The Team

Meet the Individuals Behind the Academy

Oliver Hagan

Director

Launching an innovative, non-conventional photography school has been one of Oliver's longest standing dreams that finally came to be in 2008. Oliver first developed a keen interest in photography after taking several photography courses during his final year at the University of Oregon in the U.S. He is most inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson's "decisive moment" philosophy in addition to the portraiture work of Julianne Newton. Oliver’s path to Cape Town originated when he decided to spend his junior year studying abroad at the University of Cape Town. From his first few days in the country, Oliver fell in love with his surroundings. It is for this very reason that he feels so strongly about creating travel experiences that combine adventure and education. Oliver has a working knowledge of several South African languages, including Xhosa and Afrikaans. Oliver is also the director of the Volunteer Adventure Corps, a Cape Town internship program.

Sean Billings

Instructor

Sean has been in the photographic industry for 8 years. He studied Professional Photography in Cape Town in 2000 before a stint as a freelance photographer, shooting functions and fine art. He also spent 2 years as a professional photographer with P&O and Princess Cruises, shooting portraits and travel photographs around the world. Sean's photographic tuition continued with a 3-year spell as a Photographic Consultant at the premier photographic specialist store in South Africa, ORMS Pro Photo Warehouse. Sean teaches all beginning photography courses at the Africa Photo Academy.

Jakob Karte

Instructor

Jabob Karte was born in Munich, Germany where he lived for the first 20 years of his life. He developed a love of photography more than five years ago, when he embarked upon a year-long journey through Central and South America. Naturally, he started his career with an emphasis in travel photography, capturing the colorful and diverse life of Latin America. After returning to Europe, he decided to become a commercial photographer and studied Fine Art Photography in Barcelona, Spain. He now specialises in creative portrait and fashion photography and splits his time between Barcelona and Cape Town. His award-winning work has been exhibited from Munich to San Salvador and his photos have appeared in publications such as W25 Mag, Headwrap and TAC. Jakob teaches all levels of courses at the Africa Photo Academy.

Gavin Goodman

Instructor

Bio coming soon!

Vanessa Randon

Course Facilitator

Vanessa joined the APA team in February 2010. Vanessa has been qualified as a PADI dive instructor for over three years and came directly to Cape Town from Mozambique where she was working as an instructor for a year. Although her family lives in Plettenberg Bay, she likes to call Cape Town home, as she spent four years studying an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology and a Post Grad in Physical Oceanography at the University of Cape Town. Vanessa is happiest outdoors, in the sea, or surfing, and has a three-year-old puppy called Bubbles!