Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Martin.
Hi Jake, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hey, I’m Jake. I’ve been a KC-based photographer for almost 10 years now. I’m currently working for a production company out of Lee Summit called Rock Road Creative, and I continue to photograph as my daily job. I’m a small-town guy from Mulvane, KS.
I graduated from WSU in 2010 with a degree in communications and then landed in KC after a video internship with Sporting KC in 2011-2012. From there, I went on to work for Pro Athlete Inc., as a full-time photographer in the baseball and e-commerce markets, and following that I was blessed with a photographers position at Garmin International. Every single job I’ve held in KC has offered me so much in return.
Whether that is experience and knowledge, gained confidence, or new friendships, I am so grateful for everything that’s happened here in this beautiful town. Kansas City is home.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely hasn’t been a smooth road to where I’m at today. Photography is immensely competitive in KC and it’s a never-ending learning endeavor, so I’m constantly learning new ways to shoot and edit.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a commercial photographer first and foremost. I love to shoot anything and everything and I can’t believe my passion has morphed into a career. My camera has taken me further than I would have ever imagined. I’ve traveled to 18 different countries now, studied orcas in the arctic circle on two different occasions, ran onto the field with the chiefs multiple times, been in the pits at Nascar races, flown with RedBull Air Race Pilots, and met so many amazing people along the way.
I’ve shot lots of amazing projects for lots of brands, but what I’m most proud about is the simple fact of getting to do what I do, every day.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Definitely a trouble maker. Growing up in a small town with not a lot to do, means you’ve got to be pretty creative sometimes. My friends and I were always looking for the next adventure and we always carried around an old VHS video camera to record our shenanigans. Whether that was making our own ‘crime’ movies, English class projects, or recreating the MTV show Jackass, we always had that camera ready to go.
That being said… It seems that even at an early age, I knew I wanted to work with cameras.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jakepmartinphoto.com
- Instagram: jakepmartinphoto
