Conversations with Josh Hild

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Hild.

Hi Josh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My dad has always been a tech guy, he would bring old cameras home that I got to play around with. I was always fascinated with technology and how it worked. Fast forward to later high school where my friends and I started making sketch comedy videos for fun. I continued to get more and more comfortable with a camera in my hand and knew I wanted to go to school for film production.

After getting a degree in film production at the University of Minnesota I found more jobs through photography than I did with videos. I did product photography and real estate photography, and on the days I wasn’t working I would do street and portrait photography. The addiction became my profession and lead me to be a full-time freelance photographer.

I lived in Minneapolis during and after college. From about age 20-29, It wasn’t until October 2021 that I met my wife while traveling up in Northern Minnesota to take photos. She lived on the road full-time and traveled all over the US. I was fascinated with the nomadic lifestyle and hit the road with her last March (2022). We travel by car doing house and pet sitting so we have a place to stay. Some house sits only for a couple of days, and others for a couple of months. It allows us to travel the world without paying rent and utilities, while also getting to experience the true culture and neighborhoods of places you wouldn’t normally go to. As we travel I document our journeys through photography.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road when you take big risks, but I am forever grateful for the outcomes of taking the leap. I had to leave a toxic photography job (spent 5 years doing product photography) that was hard to get out of because of the lack of money and opportunities elsewhere. I finally reached out to a couple of real estate groups on Instagram asking if they were hiring photographers and one of them hit me back with “Yes! We are hiring”. The horrid 8-5 workday was out of my life and I had more flexibility in my schedule. This allowed me to focus on my relationship and what our plan was to leave Minnesota. My wife Halston showed me the travel lifestyle that my soul yearned for and I took the leap to get rid of 99% of my belongings. So I fit the essentials into my car and we hit the road together.

Along our travels, we have struggled with financial issues, car problems (most common), logistics, and so much more.

But worth every second of it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a freelance nature, portrait, and street photographer. I’m known for my dark and moody street photos in the rain and snow. I find comfort in being outside when everyone else is staying indoors. I’ve taken photos of heavy winds, blizzards, and many thunderstorms.

The photos I get while shooting in harsh elements really add depth, diffusion, and reflection to the lighting in the frame. The elements bring a strong feeling to the photos that I find calming and beautiful. While everyone is sitting inside drinking their hot chocolate on a snowy night, I’m out photographing the feeling and colors of it.

What do you think about luck?
Even just a little bit of luck and go a long way.

Being someone that doesn’t have things just come to them I’ve had to work hard to get to where I am, but do not disregard luck when it comes my way. Opportunity and timing really define an artist’s career. I’ve been so fortunate to have met so many amazing people along my travel and photography journey. That to me makes me feel super lucky.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unsplash.com/@joshhild
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshhild/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-hild-a26266bb/