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

Hi Frankie, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue a creative career because being behind the camera spoke to me more than any other job or hobby I had ever tried. Through high school and college, I dealt with ADHD and once I started picking up the camera more and more it gave me the ability to focus in and hone in one thing at a time, very different than how my brain and attention span would normally operate. I had always wanted to be some kind of ‘artist’ but it wasn’t going to be through drawing or painting, I’m terrible at traditional art forms… the camera was this tool to create these adventure visions I would see in my mind, and then I’d try my best to replicate them and bring them to life. It took me a while to build my own unique, creative style but it feels good when people are able to recognize an image by me because of the characteristic elements I include in my adventure and landscape photography. I pursued this career in a creative direction because it seemed like a far-fetched dream to me, but I learned if I double down and put all my attention towards this, anything is possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

It wasn’t easy to get where I am today professionally, it’s been a dream I’ve been building over the past decade. I think one of the biggest ways that I overcome challenges is by working extremely hard and never giving up until I achieve what I want also, I’ve been fortunate to be able to focus full-time on photography, which was a gut-wrenching decision, but one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve learned so many lessons along the way. I think the most important one is especially in creative fields, knowing that you may fail at times, but those will be the biggest learning lessons. Push past that failure, and it will turn into an exceptional level of growth and success, but you must go into it, knowing there will be times when something might not go the way you had planned and it’s ok to fail but you need to get up and keep trying. Having a career in the creative field is not easy, because we are constantly putting ourselves out there to be judged, especially through the lens of social media. If you do one thing, focus on the art you are going to create and don’t let anything or anyone’s opinions distract you.
My career is built around adventure and lifestyle photography, I help brands and tourism boards build creative assets to market products or promote destinations to increase visitation.  It all started with my love for hiking and getting out into the outdoors and endless exploring what’s right here in my backyard, colorful Colorado.  This passion to hike and adventure formed the foundation of my creative career… blending landscape and adventure photography is what built my business into where it’s at today.  I work fulltime as an adventure-travel and lifestyle photographer
The biggest thing I want people to know about me is that my end goal is to inspire and encourage other people to get outside and explore the great outdoors. (Please do so responsibly and respectfully) also, I want whoever is reading this out there to know that I am a person just like you and you can reach out to me. If ever you need help, someone to talk to or just some photography or hiking advice…I get direct messages all the time and if there’s any way I can inspire others or help other people that brings a lot of meaning to my life and my existence here on earth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
–Lookout Mtn Park for sunset –Chautauqua Park for sunrise
–Meow Wolf Denver
–Movement climbing gyms
–Taking a walk around Sloan’s Lake for sunset

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shout out has to go to my beautiful wife, Ashley, our dog, Rizzo, and my super supportive family (Angela, Steve, Mom, Evie and Eli). My wife helps produce so many of our epic adventure trips and she keeps me in line with my balance in life… Without the support that I feel from them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. Also, I have a dozen creative freelancer friends who helped push me in the direction of going freelance photography full-time so a big shout out goes to them as well.

Big inspirations of mine Chris Burkard, Nate in the Wild and Autumn Schrock.

Website: https://www.frankieboyphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fr33water/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-spontelli/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fr33Water

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fr33water

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fr33water

Other: https://www.threads.net/@fr33water

Image Credits
All images are my own.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.