Meet Evan Gallagher

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Gallagher.

Hi Evan, 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 grew up in Maine with parents that were deeply passionate about the outdoors. That passion stayed with me as I became older. Hiking and skiing became my primary interests. But as anyone who grew up in a small town knows or feels, there comes a time when you are itching to see the world.

I never really picked up a camera until I was 14. It was an entry-level DSLR that my mother intended to be used just for family photos. Of course, there had been plenty of point-and-shoot cameras throughout the years, but I never saw those as more than just capturing a memory. That year we took a trip to Europe, unknowingly this would be the birth of my passion for photography. With just a little imagination and the right tool, I saw the world in an entirely new way ( might also help to be in a foreign place).

Naturally, with a passion for the outdoors and a few years of shooting under my belt, I made my way out to Utah to attend the University of Utah. Throughout college, I took many trips around the west and also study abroad. This really catapulted my creativity and the way that I think about color. Many sites are unquestionably gorgeous but very much photographed before. I had to push myself to see more than one perspective. This was also a real point where I started to be approached by companies to work on specific creative campaigns.

Now after graduating college with a set of two degrees, Entrepreneurship and Economics, I have taken a role at a tech company here in Salt Lake. Building on a few past projects and gearing myself up for a few very exciting creative endeavors.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, up until this point, I would say the road has not been smooth. Ups and downs coming from different creative blocks to working on various ventures outside of photography. By far the hardest obstacle I had to overcome was how to make my work look different than everyone else.

Traveling to different out-of-the-way places is one way to stand out, but in reality, it isn’t sustainable. Someone else will eventually make it there. The way that I decided to tackle this issue is to instead shoot how I felt somewhere, and really try to hone in on the feeling of the day and perspectives that someone may imagine if I told them a story. With that my end product has drastically improved, with more thought being put into lighting and perspective.

This also requires more patience and maturity in how I shoot. Of course, we all have expectations of a possible image that we would like, but it’s about keeping your eyes open and paying attention to the small details that can bring life to your frames.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to call myself an adventure photographer. I really specialize in taking photos of moments. I think there is a real relatability in adding a touch of some sort of human mark to my photography. This is something that has been synonymous with my work alongside the overall travel element. A feature that I hope every viewer can feel, is the feeling that they could be there as well.

I am very proud of how I have grown as a photographer, this by far is more important than any awards or jobs that I’ve landed because, in the end, this is an internal process. One that on some days eats you up inside, the nagging of what you think you could improve on to make that shot better. Other days when boundless ideas come to you and you yourself are actually astonished at what you were able to accomplish.

With this process, I am not afraid to try, try new styles, subject matter, or even create “bad work”. Without practice, my journey as a creative could never evolve. This is something that any person can relate to. Practice paying off.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I think really what matters to me the most is being happy. Doing new things, going to new places, and pushing myself. This is something I think a lot of people can relate to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.evanngallagher.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanngallagher/?hl=en