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

Hi Jeff, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is an inevitable and essential part of running your own business. Equally essential is the confidence to face those risks head on. Without taking risks, most people would never be able to start a their own business, much less take the necessary steps to scale that business. On the flip side, without having an unwavering belief that you will be successful, few people would ever have the confidence to take those necessary risks.

I have been fortunate in my life and career to have a casual, yet calculated view of risks. That probably in large part comes from a childhood spent racing motocross, snowboarding, and scuba diving. When assessing risk, whether it be in extreme sports or my business, I have always had a ‘can-do’ attitude, in the most literal sense possible. If I know I can do something, I don’t allow the fear of failure to influence my decision. I put in the work to become proficient at a task, and then never look back.

Was my first scuba dive to 120′ scary? Sure. But the hundreds of dives and hours of training leading up to that dive told me I was capable. Is taking out an equipment loan for camera gear when you aren’t working a salaried job with a fixed income scary? Absolutely. But my confidence in my own work ethic, talent, book of clients, and ability to market myself told me it would be a move that would provide a healthy ROI. If I allowed the fear of failure to take hold of me while at 120 feet, it could cause panic that could lead to serious injury or death. If I allowed that same fear of failure to control my business decisions, I would forever remain stagnant in my current position and likely cause the death of my business. Taking risks has influenced my entire life, from deep dives, to moving across the country to a town where I knew no one, to starting my own business and hanging onto it for dear life when I had 80 cents in my bank account. I would not be where I am today without taking risks, and I would never have taken those risks if I didn’t have confidence in myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a commercial photographer, director, and DoP. I specialize in outdoor, action, and adventure photography. I like to say that I create my best work in places past where most people venture. I have been fortunate to combine my passions of backpacking, snowboarding, and extreme sports with my passion of photography to create the business I currently operate. Outside of shooting quality images, I pride myself in professionalism. While I provide a quality product, and can operate in niche environments, I find that most of my clients come back to me because of the professional experience I provide. From first contact to final delivery, I believe it is essential to curate a positive experience for your clients. There are plenty of talented photographers, but being able to run a successful business is equally important, and I believe that professionalism is the key differentiator here.

As for challenges and lessons learned along the way, there are plenty. Growing up as a snowboarder and backpacker in the Midwest, it was always my dream to move West. As I found photography and then grew my business throughout school, I set my sights on a full time career with cameras and a life in the mountains. 2 months after graduating from the University of Illinois, I moved across the country to Breckenridge, Colorado, to do just that. I haven’t looked back. Turning down the prospect of living with friends in Chicago and working a salaried job, to move somewhere I knew no one, and work for myself, was extremely scary. But, I knew in my core it was where I wanted to be, and I knew I had the drive and desire to run my own business…. or at least I hoped.

I have always thought it was silly to do anything that makes you unhappy. Having long term goals as a guiding force is essential. However, if you are unhappy in your current situation, whether it is a place, job, or relationship, it has never made sense to me to stay there. My philosophy is that if you are chasing happiness and doing what you want to be doing, you will find more success than otherwise. Moving to Breckenridge verified all of these thoughts for me. It allowed me to surround myself with like-minded people, and has provided me with opportunities and experiences I could have never imagined, both in my personal life and my business. It has given me the chance to pursue work I am truly passionate about, which has lead to a much higher level of work and self satisfaction. This, in turn, has helped me grow and scale my business. I would imagine this is a lesson that many entrepreneurs and creatives could relate to.

However, it is not all sunshine and daisies. Getting here required, and still does require, a lot of sacrifices. I was pulling 3 to 4 all-nighters a week my senior year of college building my portfolio. I commonly have restless nights when I lose a bid on a big client or project, and don’t know where my next paycheck is coming from. My time spent on the road, or in my office when I am home, has made it nearly impossible to have a successful romantic relationship in recent years. Running my own business has caused me stress and anxiety I would not have otherwise. These are the unfortunate realities of working for yourself, especially in the early phases. However, they are sacrifices I am willing to make. At this point in my life, I find my enjoyment through my work, the people I surround myself with, and the incredible places I live in and travel to. My current situation provides me with all of these things, and I am extremely happy…. most of the time. The other aspects of my life are things I am always working towards improving, and things that I hope to resolve as my business becomes more stable in the coming years. And, if at any point, I am no longer finding enjoyment on my path, I will make the necessary changes to remedy that.

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.
Whenever I have friends visiting, I am always pushing for a backpacking or ski trip. In the summer, the Gore or Collegiate ranges are my go-to spots, and if they are capable, I usually suggest a few nights spent in the backcountry. On shoulder seasons, trips out to Utah are a must. There are so many remote nooks with incredible terrain to explore. In the winter, it’s laps at Breck or Copper or a rip on the snowmobile, and Apres in Breckenridge.

My favorite afternoon spots in Breckenridge are Cabin Juice, Empire Burger, or Breck Brewery. If we are looking for coffee, then Cuppa Joe Cafe is the obvious choice. For a late night out, CO Bar in Frisco is a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The two people absolutely most deserving of a shoutout, without any questions or doubt, are my parents. Not only have my parents supported me in my choices and ambitions without hesitation, they positioned me perfectly to be where I am today. I believe a large factor in me being able to take the risks I have to start my business, was the incredible experiences I had as a child. My parents are not wealthy people. I come from a blue-collar background, with two working class parents. By all means, I had a comfortable and wonderful upbringing that I am very thankful for, but it was by no means lavish. That didn’t stop my parents from exposing me to the wonders the world has to offer. From traveling around in our camper, to racing motocross, to spending our weekends at our local midwest ski resort, I had incredible opportunities that built my confidence and broadened my horizons. Furthermore, I was able to see my parents working hard for all of these opportunities. Outside of their jobs, they would do whatever they could to provide us with these experiences. As just two examples; my dad volunteered as a ski patroller to get us our season passes, and my mom worked extra hours so we could travel to motocross races. I quickly learned the value of networking and hard work. I will forever be thankful for my parents and all they have done for me.

Additionally, I have to thank all of those first clients who helped me realize that making a living with a camera was a real possibility. Motoplayground Magazine, Void clothing, Campus Ink, Rides Unlimited, and all of the other amazing brands I had the opportunity of working with early on, thank you. Equally important are my friends and mentors in the industry, who still help me so much to this day. Brandon Huttenlocher, Andrew Maguire, George Watts, and so many others.

Website: jeffurbahn.com

Instagram: @jeffurbahn

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