We’re looking forward to introducing you to Eric Bennett. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Eric, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Many friends and people have expressed that being a full-time nature photographer as opposed to having to work a more conventional job with a routine, repetitive schedule, is something that I get to do–as if it is a special privilege that was bestowed upon me. While I do believe that a good part of my financial success as a photographer has been due to luck, what they fail to see is that no one ever approached me and gave me this opportunity. This is a lifestyle, career choice, and path that I chose for myself and created through many intentional decisions over a prolonged period of time. From the outside, someone’s success can seem as though it just appeared overnight, but what can’t be seen are the countless hours worked without any pay, all of the failed attempts, the arduous physical effort I made in private, while hiking alone for weeks on end in the desert and mountains carrying all of my equipment.
When it comes to making money, I don’t receive any income whatsoever unless I figure out a way to generate it. I have to constantly come up with new products, services, and outlets in order to sustain myself financially. Nobody ever gives me any instructions or directions on how to reliably make a certain amount of revenue. Every penny I have ever made has been a product of my own drive and creativity. There is no clocking in, sitting at a desk performing monotonous tasks, and receiving a check at the end of the week just for showing up.
Of course, for me, the benefits of being a full-time photographer far outweigh the cost of enduring this constant uncertainty.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been a full-time nature photographer for the last 12 years and I am currently based in Provo, UT. I’ve dedicated my life to photographing nature in hopes that I can convey its true value in its pristine, unspoiled state. I hope that my photographs can convince people that we must protect the last few wild places we still have left. I have now authored 3 photography books that showcase my imagery as well as my most poignant thoughts about wilderness, modern society, and artistry. I regularly teach workshops in order to help other photographers connect with their surroundings on a deeper level and learn to express themselves more effectively through their visual art.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I have experienced many moments where I felt grateful for the drive and self motivation I have been able to harness from within myself, but one that comes to mind most readily was during a long trip I made through western Europe back in 2014 during my first year as a full-time photographer. I was on a ferry traveling from Ireland to Scotland, still with 4 weeks left of my trip, and no idea what else would transpire. I remember looking out the window at the beautiful world I had been so fortunate to witness so much of at such a young age, realizing I had already experienced more places than most people get to experience in a lifetime. I looked down at my feet and felt so grateful for all of the places they had taken me, and that I had both the mind and the willpower to create so many incredible opportunities for myself. That may have been the first time I ever cried from feeling overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, but it definitely wouldn’t be the last. From then on I have always been convinced that if there is anything I want to do in life, I will do it, no matter what.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Losing my father in 2022 was by far the most painful and disruptive experience of my entire life. He was always a huge source of support and encouragement, and taught me many important lessons about creativity, writing, and individualism. After he suddenly died, I retreated to the wilderness to spend a week alone in my favorite mountain range. I spent time camping next to a beautiful stream that flowed down from the glaciers above, observing my surroundings, watching wildlife go about their simple lives, and thinking about my recent, tragic loss. I came back from that trip with an elevated perspective that only time in nature can provide. The void created by my father’s absence is still there, but continually visiting the natural world, where one can observe the importance and inevitability of life and death simultaneously. has helped me to feel grateful for the time we had rather than resentment for what we will miss out on.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I have chosen my career because I can tailor it to my personal values and priorities. If I felt I had to act a certain way or portray myself in a disingenuous manner, there would be no reason to pursue this lifestyle over any other. My priority is to be able to spend every day as I please, without anyone else dictating my actions. Acting how people expect you to may please them in the short term, but overtime you will have nothing unique to offer, and you won’t be able to form any kind of genuine connection with your audience. Every single photograph I have made was because the moment and subject were personally important to me, not because they were trending or likely to become popular. I believe that much of my success is due to being myself in every situation, which allows for my work to resonate with others in a more impactful and meaningful way.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
The most important person to please has always been myself. If I am not satisfied by my work, I will not publish it or ever share it with anyone. I have been very careful to remain unaffected by both criticism and praise, as both of them can dictate your actions and coerce you to act in ways that are untrue to yourself. Every single thing I have made, I did for myself—because it would be to painful not to—and not because I believed people would enjoy it. Many of my favorite photographs that I am most proud of, never became popular, and yet I still feel the same way about them. I receive all of the meaning, joy, and satisfaction that I hope to find through practicing photography before I ever share my work with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bennettfilm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bennettfilm/
Image Credits
All photographs by Eric Bennett
