Today we’d like to introduce you to Cam McLeod.
Hi Cam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Ten years ago, I began my professional photographic journey and I started like many photographers start, I took every job and opportunity that presented itself. In the beginning, I worked as a freelancer for a local newspaper covering community events, business profiles and people of interest, usually portraiture. I shot weddings, family portraits, and even baby photos, anything to gain experience and make a dollar using my camera. Around the same time, I began working for my first apparel client. I started out just selling spec images from my adventures with friends which led to full-fledged, multi-day catalogue shoots.
The path I was most interested in at the beginning was action sports and adventure lifestyle photography. Ski photography was my entry point into that world and in the winters I hustled to shoot as much as possible. My first break was in 2013 when Powder Magazine was doing a feature story on Ogden, Ut and the surrounding ski areas. I randomly met the writer in a bar at Snowbasin Ski resort and introduced myself as a ski photographer (hardly true at the time). I asked if he needed any help with photos and he basically said no but if I was interested I could send him a few photos. I went home that night and sent him a few things I had and a couple of days later, I was on the phone with the photo editor of Powder, getting direction and encouragement. I ended up shooting the majority of that feature which was the beginning of ski photography career which I still shoot a lot of today.
These days we think of ourselves as a commercial and editorial production agency. I have a team built around me and we offer both photo and video production. We are extremely strategic in our planning and approach to production and because of that mindset, we try to place ourselves in a position to work on advertising campaigns and key art creation for editorial needs. We love to come in as early as possible on projects and help craft an idea from start to finish.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If the metaphor for this journey is a road then it’s been 4×4 the entire time and we’re taking the scenic route. We are in the business of creative problem-solving. The way I see it, every bump in the road is an opportunity to succeed and grow.
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 am a commercial and editorial director and photographer. Over the last ten years, I have built a career working in the outdoor industry shooting adventure sports and adventure lifestyles. These days I work more in a team setting on larger campaigns with long lead times. I am proud of the team we have built and how hungry we are to continue to challenge ourselves and keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible for our clients and us. In the next 4 months, we will be opening a studio in Ogden. We are excited to bring this to the community and help extend the creative community from Salt Lake City to Ogden. This will be a great asset to our team and a way to attract talent to the Ogden area.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Patients, communication, and planning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cammcleodphotography.com
- Instagram: _cammcleod_
