MY GRASSROOTS

Paula Rutherford - GETPIX Photography

I was born in England, but life truly began at 10, when my parents emigrated with my two sisters and I, aboard the Pendennis Castle Line to South Africa.

Fast forward ten years, I graduated as a mechanical draughtswoman, designing underground mining equipment—not your everyday job! I then spent the next decade teaching CAD (Computer Aided Design).

Then came the plot twist: the world became my oyster. My husband, Gavin, and I spent nine exhilarating years living, travelling, and fully experiencing countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Mozambique. During this time, my love for photography was born. From film to digital, I captured people, landscapes, and life’s nuances, selling images, writing articles, and photographing for local magazines. I also became an English radio announcer and taught expatriate children from Korea, Japan, and Germany.

Returning to Benoni, South Africa, I founded Getpix Creative College, growing it to 14 staff and teaching over 2,300 students in photography, graphic design, make-up artistry, and sound engineering.

When Covid arrived, GETPIX pivoted, focusing solely on photography courses, photographic tours, and professional photoshoots—locally and internationally. Today, we offer:

• 9-month career-focused photography courses
• Short photography, video and editing courses for all levels
• Corporate and lifestyle photoshoots
• Photography tours across South Africa and beyond

Now it’s my time—and I invite you to join me on this photography journey, where learning, adventure, and creating timeless images come together.