Made in SA • Local South African Talent • Creators to Follow
SA Creator Spotlight: Meet Irvin van Rooy
Irvin van Rooy is a South African content creator, photographer, and filmmaker based in Worcester. His trajectory into independent media production bypasses conventional creative routes, combining a background in formal education with a rigorous personal discipline rooted in fitness and running. Operating primarily within the tech and creative lifestyle spaces, he produces tailored commercial and digital content that balances precise technical structure with local storytelling.
For five consecutive years, Irvin managed dual responsibilities: working as a full-time school teacher by day while methodically scaling his creative production business during early mornings, late nights, and weekends. Since making the strategic decision to resign from formal education, he has applied instructional leadership skills, patience, and clear project communication directly to his independent filmmaking and brand collaborations.
"I took a chance on a dream that started as a side hustle, and every project is an opportunity to inspire, connect, and leave something meaningful behind."
Said by Irvin van Rooy
© Irvin van Rooy
Irvin van Rooy
Photographer, Videographer, and Content Creator from Worcester, South Africa.
"I’m Irvin van Rooy, a content creator, filmmaker, husband, and father based in South Africa. My journey into the creative industry has been anything but traditional. For five years, I worked as a teacher while building my creative career on the side. What started as a passion gradually became something much bigger, and eventually I made the life-changing decision to resign from teaching and pursue my creative career full-time. Today, I’m grateful to be building a life around creativity, storytelling, and inspiring others to pursue their own goals with determination and purpose."
© Irvin van Rooy
Our Interview with Irvin van Rooy
How did you fall into this? Accident, obsession, or something in between?
Was a hobby that turned into a passion.
© Irvin van Rooy
What are you shooting with right now?
Sony A7V, A7iii and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
What subject could you shoot forever and never get bored of?
My Beautiful Family.
Finish this sentence: "I create because..."
I create because I took a chance on a dream that started as a side hustle, and every project is an opportunity to inspire, connect, and leave something meaningful behind.
"You really need a good portfolio to be taken serious, and it took me 5 years to really get noticed."
Said by Irvin van Rooy
What's the hardest thing about being a creator in SA specifically?
You really need a good portfolio to be taken serious, and it took me 5 years to really get noticed.
© Irvin van Rooy
Name your favourite spot in SA to shoot and make us want to go there.
Eden Forrest.
How do you land clients or collabs: hustle, algorithm, word of mouth, manifesting?
Word of mouth, but want to actually start marketing myself again.
Paint us a picture of your ideal shoot day, start to finish.
Clients that are on time - haha.
A look at Irvin van Rooy's practical production workflow and storytelling method as a full-time creator working out of Worcester.
© Irvin van Rooy
Take us from "okay I have an idea" to the final image or video. What's your process?
Get an idea and a Milanote board ready with ideas, final a talent and ask as much questions as I can to find a story to tell, work hand in hand with talent to make the story come alive. Get script, mood board and gear ready. Plan over and over.
© Irvin van Rooy
What do you know now that you desperately needed to hear at the start?
Invest in good audio and lighting.
What's the most ridiculous thing you've done to get the shot?
Fly my drone in a no drone zone - haha.
If you weren't a creator, what would you be doing?
Eish, like my Uncle once told my wife when we were still dating, "Irvin is kuns skool was nogaltyd en sal altyd wees.
Be honest: how many unedited photos are sitting on your hard drive right now?
8 unedited projects, 1 unedited wedding, 9 collab shoots including a CameraStuff one - haha.
© Irvin van Rooy
What would you tell a 17-year-old in SA who just discovered they love making things?
Don't stop, make stuff for free, make things for friends, reach out by cold emails to people and places you want to work with and make magic for them. Never stop trying.
"Since I tried to make content more in my voice and telling our south african peoples stories, I have been enjoying it way way more."
Said by Irvin van Rooy
How do you handle creative burnout when it hits?
I take a step back, running also helps.
You're building a dream shoot from scratch, unlimited budget, anywhere in SA. What does it look like?
I have not even thought about this before, I would love to create short films and tell peoples stories in my way. 12 short films in 12 months.
What does your camera bag actually look like right now, be honest.
empty, haha busy shooting content in my work office/ studio space.
© Irvin van Rooy
The shoot is done, the client loved it. How do you celebrate?
Smile.
Last words, the floor is yours. Anything you want the SA creative community to know?
I always tried to make my stuff look like creatives from overseas. Try and sound like them. But right here in SA we have some of the most creative people out in the world. And since I tried to make content more in my voice and telling our south african peoples stories, I have been enjoying it way way more.
Irvin van Rooy provides a clear example of scaling a side hustle into a sustainable, full-time production career. By centering his workflow around native storytelling and local South African voices, his Worcester-based brand showcases the potential of regional creators. For creators pursuing structured development within the local landscape, his portfolio offers direct insights into tech and lifestyle formatting.
Follow Irvin van Rooy across his digital platforms on Instagram @irvinvanrooy_, on TikTok @irvinvanrooy, and subscribe to his tutorials and content on YouTube.
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