Meet Scott Martin

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Scott Martin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Scott below.

Scott, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I grew up in a modest household; our parents would take us camping during our school vacations since it was an inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors. When I became the captain of the water polo team in high school, our manager didn’t believe in us much. Our coach did, and I realized we had potential, but we needed to believe in ourselves more than anyone else. I started talking to the team about believing in ourselves, and that idea caught on, leading us to perform well during the season and beat some big-name teams. I developed a curiosity for photography and the outdoors at a young age, and I knew I wouldn’t be handed much if I wanted to pursue this. So I realized that I would have to believe in my own path — the one I wanted to forge. No one was going to give it to me.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I grew up in South Africa and now live in the United States. I started working as a raft guide on the Orange River in South Africa at a young age. This kept me busy during my school vacations. Later, I took this job full-time; I loved the freedom of movement and the incredible places it was taking me to. I picked up a camera to document these adventures. This was long before social media, and I would buy rolls of film and run them through the camera to show my friends and family back home about the adventures I had been on. Fast forward a decade of exploring rivers around the world, from the source of the Amazon River to Norway and Uganda, I found myself moving to the USA and wanting to put all my energies into photography. I’ve always been driven by adventurous pursuits and documenting them, so I set out to do just that. I started my photography business in 2010. Knowing I would need to improve my skills and expand my network, I began taking any jobs I could to build a portfolio to show brands and travel companies. It wasn’t easy at first; I would take jobs I found boring but knew would help me develop my skills and allow me to afford the equipment I dreamed of. Fast forward to 2025, I now have a list of brands I work with, creating catalog images, social media campaigns, and documenting the adventures of their professional athletes. I get to travel extensively—something I feel privileged and lucky to do. For instance, I spent a month in Botswana on an overland trip earlier this year, documenting a group of old Toyota Land Cruisers as they crossed the country from south to north. We got to see some of the best national parks the country has to offer, all with my camera in hand.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Be clear and realistic with yourself about what you want to pursue, and don’t be afraid to take the necessary steps, even if that means sacrificing something now to achieve it a little later. Learn what you don’t know, and take ownership of your actions, both good and bad.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents offered me the freedom to explore my natural world while working on the Orange River in my teens, and trusted me to look after myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.scottmartinimages.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottmartinimages/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-martin-182b7665/