Show Notes
First Exposure to the Outdoors
I think as a kid we would bike ride and skateboard or try and find empty swimming pools around to skateboard in. So that was at an early age. Early on I played a lot of baseball that was my primary sport of choice as a youngster and played that all the way through high school. Growing up in southern California, it’s hard not to, you know, have a skateboard or a surfboard or even back then a BMX bike.
Things we talked about
Chaffey College
Brooks
Jim Hogan
Herbie Fletcher
Steamers Lane
Bonzai Pipeline
Schooner Yacht America / Next Level Sailing
Advice, tips
Yes. I would say anybody that’s going to have a long career, like if they’re doing it for a career, right? I would say first and foremost if you know what you want to do, if you are a photographer and that is hugely your passion, then go for it.
I had some very, very sound advice when I was going pro . . . educate yourself and not just to be a photographer. But educate yourself in the business because if you’re going to follow the footsteps of being a photographer, you can’t forget that you’re a business and you really are no different than a plumber or a contractor or any other small business. In the lectures that I’ve given at universities or workshops that I taught at the end of the day, I give this advice. I still tell everybody, you’re a business and you have to run your business accordingly. It’s probably 20 percent taking pictures and 80 percent we’re running a business.
Now, if you don’t know what you want to do, for those people out there that say they don’t really know what they want to do yet, but they’re definitely outdoor enthusiasts. Go see if you can get a job at one of the local outdoor adventure outfitters, like an REI or one of those places. Go to the ski resorts in the winter and get a job as a lift operator. Something along that line if you live near the beach or something, go get a job at a surf shop.
Other Outdoor Activities
Mtn Biking
Snowboarding
Hiking
Surfing
Favorite Books
Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim
Best Gear Purchase under $100
Connect with Shawn
