Artist Spotlight—Andy Earl

This week, we're thrilled to feature Andy Earl! From documenting outdoor adventures to mastering complex studio setups, he’s tackled each challenge with persistence and a deep curiosity for the craft. Through countless hours of self-teaching and overcoming technical hurdles, he has built a career that reflects his passion for creativity and his drive to capture compelling stories. Join us as we explore his path, his insights, and the valuable lessons he's learned throughout his career.

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a commercial photographer?

I picked up the camera to support my writing. My girlfriend, now wife, bought a Canon T3i that I commandeered and with the help of my photographer friend Parker Cross, I picked up the basics. The camera quickly became a motivating force in my life. My brand of curiosity seems in sync with the type of learning and tinkering that is endless in photography. I started photographing my friends while out climbing, running, and skiing. Eventually I was shooting photos to fill in the gaps at my day job in marketing. They had a Canon 5D mark ii sitting around and that became my new constant companion. I tried shooting some e-commerce photos for the website and found myself completely out of my depth. Everything I shot looked horrible and I didn't know why. That took me down a long road, that I am still on of learning and experimenting.

In photography, self teaching is a mandatory skill. The frequency of failure is something that is hard to really put into perspective. I got what I considered to be my dream job at a major outdoor brand as a photo editor and then realized how severely lacking in technical expertise I was. Failure was frequent and the hours spent taking tutorials and consulting mentors were long. I dove in and put each new skill to use daily. It was a pretty dark time for me, but the hours and constant practice made everything I was learning stick. Considering myself a "commercial photographer" is something I don't think about. I have just been following where the camera takes me and I will keep chasing it as long as it sparks my curiosity.

Lighting plays a huge role in your studio work. How did you learn to light, and what would be your advice to beginners?

Lighting, like the camera, is pretty overwhelming at first. I started picking up retouching at the same time I started shooting in the studio. I think that helped me understand my mistakes and limitations pretty quickly. Alot of my technical skill set came from proedu.com. I went through a lot of their tutorials while having loads of work to do. Shooting smaller products with one light and bounce helped me quickly see how to get specific with where I placed light. Obviously the early retouching work and quite a few of the photos are pretty cringe worthy, but I think that is a part of any art.

My advice to beginners is to jump into it, take as many courses as you can, learn to retouch and edit photos, and just tinker. The hours add up. Wrapping your identity up with your work is one of the major pitfalls in any creative career. You will do work that won't reflect your full abilities due to budget and time constraints. When you work with others it can amplify or diminish the work. If you wrap your identity up in that constant roller coaster, it will be a fast track to disillusionment or depression. Take each project as an opportunity to learn, not to flex.

What is typically in your gear bag?

Whatever is needed. I like having my small A7CR on my chest while out and about, but I have become more selective nowadays with shooting. Each time I push that button equals more time in front of my computer.

Can you describe a particularly memorable or challenging project you've worked on?

Aside from my first time running a bigger shoot where I had an entire crew, my favorite shoots are still out in the hills with my friends. Whenever I can spend time where people aren't supposed to be, it is a special thing. With studio work, I usually battle imposter syndrome and the standard "can I do this" thoughts until I get on set with all the amazing collaborators. I think working with other people on sets, kicking my ego to the curb, and really trying to make something beautiful while having a beautiful experience is the goal. Each shoot is an experience unto itself. Taking that deep breath and jumping in with the "WE will figure this out" attitude has been the way I have gotten through the tough ones.

What has been the biggest takeaway you've learned from your photography career?

I don't want to consider myself a photographer. I got sucked into having that as my identity for a while and during that time I was really unhappy. I had to boil it down past photography to what it is I really find appealing about it- I want to be creative and to follow my curiosity. If I ever have to give up the camera for any reason, I hope I can pivot to something else that fills that part of me.

Big thank you to Andy for giving us an inside look at his photography journey. With each project, he continues to inspire through his dedication and curiosity. We hope his story encourages you to pursue your own creative path with the same spirit.

To see more of Andy's work, check out his instagram or website.