Conversations with Grayson Geiger

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grayson Geiger.

Hi Grayson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Like all kids, I was drawn to being outside & after my mother gave me her old camera I began to combine the two. With zero experience and too much pride to learn I began experimenting with film, which I quickly found made each shot count. Fast forward to high school where I had aspirations of becoming a photo journalist and became the school newspaper photographer, which allowed me to learn how to manage people as subjects as well as the time/planning needed for the right shot.

After attending Red Rocks Community College for Graphic Design & Print Production I struggled so see a successful future in creative arts. Until I had the epiphany that I was surrounded by beautiful mountains and people doing amazing things, I began to photograph and document via video my adventures and shortly after was propositioned by a few small businesses in Golden to help create content for them.

Almost a decade later & I find myself pursuing the same dream.

Since then I have upgraded from editing projects on the computers at Red Rocks Community College to my home office complete with a small studio for portraits and product photography as well as a voice-over booth. My equipment has evolved from hand-me-down & craigslist cameras to the latest and greatest DSLRs and action cameras. I’ve been fortunate enough to keep some of my original clients like New Terrain Brewing and Powder 7 Ski Shop while managing to expand my roster to brands like Flylow, Loveland Ski Area & GE!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Creative types are known for being in our own little world, which is amazing & I love it here, but, there’s a reason why it’s rare to find a great artist who also does your taxes and accounting.

I’ve found myself in rhythmic cycles of inspiration where I am focused on the work and producing portfolio piece after portfolio piece only to be followed by a phase of “Oh F#&%, How am I going to pay rent?” because I was too un-focused on how & how much I’d get paid. On the flip side, I have been so strategically centered that I have no inspiration for upcoming projects and the quality of the work has suffered. It can take weeks to recover from a failed project or a missed bill payment but reminding myself of why I started in the first place helps me stay grounded and allows me to keep one foot in front of the other, even when the path is uncertain.

To keep a passionate eye all while minding the big picture is a hard balance to find yet it’s an important one that I thankfully have improved each year resulting in less “Oh F#&%” moments.

With that said inevitably obstacles are always closer than they appear and occasionally rolling with the punches is all you can do. For example, no amount of passion/logic balance could have prevented me getting held up and mugged while on assignment in Santiago, Chile. I could have taken the encounter as a sign to give up the project and go home. Instead, I got on the bus to Patagonia and was greeted by amigos nuevos offering anything they could to help get me back on my feet. Serendipitous.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In the past, I prided myself on being a jack of all trades. I offered web development, social media management, marketing strategy consultation, you name it, whatever I could imagine I could learn, offer, and profit from I put on my resume.

As I grow a bit wiser I have realized that my talents are best suited to the things I find the most passion within. I am known in Golden for my beer photography at New Terrain Brewing(Check out their Instagram pages for the latest and greatest!). I am known in Summit county & the high country for my skiing / snowboarding videos and backcountry photography. I am known on the front range for some of my mountain bike videography, specifically with the French YouTubing & mountain biking professional Yoann Barelli.

Clients like Flylow & Glade Optics have expressed their appreciation in having an on-call photographer who is ready to climb a 14er or camp covered in snow during the dead of winter just to get that perfect shot that describes our shared devotion to the outdoors.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Determination.

I believe not giving up easy or ever is a huge part of the recipe for success. Obviously, there are other factors to consider while achieving it but with a steadfast resolve to achieve a goal and a willingness to realize how much you DON’T know, it’s really just a matter of time before you reach your summit.

Pricing:

• Photoshoot (2022) – starting @ $400 (2.5hrs, edits included)
• Video (2022) – starting @ $550 (4hrs, simple 1-2 min edited)
• Graphic Design (2022) – starting @ $80/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: Glevity.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/glevity
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glevity/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Glevity
• Other: https://glevity.smugmug.com/

Image Credits
Photo of myself atop the Gore Range was taken by Grayson Baum (Yes, there are more than 1 “Grayson” photographers haha)