Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Putnam
Hi Jeremy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my career as a freelance creative after being let go from what I presumed to be my dream job at a ski resort on the east coast. I was the marketing manager there and loved being able to work with a camera on a ski mountain everyday. I was devastated when I was let go, yet I had no idea the silver lining that was in store for me.
This is when I first started to consider freelancing for the first time. My girlfriend at the time wanted us to move from a very small town in Maine and try living in Salt Lake City. I was skeptical, feeling that I had made a lot of local connections and did not want to leave them.
Fast forward to after the move, winter was quickly approaching and I knew it was the time to start making connections for the winter ski season. So I did what every new freelancer does and started to cold call every potential lead. Eventually I landed on a local ski guide. He told me that there was a cat skiing company that he used to work for in the Uintas that might need a photographer. He made the connection and a few months later I started working at the front desk and shooting photos twice a week. Two years later I am entering my 3rd season on staff and 2nd season as their full-time photographer. I could not even have imagined the opportunity to ski untracked powder sometimes as much as 5 days a week in the winters.
This has taught me that sometimes things that are seemingly what appears to be the worst possible outcome can sometimes open doors to amazing opportunities.
In the summer I freelance for a wide array of companies in the outdoor space.
Recently I just took a leap in my career and created/produced a short film about freestyle motocross In an incredible location called Caineville, Utah. Often, motocross films are focused on one feature such as a series of ramps. However I wanted to change this and make a film intertwined with nature and gorgeous scenery. This resulted in the film “Kings Of Caineville”.
This was the first time I have ever produced a film of this size with what I believe to be the best local talent in the industry. Having a premiere for the film really opened my eyes to how supportive this community in Salt Lake can be and inspired me to make more films in the future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In freelancing I believe there will always be challenges. The first that comes to mind is sometimes going months without receiving a paycheck. Having to budget a month in advance can be daunting. Also sometimes not having any work on the calendar after finishing a long term gig can be stressful. But something always seems to come along. The hardest part is keeping the faith and believing in yourself that this is the right path for you.
In the end, from what I’ve seen, there are two options to live your life and make a living. The first being sacrificing your freedom for a stable income and predictability. Or, maintaining authority over your time while occasionally balancing instability with outcomes that are not always guaranteed. Personally, I fall on the latter and don’t plan on changing anytime soon.
“The real luxury in life is time, peaceful mornings, and the freedom to choose how you spend your days.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I primarily specialize in working with brands that find themselves in the outdoor and active space. While I am open to other opportunities, I feel like I align with these companies the most as it is a community I frequently find myself in and this is the work I am the most proud of.
I identify as a ski photographer but unfortunately that only lasts 4-5 months out of the year so I have to fill up my time in other ways too. So when I am not shooting skiing, I specialize in expeirence photography and videography. I’ve been getting into product shots more frequently which I can see myself doing more often in the future.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
During COVID I was fortunate enough to have great access to the outdoors which I really doubled down on. People often criticized how the outdoors became so crowded after this event, however I think it was a gift to get people outside and realize the benefits of the nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ouroscreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jputttt/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=eW43OCh-ypk&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ6Tf9zrIPLLayobIiZSave15OpPkeLsrM4xO7q9AXZZ1sMeoFYLVbP1ig_aem_fL7-PpiAL3ta4trcm1oClg
