why

I’ve shot over 220 weddings & elopements and hundreds of portrait sessions over the last 12 years. During that time going out and taking photos went from being fun to being work. Not saying I don’t enjoy my job, I truly do, but when you’re only taking photos for others it felt like always giving and never receiving.

I decided to prioritize filling my creativity cup, which is how I find work life balance now. This took form from finding a lodging solution for when I’m traveling for work. I work a lot in Jackson WY, and I’m too cheap to spend $500 on a bed for a few hours of sleep. I took our Tundra (Koe) and put a rooftop tent on it. That was that. I then got a decked system, grille lights, aftermarket taillights…and subs haha.

When it was time for a big write off, I got Koelette (my 4Runner.) Within 2 weeks of picking her up she had a window tint and a windshield crack from one end to the other. During my first year I put on a GFC rooftop tent, installed new taillights and Morimoto headlights, picked up some better tires bronze wheels. Molle panel in the back, ditch lights, some interior lighting and little things here and there. She is beautiful and pretty much stock haha. She is suited for what I do, I’m not pretending to have a sick build and she has a long way to go.

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future

My life is pretty boring. Sometimes I get to travel, usually go to Alaska once a year, this year I get to go to Iceland! I started shooting film a couple years ago and have grown to love it. Not great at it but that’s part of the fun. I bought some cameras to make video content with, hope I can do that this year which is why I kinda wanted a place to put everything. Film work, print worthy images, videos, writings, car stuff. Something I can look back on and see how much I do, cause in the moment I don’t realize how much I see and do.

I love to hunt, ride horses, drink coffee, sip whiskey, listen to sad songs, sit around a campfire,

As stupid as it sounds, my 4runner setup has had a huge impact on my mental health. Being able to make something your own for your own needs and doing it yourself is fun. Getting to work from anywhere with portable power stations, means to cook, capabilities to drive up shit roads for fun, and stop and sleep wherever makes me happy. I have many things I’d like to change on Koelette, should be a good year.

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