Check Out Eric Schuette’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Schuette.

Hi Eric, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My photography journey started when I was a kid, possibly with a teenage mutant ninja turtles’ camera, but either way, it was at a young age growing up in Missouri. My dad is a really talented amateur photographer, and we would take pictures on family trips we went on. Eventually, he got me a basic film camera (pre-digital age) and although I really enjoyed learning about it, never took it too seriously. I tried to take photography in college but didn’t pass the class and became less serious with it…

After moving to Colorado and with digital cameras becoming more popular, my interest in photography grew much stronger. Over several years, I taught myself new skills that allowed me to progress from taking snapshots to more professional-looking photos (although when I look back now, I do cringe a bit at what I thought was good). With the help of social media (Instagram was becoming much more popular at the time) I started to have more ideas about how I could channel this passion into something more.

I was working full-time as a school psychologist, which allowed for some free time during breaks to take photos and get in some travel. With the help of social media, photos from those travels became more popular and allowed me some professional opportunities. Ultimately, I worked as a school psychologist for 10 years, which I loved but I had developed a new passion and wanted to pursue it. So, 5 years ago, I jumped from the safety of the schools into the unknown freelancing world. It’s been an amazing journey and I’ve been able to do things I never thought possible across 5 continents with awesome people in beautiful places.

Had you told me 5 years ago, I would be the subject of an Emmy award-winning story or that I spent time with Eagle Hunters in Mongolia (thanks to my friend’s travel business, Erik Cooper Adventures) I would have called you an idiot but instead has made for a pretty fun journey so far.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has defiantly not been a smooth ride! Although it “may” appear smooth from the outside (I doubt it but just in case…), being a freelancer in photography or any discipline has many bumps in the road one has to navigate.

At the best of times, there is dealing with finding enough work (ideally fulfilling work), dealing with rejections, getting paid what you are worth, and competing with all of the new creatives over the last few years, largely due to the rise of social media.

Add in a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic (at least hopefully), that created huge disruptions for millions of people and companies that have also been very difficult to navigate. It can be incredibly rewarding, and I’ve been able to do things I never thought possible, but the struggle is real!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an outdoor photographer and I shoot both landscapes and adventure/people in the wild. When it comes to landscapes, most of my portfolio is places/scenes that are a little more off the beaten path or using a different perspective on ones more known.

I have always carried a natural curiosity about places, and in my head, I’m always asking what it looks like from the summit of that mountain or what’s around the next bend. That curiosity aided by google maps/earth allows me to research places near and far in great detail and has led to some pretty awesome places that I hope come through when someone is looking at my work.

With adventure photography, because I got my start as a landscape photographer, I bring a little different perspective than most when photographing people in the wild. My goal is to not only show the person but the place as well. That connection to a place and its beauty enhances the person(s) that I’m shooting. I hope this comes through in my images whether I’m shooting someone climbing, hiking, or eagle hunting.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ericschuette.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericschuettephotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricSchuettephotography