We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Peschong recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning the craft of photography, really any craft, but especially photography, is an incredibly fun and fulfilling experience. With photography, there’s a myriad of ways to interpret a scene or manage the light. Getting started in photography, I went out of my way to expose myself to as many different aspects of the field as I could. I hung out with portrait people, wildlife folks, landscape shooters, sports guys, and journalists. Just to try and see what they saw, how they shot it, and spark my creativity. Fast forward to doing that for a few years, I start going on trips worldwide – going “full time” with these folks. I’ve never had more fun or learned more.

I’ll never forget – I’ve never considered myself a “wildlife photographer,” even though I’ve always loved animals. I mean, who doesn’t? But going out on a limb and heading to the Faroe Islands to check out puffins from 10ft away, going to the depths of Alaska to see wild coastal brown bears feeding for salmon from 25ft away in an open john boat, or Botswana to see leopards and cheetahs feed – those are experiences that you’ll never forget. It’s such a rush to see nature, in all aspects, truly out in the wild. Coming back home really makes you appreciate the local scenery and wildlife specific to the area. I never considered myself a “wildlife” photographer before, I’ve always been a landscape and session photographer, but might have to add some wildlife in there!

Andrew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

South Dakota is typically known for its vast plains and farmland; occasionally, folks are also aware of our cows and bison herd. But it’s really much more than that, and there are countless “hidden” treasures around the state that you’d never expect. My mission is to showcase the beauty of the state that you wouldn’t expect. My background is perfect for this: I have a strong technical background coupled with a strong creative background, which allows my images to stand apart from the rest. Creatively speaking, my images grab you and pull you in – they allow your eye and mind to wander and contemplate beauties and thoughts you might not expect. My images are timeless and communicate much more than just the scene – they share the emotion and soul of the scene – which is very hard to do. Therefore, my work is best showcased when folks want to showcase the beauty of our state while still having “statement” pieces to really elevate the room. Anyone can take a photo, but it takes so much more to truly create a captivating, timeless piece of art.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In photography, there are many different subsets and opinions about the craft. Everyone has a view, and, of course, they all think they are right. Being an art field, this approach doesn’t always “jive” and can be shown in a sort of “competition” you might see, especially in large cities or online forums. You’ve got professionals to hobbyists, and everyone in between, sharing their opinions on photos and everyone trying to climb to “the top” – whatever that means to you.

I knew this going into the field; it can be a bit of a cliche, and I made it a point to avoid that “competition” at all costs. “Art,” by definition, is subjective, and everyone is going to have a different viewpoint on it. Luckily, around my area, we have a very supportive photographic community that is both extremely varied but also welcoming. This is a bit unusual and one of those things you don’t think much about until you start to get more exposed to other areas.

Therefore, when going out to numerous conferences or on long trips, I made sure to be as friendly and supportive to everyone I met. When you find the same qualities in others, it’s immediately obvious, and you hit it off to become lifelong friends. So, it’s not really a lesson to “unlearn” as it is a cliche to avoid in the first place. We’re all making art, whatever that means to you, and we’re all in this journey together.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media, or just starting a following in any regard, can be quite an undertaking. But it can also be made significantly easier by following a few core principles and leaning on a few tools. When everything is digital, nothing is digital – so essentially, we’re back to a pre-digital era. What this means to you is that when focusing on your online presence, sure, you need to have the standard bases covered, such as posting timely, engaging content. But you also need to ensure that authenticity comes through in posts and replies. There’s so much “noise” out there that standing out means being authentic and engaging with people – that’s what they’ll remember.

When I started primarily offering prints, I made it a point to hand deliver each print and talk with my new supporter for at least a little bit. Put a face to the name and always remember that there is a human on the other end of that screen. I think we often forget that in this overwhelming digital age we live in. And it’s not going anywhere either. So I would suggest that, no matter what avenue you might be communicating on, you always remember that there is a person on the other end and that authenticity, coupled with kindness, will always be the key.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evermor.online
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evermor.photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajpeschong/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/evermor