We were lucky to catch up with Tracy Barbutes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I am an independent photojournalist, writer and licensed FAA drone pilot, and I love what I do! All of my income is derived from work as a photographer and writer, with much of my revenue coming from editorial assignments. I was on staff with news organizations for several years, though I’ve spent most of my career as a freelancer. I am fortunate to be based near one of Yosemite National Park’s entrances, and I’m grateful for this sacred space, and to the original caretakers, the Sierra Miwok, Ahwahneechee, Mono and Paiute peoples.

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.

As an independent photojournalist, my clients include Reuters, National Geographic Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, High Country News, VOX, The Guardian, The New York Times, Condé Nast and more. As a commercial photographer, I’ve worked with clients in the restaurant, winery, lodging, bakery, coffee, agriculture, tourism and real estate industries.

In 2013, a 400+ square-mile wildfire burned in our backyard, changing the trajectory of my career. To that point, I had been covering everything from politics, crime, breaking news and features, to sports, portraits and special events. Since the Rim Fire, much of my work has focused on the wildfire crisis and the changing climate, especially in my spiritual and physical home in California’s Sierra Nevada region. The spring following the Rim Fire, I took a 40-hour, in-person course alongside firefighters, gaining an invaluable education in understanding the dynamics of fire behavior; the infrastructure and chain of command of fires; taking/reading weather; deploying a fire shelter; building fire lines, etc. Since receiving my Wildland Wildfire Training certification, I have safely, confidently documented countless wildfires, creating imagery and relaying facts to help communities better understand the natural disaster impacting their lives.

Of course, I continue to document a wide variety of subjects, but my focus remains on wildfire, our changing climate and rural life.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I am grateful for Women Photograph, and I certainly wish the organization had existed when I first began my freelance career. The organization has been elevating the voices of women* and nonbinary visual journalists since 2017. It’s been invaluable, not only as an organization pushing for equality and diversity in photojournalism, but also for creating a safe place to find support, as well as for offering learning and networking opportunities.

I am a member of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), though only for a dozen years or so. The organization advocates for the legal rights of visual journalists, issues connected to First Amendment access, drone regulations, copyright, unlawful assault on visual journalists and cases that affect the ability to record events and issues of public interest. As an independent, it’s a relief to know I have an organization that has my back. I’ve had many occasions to contact NPPA’s legal counsel, who always responded immediately and effectively.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the many things I love about being independent is that there are never-ending opportunities to learn and grow – as a business person, as a creative and as a human being. Obviously some of those lessons and learning curves can be frustrating or painful as they are deciphered, yet each one is valued and ultimately, appreciated.

I don’t know that I had any one life-changing, business-changing epiphany, just lesson upon lesson, before concluding that minimizing myself wasn’t a successful business tactic. I grew up in a Midwestern household that taught me to minimize myself – at a time when career options for women were extremely limited and sexist. Risk-taking, especially for women, was never discussed.

At the start of my freelance career, those early misguided values led to unhealthy business dynamics, including underbidding, overworking and not being secure in saying no. That mindset wasn’t supportive of a sustainable, independent business. Once I dismantled those core beliefs, everything shifted for the positive. I learned in no uncertain terms, to always (always!) have a signed contract before starting any assignment/job/creative endeavor – even if (especially if) the work is for family, friends or acquaintances. I learned the power of saying no, as well as putting my creative energy where I believe it’s a good fit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tracybarbutes.com/
• Instagram: @tracybarbutes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybarbutes/
• Other: Threads – @tracybarbutes
  Bluesky – @tracybarbutes.bsky.social

Image Credits

All images ©Tracy Barbutes.