Meet Cullen McHale | Freelance Photographer and Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cullen McHale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cullen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to start my own business in order to create the life I’ve always wanted to live. I am grateful for the jobs I have had in the past, but I always knew I wasn’t doing what I truly wanted to be doing. Through my freelance content creation work, I have been able to shoot at optimal times rather than being pushed to shoot during normal work hours. It’s also provided me with opportunities to work at the Dew Tour, Burton US Open, and other skiing/snowboard competitions that I’ve always dreamed of working for. Due to owning my own business, I have been able to donate five percent of my profits to a children’s home in Kenya called Restart Africa, which is not something any job I’ve had in the past has prioritized. This organization has helped me and I would love to continue giving back to them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m still new to freelancing full time, but it’s an exciting experience that will help me continue to improve my passion of photography and videography. I worked for two seasons in marketing at both a ski resort and a whitewater rafting company. Each organization provided me with an opportunity to shoot action sports content in a very unique way while also bringing me to some of the most beautiful parts of the country. During my time in Buena Vista, CO and now Nederland, CO, I have fallen in love with landscape and astrophotography. It wasn’t too long ago that I was an intern at Liberty Mutual Insurance working in IT, but once I committed to chasing my passion of creating art, I’ve never regretting leaving that world. It wasn’t an easy decision to turn away from such a secure path in life, but I couldn’t be more happy with how things have gone. Whether I’m out shooting powder days, spending all night chasing the Milky Way, waking up at 1am to hike a 14er, or just taking photos of my dogs, I’m always grateful for the life I’m currently living.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love living in Colorado and I would be excited to show people how much this state has to offer. My favorite area for landscape photography is the Sawatch Mountain Range by Leadville and Buena Vista. These are the biggest mountains in the state and their size really makes you appreciate the beauty and strength of nature. This area has great night skies, endless mountain biking trails, plenty of whitewater rafting, and fewer people than a lot of other parts of Colorado. It’s the perfect place to spend days car camping with my dogs and girlfriend thanks to the abundance of BLM land. This area isn’t too from from places like the Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and other lovely mountain towns like Aspen.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I will always been grateful for the time I spent at a children’s home in rural Kenya called Restart Africa. This organization takes in children that have experienced harder times than most people in first world countries could imagine. I’ve spent months of my life helping out there and it pushed me to do something to help give back. I’m proud that a portion of everything I make from my freelance works helps support them. This is a small organization so please consider supporting them if possible.

Website: www.cullenmchale.com

Instagram: @cullenmchale

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cullenmchale

Image Credits
the black and white portrait. That photo was taken by Andrew Bydlon.