Meet Jeff Goldberg | Photographer

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

Hi Jeff, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
I am at the point of my career where it’s important to me to give back and pay forward all of the help and kindness I received as I was learning. To this end, I am working with a few local non-profit organizations both in helping with operations and content. Similarly, I am working with small local businesses I believe in and want to see thrive. I also spend a lot of my time helping others develop their photography skills. I do this with in person coaching, teaching at conferences/workshops and remotely via webcasts.

So, to answer your question directly, my end goal is to be sought out for content creation by businesses and individuals because they believe I can help them grow and be successful. In addition, I would like to known as someone who has helped as many as I can in the local community through involvement with non-profits.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I like to create images across a number of categories. My background is nature/wildlife/travel. I enjoy both the journey and destination and travel as much as I can. I have been fortunate enough to travel to and capture images around the world including Antarctica, Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Iceland, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and many other countries as well as across the United States. In addition, part of the reason my wife and I moved to Colorado a few years ago was to be closer to nature. For me, capturing the environment around Colorado still feels like I am on vacation. For these images, I have an online print store which I started about a year ago. It has been interesting to me to learn what others like and want to buy compared to what I liked when I made the image.

In addition, over the last 10 years, I have developed a second passion for portrait photography. I enjoy meeting new people, learning their stories and capturing it in a portrait. I like the ability to create and shape a mood with lighting and work with someone to tell their story through an image. I have been lucky to work with so many amazing people in this space including professional models, hair and makeup artists, fellow photographers and everyday people who just want to look their best and have their story told. Lately, as part of giving locally, I have worked with several student athletes from University of Colorado – Boulder and other schools which has been a lot of fun.

You asked what sets me apart which is hard question to answer, but I think it’s a couple things: first, I like to know people and have fun – whether we are on a trip together capturing wildlife or in a portrait session, I spend equal time talking and shooting. To me, it’s important to get to know people; second, I like to find or create dramatic/cinematic lighting – most people that seek me out ask for this; third, I never stop learning – I love to learn new processes, new tools, etc. so I continue to evolve and stay current.

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 live in Boulder, so spend more time out there, but when I am in the city: I like to walk the RiNo area and take in the street art, enjoy cocktails at Union Station and people watch, attend the guided meditation and light show at the International Church of Cannabis, stroll the Denver Botanic Garden, pretend to be a cowboy at Rockmount and visit as many local breweries and distilleries as I can.

Outside of Denver, visiting Rocky Mountain National Park should be on every itinerary. And if there is time, I would also encourage people to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Specific to eating and drinking, I like to walk to most places, so I am very partial to Boulder.
My favorite spots for a drink include:
• Avanti F&B. Top floor is the best view of any bar in town. A favorite spot for sunset.
• Jungle. Every now and then you just need a tiki bar experience.
• Avery Brewing. My favorite Colorado brewery (I focus on the barrel aged options) and they have good food options. If nice day, it’s quite a festive scene outside.
• Spirt Hound Distillery. This is actually in the next town, but worth the few minutes driving for good cocktails in a very low key environment.
• Dryland Distillery. Also in another town, but high end amazing cocktails in small mid century modern environment is worth the trip

For food, my favorite places are:
• Black Cat Farmstead. Best overall dinner experience in the state
• Frasca. Classic gourmet tasting menu for a special occasion
• Stelle Cucina. Most stylish (art deco) restaurant in town
• Cozobi Fonda Fina. A newer restaurant in town, but as the sibling location to the Michelin-star version in Denver, it is certainly welcome. New take on gourmet Mexican.
• Santos. Quality New Mexico favorites and high end cocktails is very modest location.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As I was developing my skills as a photographer, I would often find images that inspired me and wondered how they were created. If there was contact information associated with the image, I would reach out to the photographer and ask if they would share some coaching about how they found the location, composition ideas, technical aspects of creating the image, etc. Almost always, they would reply and share their experiences. Then I would try what they shared and incorporate those skills and ideas into what I do.

I can’t point to a single person, book, Youtube channel, etc., but collectively I would thank the generation of photographers that came before me and who were always willing to help. This is the spirit I have now when people reach out to me.

Website: https://www.jeffgoldbergphotography.com/

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

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

Other: https://www.instagram.com/always.moving/

Image Credits
Photography: Jeff Goldberg, Models: Jesalyn Emerson, Morgan Ghys, Devin Roberts, Jessica Pettingill.