There are so many artists and explorers I've connected with via Instagram and Tumblr lately. Their work and stories are the inspiration for a new series called "In Our Nature." It will give a glimpse into what drives and inspires these creative and adventurous people. To kick things off, here is an interview with Brittany J. Reid, a weekend warrior whose photos I've long admired on Instagram. All the photos in this post are her work.
Name: Brittany J. Reid
Place of Birth: Portsmouth, NH
Place of Residence: Seattle, Washington
What are your must-have items when you travel?
- My camera (Canon 5D + Sigma 35mm lens)
- My Pursecase (It's my phone case/wallet, invented by my best friend and featured on the ABC show Shark Tank! I have one in just about every color and I seriously do not go anywhere without it—I no longer have a need to use a purse or bag that gets filled with tons of stuff I don't need, which is important because who likes to be weighed down on an adventure!)
- Multiple beanies (Because I can never decide which color I want when I'm grabbing them on my way out the door)
Who do you most admire?
I most admire my fiancé! He is a chef and he's one of the most hard-working, passionate people I know. I watched him develop his skills and passion for cooking and it's been really inspiring to see. Over the course of a few years, he went from knowing basically nothing about it to being a really incredible cook. He is actually a main reason why, over this past year, I decided to push myself and pursue photography more than I ever have. Watching him find what he loves and become great at it has been so awesome to see and has inspired me to do the same.
How did you first get into photography?
I honestly can't even remember a time that I started "getting into" it...I've pretty much always been into it. My parents were constantly taking photos of me and my sister when we were kids (they still do) and we were given disposable cameras probably around age five or six and I haven't stopped since. I took one class in college, but other than that, I've just been learning on my own through trial and error, friends, and online tutorials.
What's your favorite place or thing to photograph and why?
My friends! I love photographing beautiful people in beautiful places. I love the people in my life and I love being surrounded by nature, so a combination of both is ideal.
What is your day job, and how do you balance work and pursuing your passions?
I work for a home medical equipment billing company here in Washington. It's been my full-time job since I moved here almost two years ago. I work the typical Monday-Friday work week and thankfully my fiancé does, too, so we really love to take advantage of our weekends off. We take mini road trips as often as possible and, other times, just exploring around Seattle does the trick. There are so many gorgeous places and fun activities in the pacific northwest, it's easy to get out and take photos wherever I end up. I'm currently in the process of planning our upcoming wedding, but once that has happened, I will have some more time and plan on doing some more portrait and hopefully wedding photography in my spare time.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
When I was young, every day before I left for school, my dad would say "Have the best day you can have" or "It's the only September 3, 1999 [or whatever day it was] you're ever going to have—make it a good one!" and things like that. It's such a simple sentiment, but I think that got me used to making the most of every day since I was really young. Also, my mom really encouraged me to study abroad in New Zealand when I was in college—I followed her advice and that experience was life-changing. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and sparked my desire for adventure, which I'll have for the rest of my life.
To see more of Brittany's work, you can follow her on Instagram (@brittanyexplores) or visit her website.
