Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Lerer.
Hi Matt, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
At a young age, I started traveling to the western part of the country with my father to go on fly-fishing adventures. Photography was a hobby of his so that was always included in the trips and it quickly became a hobby of mine. Almost immediately, my father realized that I saw things differently when looking through the eyepiece of a camera. As my passion for photography grew, so did my hobbyist portfolio.
When people started seeing my work, I always felt they were blowing smoke when they would tell me that this image or that image was amazing. Many years before I started selling my work, I had people approach me wanting to buy an image or two, but I could never bring myself to sell anything because I never felt it was worth anything monetarily. The doubt was always there. As time passed, so did the doubt associated with my ability to capture something special.
In 2019 I started with my fall to spring seasons of exhibiting in art shows around Florida. The nerves associated with the investments into show fees, tent rentals, hotels, and inventory, were immediately replaced with anxiousness and the excitement that goes along with people seeing my work. Besides my father getting me started on this wonderful journey, I would have to say that people’s reactions to my work are what brought me to where I am today. It’s seeing that look of happiness.
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?
I’d have to say that personally, it has been smooth for the most part. Getting out there is the struggle in my opinion. Taking that first leap of faith is always tough but it has to be taken at some point so better sooner than later. Once you’re out there and have exposure, it’s on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a professional photographer, my goal is to show people things that I have seen, that they may personally have seen, but not in the same way. I am known for the detail in my images and of course, for the luck that goes along with most of them.
From a rare winter storm ripping through Zion National Park that created a scene filled with an amazing amount of emotion to capturing an image of a great horned owl that decided to take over my tripod, no matter what, it’s all being in the right place at the right time.
What brings me the most pride is seeing the reactions on people’s faces when they see my work. That’s always number one. I don’t think anything sets me apart from others as far as being a photographer. Every photographer captures images of things they personally like or things that they think others will like.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think the number one thing that is most important to my success is the feeling I get from seeing the joy on people’s faces when they see my work and how it far outweighs the feeling I get when I sell my work. If the work is good, and it brings happiness to others, success falls into place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mattlererphotography.com
