What Camera do you use?
This is probably the most asked question I get on social media, other than “where is this?” While having a nice camera certainly helps, you don’t need the latest and greatest camera to get started in photography. Honestly, just start with your iPhone and build from there. That being said, I currently use a Canon 5D Mark IV. You can find my full gear list on the Gear section of my website.
What do you use to edit your photos?
I use Adobe Lightroom Classic for 99% of my editing. I will occasionally use Photoshop as well, but usually just to touch up things. I edit my videos either in Premiere Pro or Adobe Rush.
How did you get started in photography?
I had a basic point and shoot camera through high school and into college, but then it broke one summer and I found myself looking for a new camera. I ended up deciding to get the most basic DSLR you could get at the time, a Canon Rebel XS. I played around with all the settings that summer, fell in love with it, and changed my major to photography when I returned to school in the fall. I ended up graduating with a degree in photography and moved to Seattle immediately after graduation. I began assisting at commercial studios in the area, thinking I wanted to make studio product photography my career. I also shot a number of weddings each year, as well as any photography related jobs I could find on Craigslist and other similar places. I was hustling to make it. While all this was happening, I began exploring my new home in Washington and started sharing the images I was taking while hiking and backpacking. This led to my social media presence growing, which led to getting photography jobs in outdoors and travel. I eventually had enough work in this new field that I stopped doing all the other photography stuff and just focused on what I do now.
How do you afford to travel so much?
Many of the trips I go on now are paid for by the companies I'm working with. But I was still traveling quite a bit before any trips were paid for. Traveling doesn't have to be expensive if you're careful. The first thing you have to do is live a lifestyle that allows you the time and money to travel. Live cheaply, and save for the next adventure.
Here are a few resources I use to travel on a budget:
Where is your favorite place?
Home. I really love where I live in Washington State. It has so much beauty nearby and so many great people. I foresee myself staying in the area for awhile.
But in terms of travel destinations, it’s really a toss up between Patagonia, New Zealand, and Bali. Iceland and Italy are up there as well.