself, you actually have experience in the tourism industry and all that sort of stuff. I might know how to take photos, but yeah, well, the tourism stuff is very new, and just being aware of, you know, the networking and the systems available. That’s been really useful. Yeah.
Despina Karatzias 2:20
And that’s been such a joy for me to work on not only the technology solution but helping you navigate the developing these extraordinary experiences that you have curated for your visitors. Now, with your choice. Speaking of digital, I guess, solution, you had a great e-commerce website for all of your photography. And it was this natural, natural pathway to then like, how can we, you know, how can we sell your tours? Tell me about your experience now, in creating online assets that are bookable and can convert with what you’re being able to produce. Tell me about your journey now. And from where you started, to where we’ve ended up.
Paul Thomsen 3:13
Yeah, that’s right, I’ve had a website for quite a while to sell my prints and, you know, or the photography side of stuff, but it’s been really useful to be able to actually put into there now, you know, these experiences that I saw as well now, you know, the tourism stuff. And originally, I just had a couple of simple paragraphs, and it was a bit rough. But um, but to have that actually, to have people like you review the actual content, but actually have a way to have clients actually book when, when they, when they are looking at my website. And, you know, as you told me, a lot of clients, you know, they really want to be able to book and organise their trip and plan a trip while they’re there. You know, they don’t want to just always, you know, negotiate an itinerary via email or whatever, but they want to be able to book an experience package. So that’s been really good. But also all the technicalities of getting onto a booking system and linking that with tourism, top end and tourism, maintain all that sort of stuff. So yeah, just a simple click here and book your spot sort of stuff. It’s been really useful. Yeah.
Despina Karatzias 4:23
Well, you’ve been a delight to work with star students for me, Mr. Paul. I’m inspired to visit you I’m inspired by your work. I love that all of your teaching experience and your photography work out in nature is going to inspire many to visit so you’ve become your be you know, I know you already are, but I just I wish you every success as you continue this journey as a real Placemaker and you know, and delivering great experiences. So thank you for joining. Thank you for choosing me as your Coach, and all the very best and yeah, watch this space. I’ll be visiting you soon.
Paul Thomsen 5:05
No, and I really appreciate it. It’s been you’ve been awesome. been great working with you and just, you know, just being able to tap into your knowledge and guidance has been awesome. So you really appreciate it and it’s been great. Really big help.
Despina Karatzias 5:20
The pleasure is all mine. Thank you, Paul. I will. And for more information on Paul and his wonderful tours and his incredible work. Check out wildfoto.com.au .
Paul Thomsen 5:36
That’s it. Thanks.
Despina Karatzias 5:38
Thank you.
Paul Thomsen 5:39
No worries.
