Taking part in the Lions Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) at the start of the 2020 school year has opened up huge opportunities for an Aparima High School Student during the COVID-19 restrictions.

For his project, 17-year-old Dom Riddell started his own business ‘Whenua Photography,’ while taking part in the YES Business Studies at NCEA Level 3 and achieving NCEA credits at the same time. So far, he has created sales of $510 with his on-line shop offering canvas prints and Zoom Backgrounds.

“I’ve been taking photos for over two years now and the opportunity to turn it into a business has been life changing and opened up so many different avenues for me to explore, and could determine my future.”

“My goal isn’t just to be self employed, but promote Tiaki (to care and protect our natural landscapes) and mental wellbeing. I enjoy the outdoors, mountains and rivers, the entire process of photography is reflected in my imagery.”

Facing the challenge of selling his printed works during the COVID-19 lockdown, Dom has customised his New Zealand landscape photography into backgrounds for Zoom video meetings, which he can personalised with company logos. He will install his art work for his clients as well.

Dom’s inspiration for his original business concept came while he was on a Zoom school meeting call and didn’t want his family’s lounge to be included in the background, so he put up one of his own photos. This led him to thinking there may be other people who didn’t want their private areas on public display.

“During COVID-19 lockdown there have been thousands of Zoom chats, hangouts, group videos and conference calls being made from bedrooms, living rooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and couches across the country – who wants to see laundry in the background or your boss’s underwear?” Dom said.

“I’m currently working with 13 businesses, 11 in Southland and two in Christchurch and have been setting up my Storbie Store with my new product range, which will include canvas prints, customised splashbacks and calendars.”

Whenua Photography has already been the recipient of two awards, which include the University of Waikato Equity Seed Funding worth $500 and Southland Chamber of Commerce Seed Funding award of $250.

“It has been a lot of hard work and a long road to get my business up and running as it’s a relatively original idea – I’m not sure that anybody else is doing it.”

In the future Dom would like to increase his products to include a clothing line, with T-shirts made and printed in Southland, and hopefully create a popular brand out of them.

“I’m very passionate about New Zealand and I want to give back 10% of my profits made from my business venture to Outward Bound, in the Marlborough Sounds, at the end of this year,” Dom said.

“There are approximately 4000 students across the country running their own businesses. My goal for 2020 is to become an award-winning company in the Southland region, and I would like to win a national award in the country finals held in Wellington at the end of the year.”

Dom Riddell’s photography and Zoom backgrounds can be viewed on his website.