We recently connected with Isaiah “Frosty” Niemann and have shared our conversation below.

Isaiah “Frosty”, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

While working as a helicopter mechanic in the United States Marine Corps, I was stationed in San Diego, California, one of the most beautiful places in the country. I decided to buy a cheap camera from BestBuy to document the incredible landscape combined with the exciting adventures being a Marine was going to hold.

In my spare time, I started surfing, got a part-time gig at a surf shop and met Jorge, a board shaper and surfer. Knowing I had this new camera, he asked me to shoot some pictures of him surfing a newly shaped board. Swimming with my camera & shooting surfing pictures became my new norm. It was when another one of the surfers who I happened to also get pictures of offered to pay me for those shots that I realized I could turn this into a viable business.

Surfing is a special sport in that once the wave breaks, it is gone, never to be seen again. You could surf the best, biggest, more perfect wave of all time, but if there’s not a photographer there to capture it then it’s almost as if it never happened. The market for surf photography may be a small, niche market, but so is becoming a surf photographer. Swimming out into the ocean, where the waves are with an expensive, **heavy** piece of equipment to get right into the spot to get the shot means putting yourself in some pretty heavy, risky situations where you ARE going to get smoked by the waves often. This is something not many people are willing to do. Because of that and knowing, as a surfer myself, not only the “cool factor”, but also the importance of getting those surf photos that I could succeed doing what I love.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Isaiah Niemann, but everybody calls me “Frosty”. Originally from Nebraska, grew up in South Carolina, joined the Marine Corps moved to California & ultimately ended up in Hawaii. For now, I am traveling to capture unknown surf waves in Europe.

After buying a cheap camera to document my journey as a Marine, I ended up in the water realizing that there was potential to combine a newfound love of photography with my passion for surfing: surf photography. I started swimming with my 10 pound water housing & camera in surf-able waves to capture surfers catching waves. People around me noticed that I had this camera and I became the “go-to guy” for other events like weddings, military promotions, engagements, coming home from deployments, etc.

My brand, Frosty Photo, consists of photography, videography and social content production. We take special time with the client to get to know them in order to let their light shine through in the production, whether that be photos, videos, website design, launching a YouTube series or just getting more consistent with online social content.

Our zeal, ambition, and infectious enthusiasm will make it happen.
We work with individuals who want to capture the special moments and/or events that make them feel most alive.
We work with brands and surfers who have a need for water or product photography.
We work with individuals looking to increase their online exposure.

I also strongly believe in the arguably “lost art” of still photography. The beauty of capturing a single moment in time and allowing its beauty to live on.
We offer print photography for sale in our online store.

Photos that are meant to be hung behind your couch to inspire you to take the trip you’ve always wanted to take with the people you love.
Photos that are meant to be the backdrop for your corner office; to inspire you to accept the challenge in front of you and know that no matter how big the wave is, you can still choose to ride it and that can make all the difference.
Photos that are meant to inspire you to take life by the horns, be bold and rise every time you fall.

Surfing is all about failure. Sit on any beach and watch surfers of any skill level and you will see the same thing.
Some amazing waves ridden, TONS of wipeouts and surfers getting back on their board to do it over and over again – no matter how many times they fall. In fact, you will also see surfers jumping into the water after a great wave. Why? Because it’s not about perfection, it’s about enjoying the ride.

Our purpose with Frosty Photo is to bring back the joy of the ride through inspired photography, videography & content creation.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

I am lucky enough to have my wife, Dana, as my business partner. We met in Hawaii. She had quit her corporate sales job, sold everything & moved to this tropical island in the sun. She had picked up a job working at the most well-known Chiropractor’s office in our little beach town to meet people. I hurt my back surfing. When she invited herself to join me going up to the North Shore for a surfing dawn patrol (surf sesh as the sun is rising) 2 weeks after we met, I knew I was in for the long haul.

Ever since then, she has masterminded to help structure the business. She handles many of the logistic, business & admin side of things and shocks me with her creative talent & photography skills every day.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As an artist, it is capturing moments that may never happen again. Taking the time to focus on the beauty of these moments is worth the long swims, gnarly reefs, and run ins with sharks.
As a creative, it is the ability to take those moments captured by the camera and turn them into something to be treasured in unique & creative ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frostyphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frostyphoto7.2/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@frosty_photo/

Image Credits
All photo rights are maintained by Frosty Photo.