Meet Noah Ray | Filmmaker & Photographer

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

Hi Noah, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe that risk is at the heart of all profit. It’s the high-stakes decisions, the bold leaps into the unknown, trusting in my own resilience and adaptability, that have profoundly shaped my life. A powerful example of this is when I chose to live on my own at 16 years old. This risk fast-tracked my learning of how to navigate the world. Then, at 18, I made a spontaneous switch from traditional 9-5 jobs and restaurant work to the unpredictable but thrilling journey of a full-time photography career.

In the beginning, I just had a borrowed camera and close to zero understanding of photography, let alone how to operate a profitable business. I made a conscious decision to embrace the unknown. It was a decision that embodied Tony Robbins’s advice to “burn your boats at the shore”. While some might see this as a crazy risky move, for me it has proven to be one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.

By simply beginning the journey and putting in reps to gain experience behind the lens and learn how to run a business, I’ve crafted a career that now affords me unparalleled freedom at 22 years old. It’s a career that allows me to explore new places, immerse myself in new learning experiences, discover and indulge in new passions, spend time with my loved ones and make new friends along the way. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredible clients and direct large-scale campaigns that have broadened my horizons in ways I could never have anticipated.

The decision to uproot and relocate to new cities might be seen as intimidating, yet every move I’ve made has broadened my network and created new opportunities for both my career and personal growth. This willingness to be open to potential and venture into the unfamiliar has allowed me to uncover new perspectives, skills, and passions.

This appreciation for risk extends beyond my professional life; it’s in everything I do. From snowboarding to surfing, exploring spirituality to building relationships, optimizing my lifestyle to sharing my story with the world – all these pursuits involve a certain degree of risk. But, to me, these risks are what create the most enriching experiences – the sweet nectar of life – capturing the classic risk vs reward dynamic.

Looking back, I’m deeply grateful for every leap of faith, big or small, that I’ve made. The sense of fulfillment and growth they’ve brought is immeasurable. And, excitingly, it feels as though this journey of risk and reward is only just beginning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I use my lens to capture compelling stories, producing high-end photography and videos. I have a deep-seated curiosity and passion for flow states and altered states of consciousness. My work is recently focused on capturing individuals, brands, events, and places that embrace the pursuit of these flow states. Whether it’s extreme sports such as snowboarding, surfing, speed flying, or flow states achieved via meditation, yoga, hiking, or music, people find their flow in a myriad of ways. I am dedicated to narrating the story of human optimization, profound passion, and the exploration of the enchanting universe of flow.

My portfolio encompasses a wide range of content, from short films and brand story videos to product showcases and social content. My journey to where I am today has been one of exploration and devotion. Being a creative entrepreneur has been a volatile ride, with periods of survival on a diet of oatmeal, worrying about paying bills, and biking to client meetings and shoots without a car. Yet it’s also led me to directing and shooting large campaigns and mentoring emerging creative entrepreneurs on how to convert their passion into a paycheck.

While the journey so far hasn’t always been smooth, it has undeniably been fulfilling. Along the way, I’ve learned valuable lessons. If I were to distill these into a few key quotes, they would be:

“Adventure, Serve, Love, Celebrate”
“Inputs = Outputs”
“1% Better every day”
“Trade expectations for appreciation”
“Follow your own compass”
“Seek novelty, make ART, be of service”
“you are not expected to finish the work, nor are you excused from it”
“players of the finite game play within the rules, players of the infinite game play with the rules”
“For things to change, you’ve got to change.”
“Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.”
“Value resourcefulness, not resources”
“its better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war”
“clouds do not assume their form, waves do not force their way through the sea, so why do you clutch so tightly your tiny little map?”

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’m still new to Denver but the gems I’ve discovered while living here would make an itinerary like this:

Day 1- Day trip to Copper Mountain for snowboarding or mountain biking in Aspen (season dependent).
Day 2 – Morning yoga class and a juice from Nurture.
Day 3 – Slacklining and picnic at Sloan’s Lake, burgers at Avanti for dinner.
Day 4 – Boxing class and sauna at Nurture.
Day 5 – Grab a drink at Forget Me Not, then go dancing at Beacon.
Day 6 – Explore local shops and art, then head to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Day 7 – Cold plunge at Denver Sports Recovery, then relax in a city park.

This city is dripping with creativity, life, and joy. it’s not hard to find something that excites you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My brother Tenzin has been a beacon of light and a trusted companion throughout my life. We navigated the unconventional and challenging phases of our childhood and adult life together, both of us raised by our single mother – an angel who did a remarkable job – along with four amazing siblings, which came with its challenges.

Tenzin has always exuded an optimistic mindset focused on growth, and his approach to life has inspired me more than he likely realizes. It was Tenzin who first introduced me to the transformative world of self-help books, forever altering my life trajectory. Thanks to him, I started reading and I discovered life-changing works such as Dr. Joe Dispenza’s “Becoming Supernatural”, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, “Psycho-Cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz, “Stealing Fire” by Jamie Wheal, “Living Untethered” by Michael A. Singer, “The Third Door” by Alex Banayan, and over 80 other titles that significantly impacted my life and fueled my journey towards abundance.

Through all my crazy adventures, Tenzin has had my back. He has clever ways of helping me see how much life rips, especially when I’m feeling down. For his unwavering support, his inspiration, and his impact on my life, I want to dedicate this shoutout to my brother Tenzin.

Website: noahslens.com

Instagram: noahs.lens