By What is your year and major?
I am a sophomore studying business and marketing management
How and when did you get into photography?
I’ve been into photography for most of my life, whether it was using my parent’s old camera or their phone as a kid. I started taking it seriously last summer when people told me that my shots were really good and that I should start an Instagram.
What subjects do you photograph?
I do mostly wilderness landscapes, but recently, I have been trying to expand my horizons and get city or building landscapes.
What has improved most since you’ve started?
Definitely my camera quality – I have never owned a professional camera. Most of my pictures are taken with my phone. I started with an iPhone 12 at the beginning of last summer, and that took really good pictures as is, but I wanted something that could capture a variety of photos, so I did some research. For what I photograph, it made much more sense to get the iPhone 14 Pro because it had most of the same specs as a DSLR camera. So, I upgraded, and it’s night and day the difference. It also is one less thing to worry about when I go out because I just have to bring my tripod and phone. Another thing that has improved is my knowledge of how the camera works and the importance of picture prep (exposure, saturation, warmth, etc.). I still have a lot to improve on, but that’s the best thing about photography because there’s always something new to learn and improve.
Where do you get your inspiration?
When I first started getting into photography, I would see Instagram pictures of landscapes and sunsets, and it made me want to get outside more and capture amazing shots like the ones I saw. Then it just turned into a love of getting out and not only getting pictures but having great experiences that I took for granted before. My biggest inspiration as of now would be Alex Olmes because we go out and work together to try and get great shots, and we both love photography. He pushes me to expand my horizons and try different things.
What plans or goals do you have with your photography?
As of now, photography is something I do to have an excuse to get out and have experiences. I’m starting to print and sell mattes, so I hope to start a small business selling my pictures. That will be more of a summer gig because I’m so busy with school and work. Another goal would be to get the opportunity to have some of my prints hung in public. I want to get some canvas prints in the upper cube or on the ski hills I work/ski at. I try my best to keep my photography as a fun hobby rather than a required job, so I don’t have super high expectations for where this goes. I just want people to enjoy the outdoors and these different places as much as I do.
