This craft has taken me to over 65 countries, and given me an opportunity to connect with hundreds of people and brands. I’m forever grateful.
A little about me
Photography is how I slow down, pay attention, and stay connected to the world.
At the age of 21, I took a risk and moved to Kenya as a photojournalist to pursue a career as a photographer. Years down the road, I’ve traveled to 65+ countries and have been fortunate enough to make this practice my career.
I’m Jake — Nashville-based, constantly on the road. For me, being behind a camera is the opportunity to bear witness to the world in front of me. Whether it’s an indigenous tribe in Ecuador, a Lululemon yoga experience, or a marketing campaign for a hotel, it’s all about taking the story that’s in front of me and telling it in the most honest and captivating way possible.
Pillar 01
Every day, I wake up and remind myself by writing in my journal. Life is a gift. A gift to be grateful for.
With that in mind, how could you not explore? The wonder of life awaits. Why not go out and explore it?
When I first started traveling, I got asked by many friends and family “You’re really going to Kenya? Are you sure you’ll be safe?” only to show up in these places and realize that the world is a good place, full of good people. Nothing has changed my life more than the travels and adventures I’ve gotten to have.
We only get one chance at this life. Might as well make an adventure out of it.
What’s in the bag
A quick look at the cameras and tools I carry across every shoot, every country, every kind of light.
Pillar 02
Photography is my way of remaining present in a moment. I practice this craft with intention, to observe a moment as it is. To be aware of what is happening in front of me.
So much of life is spent worrying about the past and future, but photography is a way, for me, to stay grounded in the here and now. To slow down, take a breath. To remain in wonder. To witness the beauty that it is so easy to miss.
If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.
Pillar 03
I realized the power in photography early on. It removes the veil from our eyes. It can show us that the essence of a place, of a people, may be different than the assumptions we built up in our hearts and minds.
Some have told me that they traveled to a place because they saw my experience, or they saw an image I took. That is my greatest gift.
Photography is my witness to the beauty of the world. My reminder that we are all connected and way more similar than we realize.
What this means for you
I stay longer, I go deeper, and I come back with frames that could only have come from someone who was actually there. That’s what I try to bring to every brand campaign, every hotel shoot, every tourism board I work with.
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Follow my journey
Brand campaigns, tourism boards, hotels, and luxury travel brands.
