Photographer Spotlight: Jake Peterson
When did you know the photography/video industry was for you?
Honestly I never really thought of myself going into the Photo industry. Having grown up around my Dad and seeing all that he went through as a wildlife photographer, it never occurred to me to do that. My parents took my brother and myself with them on several trips growing up so we were well exposed to the world, especially biologists, and that’s really what I thought I was going to do. Then in my freshman year of college at MSU Bozeman, I started shooting and found that I really enjoyed exploring and that’s when I decided to become a photographer. Since then it has been quite a journey with several obstacles becoming a better photographer and truly learning the business of photography.
How did you get your current position?
Hard Work! I think those two words really sum up anyone who resides in the photo industry. It truly takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work to make it in this business. With photography, you really have to keep pushing yourself and keep coming up with new ideas and trying new things. There’s a lot I don’t know and a lot of photos I haven’t taken yet so trying to achieve both of those keeps me busy.
How did your training or schooling prepare you for your job?
I don’t know if anything can truly prepare you for a career in photography because you never know what you’ll be shooting next.
I have a rather unique set of circumstances for my training. My father being Moose Peterson has provided me with the greatest resource backing any photographer starting out could ask for. This truly prompted my college decision. I ended up switching majors a few times throughout my college career and ended up in the graphic design department, but didn’t complete it. It seemed prudent to spend more time with my Dad learning all that I could to be a photographer as opposed to finishing my degree. Having such resources at my disposal as well as the number of contacts in the photo industry has definitely left me with a greater strive to prove myself.
What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in pursuing your career?
My greatest obstacle is one I am still facing to this day, and that is to keep coming up with new content. Every day it gets harder and harder to spend time shooting and coming up with new content to write about. Blog posts, articles, presentations, etc. The list keeps going. Constantly coming up with new ideas and new images is the greatest challenge and is one worth pursuing. It will never go away or else I’m not doing my job.
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Who would you name as the most influential person in shaping your career? Why?
That would definitely have to be my Dad. It’s hard enough for any photographer to be in the same field as one of the photographers you look up to but when you’re related to that guy, it’s even harder. It’s not just a pressure to succeed, but a wanting to be recognized as your own. I’ve heard my Dad say that no photographer should ever strive to be the same as him, that the world doesn’t need another Moose Peterson. It is the lessons, morals and ideals that he combines with his photographs that we should strive to achieve.
He’s been a great influence in passing on his own beliefs and morals when it comes to the subjects and people you work with in photography. Something that definitely does not get talked about enough is having that respect for the critters you work with. That it is their home you are photographing and that their welfare is more important than the photo. As we have both moved into aviation photography as well, it is the understanding of people and putting their needs above the photograph that has become so important. These ideals are truly the best thing that he has been able to pass on.
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
Yea I have to steal my Dad’s answer, Time! What are kids for.
