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

Hi Monica, what makes you happy? Why?
There are a lot of things that make me happy, but if I were to narrow it down to things that make me the happiest – moments where i feel the most joy, it’s when i am out in nature, hiking & exploring landscapes, watching how the light creates different effects on that landscape and being able to capture that in such a way that evokes a feeling of awe; these are the moments I get swept up, where time doesn’t matter, all the stressors of the world around me sort of disappear, and I’m fully present in the moment and scenery before me. Being able to create something out of that beauty becomes the icing on the cake.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So my actual career and my artistic and creative endeavors are two very separate things. I currently work and make my living as a school counselor for a program that services the highest risk students in our district. These students are often at the verge of dropping out, are low or non-attenders, and usually don’t fit into the traditional school setting. I was able to take a break from working as a school counselor for about eight years and was given the opportunity to really pursue photography more aggressively. During that time, I attended several photography workshops, many of which included travel to other countries, and really embedded myself in that community. During that time I also put a legal name to my photography brand – Soul and Summit Photography – and worked with other photographers and creatives to start a non-profit organization called Foundation for Inspired Arts. Our mission was to shed light on local artists and creatives in the Northern California region (specifically Redding, Ca) and allow space for showcasing that art and talent. We put on a couple of local art shows and the proceeds raised money for a charitable organization. Our goal was to give voice to the more amateur and upcoming creatives. I’ve learned one thing for sure – it’s not easy breaking in to that world of becoming more globally recognized or even recognized on a larger scale beyond the scope of family and friends. There are so many talented people out there, and especially now in this age of digital cameras and the extensive tools at our fingertips, you can get lost in the sea of competition and often discouraged by social media. So for now, I do this because I love it and for no other reason. I haven’t tried to market myself or grow my business beyond posting to social media and trying to keep my website updated. I have been encouraged to produce some “coffee table” books and that may be an endeavor I tackle in the near future.

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?
I live in Montrose, Co so I wouldn’t consider our area much of a city. 🙂 But, I’m all about the small towns and experiencing the beauty of what’s in our backyard, so my first stop would be to introduce them to the extensive views of the San Juans. Maybe take a day to drive over to Telluride, ride the gondola, grab a bite to eat at The Smuggler Union Brewery and Restaurant. Take a little side excursion up county road 10 or a hike up to Blue Lakes. Next would be a drive to Ouray, a visit to the hot springs (Orvis or Weisbaden would be my go to picks); maybe hike the Ouray perimeter trail and then visit one of the local breweries for a cold one after. We’d visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and head out to some of the best overlooks, maybe catch a few photos while we were at it.

Other top visiting spots would be a trek up to Silverton that included a jeep/side by side tour along parts of the Alpine Loop, Corkscrew pass, continuing on through Animas Forks to wander through the old mining homes. Lunch or dinner at Handlebars and maybe grab a cup o joe at the Coffee Bear.

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?
Honestly, all the credit goes to my family and friends who have truly encouraged me in pursuit of this passion. I can’t necessarily mention just one or two names because it has been a collective effort. Even strangers along the way who have commented on photos or purchased a print – it has all led to me continuing to chase this dream and do what I love.

Website: www.soulandsummitphotography.com

Instagram: @soulandsummit

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.