Meet Eric Schuette | Outdoor Photographer

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

Hi Eric, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
There have been a number of favorite quotes or messages over the years that meant something to me, but one probably has had a larger role in my life than all the others. A number of years ago there was one of those positive messages that made its rounds on social media, especially Facebook. It had slightly different iterations, but the essential message was the same, “invest in experiences, not things”. Some of them had a bit more context or verbiage, some less but all had the clear message of it being more important to invest your time and resources in experiences vs. material things.

Although I had some inclinations with that message, it wasn’t until seeing that message shared by others that I really started thinking about what that meant. After that, I became much more intentional in focusing on how to ensure I was living in that way through my profession and my personal life. Following that path has led to so many adventures and opportunities I never thought I would have across the world. Having the opportunity to learn to scuba on the great barrier reef, hunting foxes with legit Eagle hunters in Mongolia, chasing the aurora over the glaciers of Iceland, and so many more have enriched my life in ways a newer car/house/tv/etc…never could.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography is about trying to capture and share the amazing beauty found in nature, particularly from places that may not always be well known. I try to share images that are also speak to me, and the places that speak the loudest are usually those that are off the grid, remote, or not well known. Growing up I spent a lot of time outside and often found myself questioning ‘what is around the bend or over the next hill’ and have tried to focus my photography by asking the same questions. This same passion includes when I am shooting people for outdoor brands. In some ways it has made business difficult by those who want a similar look or locations as what is more popular, but it also opened pathways by those who enjoy something a little different. There are photographers that are much better at capturing cityscapes, portraits, intimate scenes, and things like that, but I try to offer new perspectives of nature in the best possible light.

Pursuing photography that is a little different than what others are doing can be difficult, especially in age of social media (especially Instagram), as there are a lot more people getting out to take pictures. That can be hard to overcome but it can also increase your drive and push you to go further, stay out later, research a little extra all of which not only can result in better images but also better life experiences. However, at the end of the day, I do hope that my photography inspires others that not only are there amazing places out there but also there are amazing places they can explore themselves.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am probably a bit different than some so when I have friends that visit, we typically spend most of our time in the mountains. In the mountains we would go to some of my favorite local places like Rocky Mountain National park or the Indian Peaks wilderness. However, there are some other areas further away from crowds that may also be on the list….If it works out adding some other fun activities like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, or even fly fishing can be great ways to beat some of the summer heat

However, there are places we would go before or after the mountains in the city. Highest on the list would be to visit a few of my favorite breweries like Weldwerks (who now also has an amazing restaurant and yes, I know that’s a little outside the city), Cerebral, 4noses, or New Image. For an incredibly eclectic day it’s also hard to beat the Pearl Street mall in Boulder. During the summer and fall another really fun outing is attending a Colorado Rapids game at Dicks Sporting Goods park, the atmosphere can be a lot of fun!

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?
As far as shoutouts go, there are a many over the years, but I will keep it simple. I mostly want to shoutout the small group of family and friends who believed that my jumping into photography was possible. I would also like to shoutout the group of fellow professionals who also thought it was possible and helped me through the years. Lastly, my wife Kat, who has been so incredibly supportive over the years during this crazy ride of being an outdoor photographer.

Website: https://www.ericschuette.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericschuettephotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricSchuettephotography