Jared Whitney
Travel | Last Updated: March 15, 2021
I’m Jared Whitney and I’m a travel, adventure, and wedding photographer in Portland, Oregon USA. I’ve been shooting professionally for over eight years and have been full-time for over five years.
All the way back in high school, I can remember being interested in photography. It wasn’t until I got my first iPhone in 2011 that I began to shoot more often.
I created an Instagram account and quickly stepped into the creative world by meeting up with other like-minded artists who wanted to make beautiful images and cultivate community at the same time.
My first digital camera was the Canon Rebel XTi. While small and not a full-size frame, the camera was nonetheless a fantastic entry into the digital world and helped me procure some of my first images as a professional.
After leaving a desk job in the medical software business at the end of 2014, I began to promote myself more as a photographer ready and willing to shoot just about anything.
By the middle of 2015, I had finally begun to work consistently as a full-time photographer and creative.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege to work with countless couples, organizations, non-profits, and agencies to produce beautiful, lasting, and meaningful media to add life and color to my clientele’s lives and businesses.
Some of my more notable clients have been Nike Inc., GQ, Avis, Danner, Timex, and Remember Nhu.
Cameras
Canon 5D Mark III x2: The Canon 5D Mark III has been one of the most faithful full-frame digital cameras I’ve ever used. While there are several other newer versions of the Canon Mark series, I have always appreciated the versatility of this absolute workhorse.
The colors, tones, and balance have continually provided me and my clients exactly what we need for the job.
Lenses
Sigma 35mm f/1.4: My go-to lens for years has been the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. When fully primed, the lens never fails to capture crisp, beautiful images. It’s an incredible lens when it comes to portraits. It remains as sharp as a tack at the 1.4 aperture – even in low light.
Canon 85mm f/1.8: While Canon certainly offers a higher quality Canon 85mm f/1.8 through the L series, the truth is that I’ve never quite enjoyed the speed of that lens. Sometimes you’ve just got to stick with what you love and the Canon 85mm f/1.8 has been quick, sharp, and incredibly reliable.
Canon 50mm f/1.8: The famous “plastic fantastic,” the Canon 50mm f/1.8 typically comes stock with new small frame cameras (i.e.: Canon Rebel series). As a professional, I’m typically not shooting at 50mm.
In the rare event that I do, this lens offers the biggest value for its fantastic quality images, and for such a low price.
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8: My career in weddings has also given me the opportunity to shoot films. The Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 with stabilization has been a fantastic asset in capturing stunning moving images on my Canon 5D Mark III.
Film Cameras
Canon AE-1: Several years ago, I decided to give film photography a try as a personal hobby. As a professional, it is easy to get lost in the myriad of countless shutter clicks that the digital camera age allows.
Film invites me to slow down my pace and be far more thoughtful with composition and more selective with what I shoot in my personal and professional life.
Film Lenses
Canon 50mm f/2.8
Tokina 28mm f/2.8
Lights
Canon 430EX II: Most weddings and events I shoot do not require a ton of artificial light, but the Canon 430EX II has been extremely versatile.
Extras
Cliff Bars: The hours of a freelance photographer vary widely and sometimes you have to push through, and past, the typical meal times. I typically rotate between Peanut Butter Crunch and Chocolate Chip.
LED Flashlight: I’ve often found myself fumbling around in my Pelican 1510 Carry-On Case while in a dark environment, so I keep a long-lasting LED flashlight handy to ensure that I’ll always be able to find exactly what I’m looking for.
Power
Canon LP-E6N (4+)
Canon Battery Chargers (2+)
Bag/Case
Pelican 1510 Carry-On: Hardy, airtight, and extremely mobile. This carry-on size tank is simple to organize and easily goes anywhere in the world with me.
Hardware & Software
Apple MacBook Pro
Apple iMac
LaCie Rugged 2TB HardDrive (Many)
SanDisk Extreme 32GB (6+): Each card can hold a little over one-thousand images. Plus these particular cards can be read and downloaded quickly, which is a huge advantage during events and tight deadlines.
Adobe Lightroom: Impeccable organization and easy to use. Adobe continues to innovate and improve what continues to be the industry’s most used photo editing software. My favorite presets as of recent have been the Cascade Presets.
Final Thoughts & Advice
Shoot what you love! Trends come and go and it is easy to get in and get out quickly. Your skills as a photographer are like a muscle and get stronger with consistent use over time.
Whatever you do, don’t stop shooting and always find a way to challenge your art form and push yourself creatively.
Cheers!
www.jaredwhitney.com | @jaredwhitney
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