F.A.Q.

 

WHAT GEAR AND/OR CAMERA EQUIPMENT DO YOU TYPICALLY USE?

I use the Sony mirrorless systems currently. I have experience with both Canon and Nikon cameras and I landed with Sony for its exceptional image quality packed into a fast and lightweight setup. 

Gear List:

  • Camera Body: Sony A7RIV & A7SIII

  • Lenses: Sony GM 16-35mm, Sony GM 70-200mm, Sony FE 50mm & Sigma 24-70 Art

  • Camera Bag: Peak Design 40L Travel Pack

  • Tripod: Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Tripod

  • Off Camera Light: Godox: AD400Pro

  • Gimbal: DJI Ronin S

  • Drone: DJI Mavic Air 2

HOW DID I GET STARTED AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?

I got started in photography in my early twenties. Long story short, I grew up playing sports and once that flame flickered out I found myself in an identity crisis. As fate would have it, my dog and adventure partner came into my life and is still with me to this day. With her companionship I started to explore the outdoors for the first time. Shortly after, I was given my first camera by a longtime friend who coincidentally has the same name as my dog, Sam! Not long after, I followed my newfound itch to the Colorado Rockies where I lived for five years and developed my passion for exploring and photographing the outdoors. There, I took three college courses on photography and landed some of my first jobs. Good times!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE YOU’VE TRAVELED TO? 

This is a tough one. There are a number of places that have stood out to me. For the sake of answering the question, I’ll say that Glacier National Park will always be a standout area in my mind. When I was twenty four years old I drove with a friend from Phoenix, AZ to Kalispell, MT where I dropped him off for a week long backpacking trip. I spent the next seven days camping in the local Walmart parking lot and driving myself into the National Park each day to explore and take photos. The landscape was some of the most prominent I’d ever seen and the wildlife was like that out of the TV. This was the first time I had felt proud of a body of images I had come home with from one singular location and I have been looking for an excuse to make it back there ever since. 

ANY ADVICE FOR AN EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER?

Always keep the mindset that you’re emerging. The biggest thing I’ve learned in the pursuit of this unconventional career is that there is no pinnacle. Art has no end. I create photographs because something inside compels me to capture and share the beauty that I see in the world. Each image has its own unique qualities, and each client has their pros and cons. The important thing for me is to genuinely find joy in the process of getting the photo. There are a lot of photographers out there these days, so it is important to stand out by having an exceptional attitude when working with clients and provide images that show your unique style. There is no better feeling than for someone to recognize your work instantly when they see the image. 

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR CAMERA EQUIPMENT ON LONG-DISTANCE BACKPACKING TRIPS?

It only took one trip without my camera equipment for me to realize how important it was to me to have my gear with me, always. Since then it has been an ongoing development of acquiring lighter gear and accepting my fate as a photog-sherpa. What I’ve found works best for me is to attach a top-loader camera bag (insert link if possible) to the shoulder straps on my backpack that I keep my camera body and go-to lens in. Top-loader usually have an additional front pocket for miscellaneous items such as extra batteries, filters, and headphones. This chest-bag I’ve found is the best blend of convenience and protection when out in the backcountry. Then, I’ll usually pack away my additional lenses in a protective case that are easy to access at the top of my backpack. My tripod lives on the side of my backpack. I try to choose backpacks that have oversized water bottle pockets so that my tripod can easily be secured in them. The biggest hurdle I’ve seen over and over again for photographers in the backcountry is accepting the weight as a necessity, and not stressing over, what I consider, essential gear. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it! ...but if you don’t have it, relax, and improvise. 

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL WITH PHOTOGRAPHY?

My goal with photography is to spend my lifetime perfecting a craft, to tell/leave behind meaningful stories and to always completely lose my  mind when a sunset just keeps getting better and better! 

HOW SHOULD I GET MY NAME OUT THERE AS A CREATIVE?

Good question! This is a topic that I’m yet to be proficient at. For me, the only thing that has consistently worked is to focus on my photography