Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Venjohn.
Hi Lydia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My name is Lydia; I am a Minnesota native who loves DIY projects and spending time outdoors. Growing up, I enjoyed all aspects of art, including drawing, painting, crafting and photography. This led me to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. I learned to harness the power of Adobe programs to make my art come to life digitally. A few years after graduating, I started a business called Venlo Studio. We help businesses with brand photography in the Minneapolis area. One of my favorite things is meeting people over a cup of good coffee, which I now get to do a lot as a business owner!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe in perfectly smooth roads. I’ve learned that every business journey is like a rollercoaster ride—full of ups, downs, and unexpected turns. The first struggle I came upon was starting! I knew I eventually wanted to start my own business, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit; as a little girl, I would sell handmade goods at art fairs and teach classes at the local library, but I couldn’t figure out how to apply that passion to my career. After college, I ended up at a regular graphic design job to gain experience. There, I learned how valuable I can be for a business when I combine my photography and graphic design skills! Being an entrepreneur is like diving into a big pool of learning and growth. It’s a wild ride, from figuring out how to balance work and life to making mistakes and learning from them. My best advice? Find someone who’s been there and done that—having a mentor can make a huge difference. Looking back, I’ve come to appreciate that entrepreneurship isn’t just about reaching a destination—it’s about embracing the whole journey. Sure, it’s sometimes tough, but those challenges push us to grow and become better entrepreneurs.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Venlo Studio?
Venlo Studio was created out of my passion for helping small businesses succeed. As a photographer with a graphic design degree, I quickly realized through helping businesses with branding that many needed higher-quality photos of their products/services, photos of their location, and thoughtful images of behind-the-scenes moments. I love to capture the essence of a brand through my camera lens and use those photographs to tell the brand’s story authentically and meaningfully. My love for photography blossomed during a study abroad photography course in Rome, Italy. I was obsessed with capturing the small, everyday moments that could have been easily overlooked. I loved capturing raw emotion as I watched people do what they loved–living out their passion. A baker kneading dough in his bakery, a barista pulling a shot at the bar, a musician playing guitar in the streets, a local artist painting at a market. I took in Europe through my viewfinder and came back to Minnesota with a whole new appreciation for photography. Our services include brand photography for solopreneurs, teams, products, business events, and graphic design services. We serve businesses exclusively! Our decision to narrow has served us well, as we know how to build a visual gallery of on-brand images for any business.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My mother was a family photographer when I was growing up. When she upgraded her camera, she gave me her old one. This was a floodgate of opportunity that opened for my 12-year-old self! I loved that camera and took it everywhere I went. I remember staging portraits and filming embarrassing music videos in my backyard with friends. Our imaginations went wild, and we had a lot of fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.venlostudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venlostudio/
Image Credits
Venlo Studio
