Wait so do you just travel around and shoot what ever you feel like shooting? You know, like blow with the breeze of intuition...
Yes
January 2013
Hey Kevin, I am in a band that is in need of artwork/ photography for a new album. How might I go about locking down the rights to a photo of yours to use as cover art?
I have many photos for sale with a royalty free licence on iStockphoto. If you don’t see it on there let me know.
You're a such talented photographer.
Thank you
Your photos are beautiful! Do you find it difficult to process and fine tune photos on the small screen of the iPhone?
Thanks! That hasn’t really been an issue for me. I think I’m looking at the picture more as a whole now than when I processed on a computer screen. I also use filters and so there aren’t many small, fine tunable adjustments.
Big fan. Inspired, as a photographer, and person, by what you do. What kind of computer do you have?
Thank you. I have a 2008 MacBook.
Your photographs are what my soul looks like. Keep on keepin' on, my friend.
Thank you
You're work makes me feel alive. What you're doing is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Photography has been a hobby of mine, but I've never been able to achieve shots like you have. If you wouldn't mind me asking, how did you get into photography and develop your skills as one? Did you take classes or are you just naturally gifted in it? What would I need to do to be able to do what you're doing? Thank you.
Thank you.
When I got a camera I shot a ton of pictures. I didn’t take any classes but learned the basics by trial and error.
Are you wanting to just travel or sell pictures and travel? If you’re wanting to do exactly what I’m doing I would start by getting your pictures on iStockphoto or another stock site and maybe a print site and see if that works for you. I think there are many paths that can lead to a lifestyle of travel and doing things my way might not be the easiest. I didn’t start out with a goal to travel and take pictures. The opportunity was there and I took it. Good luck to you and feel free to ask if you need more help.
Given the high volume of shooting you do and the lack of a good cataloging feature on the iPhone, what's your organization process? How do you keep raw, edited, posted images organized?
I have a edited folder on my phone and that’s about it.
You are very inspirational. I just put your mini-doc video up on my site. Keep at it man! I love what you're doing.
Thank you!
Also how would you describe your lifestyle? Is it satisfying?
It’s satisfying for me. There are unknowns everyday that keep things interesting.
What do you use to edit your photos?
vscocam & afterglow
Do you have a girlfriend?
nope
I'm addicted to VSCO because of you
It’s a great app
You said once that you started off just going on a mini adventure when you had time off work, but now that you are a full time explorer, what do you do for money?
My wording may have been a bit confusing. My main source of income has been from selling my photos since 2005 so I’ve been able to travel for a while. I’m a pretty conservative and cautious person so I started out taking short trips just to see how it would be and if it would be something I could do full-time.
What music do ye listen to on your travels?
I listen to podcasts and radio shows more often. Mumford and Sons is pretty good though.
I am planning a trip where I will be sleeping in a van with my dog. Do you ever get scared at night? Has anything ever really creeped you out?
Sometimes it can get scary but it’s just my own imagination. But I’ve never really been creeped out.
Have you used any other online company to do your prints, or has it just been with Society6?
S6 is the main one. I’ve sold some prints through One Kings Lane but they do flash sales with hand-picked photographs. It’s not they type of site where you can open up a print shop and have photos for sale all the time. It’s been a good place though. I was also recently contacted by RAD, a French company who aims to open up a print shop soon. And just toady I started a 500px account where you can sell canvases.
What app you use to edit your photos?
vscocam & afterglow
what apps do you use on your iphone to edit and process your pictures?
vscocam & afterglow
Hi Kevin! I love your photography and find it very inspiring. As a fellow photographer who often shoots with my iPhone, I'm wondering - do you edit on your phone and do you ever struggle with white balance? If so, how do you deal with it? I often find that photos look different (bluer, brighter, more constrast-y) on my iPhone than they do when viewed on a computer screen.
Thank you. I always edit on my iPhone. If you’re using an iPhone 4 or older, the auto white balance wasn’t nearly as good as it is on the newer models. I have noticed not all iPhone screens are the same. Not all computer screens are either so it can be difficult to figure out the problem.
Beautiful work. Absolutely stunning. Love from Malaysia (:
Thank you. I have a good friend over there right now.
don't you feel alone sometimes?
I haven’t so far. I have my family in California, a couple good friends in Portland and all of you guys.
Hey your a real inspiration and i love your work.what camera and editing apps do you use?
Thanks. The iPhone camera, vscocam & afterglow.
Congrats on just being an amazing person
shucks
Your photos are breathtakingly beautiful. If I could have prints off all of your photos I totally would.
Thank you.
How are you printing your work when you sell it on society6?
I don’t do any printing myself. Society6 does all of that for you.
Has anyone at Nat. Geo. seen your pix? You're just the kind of photographer they hire! Write to the head of Photography and direct him/her to your site. You're great, and I wish you all the luck in the world.
I entered a few in the Instagram contest they were doing last year so they’ve seen some of my stuff. Thanks.
So which one's the more recent photo, the one on Forge Mag's post or your display picture? Would you mind telling us about both? :)
Forge Mag pic was taken in Oct 2012 and my display pic was summer 2008. The more recent one was taken with a self-timer in the San Juan range of the rocky mountains in Colorado. I was working with the company One Kings Lane who needed a picture of me for the feature they ran. The older pic was taken by a friend named Phoenix at Pacific Market in Portland, OR.
You make me sad that I bought a D4. :)
DSLRs are not a bad thing
For the past few months since following you I've noticed your popularity grow constantly on my tumblr feed. When I first came across your photography I was stunned to find out that you primarily use your iphone now and are able to capture such quality pictures. I'm happy that this has taken off for you because you deserve it, you're an extremely talented. You bring me inspiration and I hope one day to partake in traveling and selling my photography. Wish you all the best, Jeff Filman.
Thanks so much Jeff. I hope you will partake in the traveling some day. There’s really nothing like it.
Are you a bible-believing christian?
I sure am
Your work is amazing! it's very inspiring because i also shoot a lot with my iphone ! I recognized your photo from the afterglow guest filters, i wondered a long time about the photographer of the buffalo ! I even used you as a subject for an essay about young renewing artists ! Great job !
Thanks! Flattered you used me as an essay subject.
Do you have an Instagram?
yes, @kevinruss
Come to Santa Cruz, Ca!! You would absolutely adore it here. It's close to Arroyo Grande!
I was there for a short time in July! It was really nice and hope to come through again sometime.
Awesome stuff man. Brilliant work
Thank you
Truly inspiring shots man, and to travel and take photos for a living sounds damn good to me. Are there any countries you want to visit that you have not visited yet?
Too many to name. I’ve only been to a few but would like to go back and also see everywhere else as some point.
FORGE. Magazine: iPhone Photographer Extrordinaire Kevin Russ →
forgeartmag.com
If you’re on Instragram or Tumblr and not following Kevin Russ, what are you doing with your life? If it’s beautiful, and on the west coast, Kevin has probably photographed it. Landscapes, nature, women, nature, animals, cars, food, or nature, Kevin has done it all.
Find out all the trials,…
Teaser for FORGE Mag’s first issue
Your photos are really inspiring. Keep up the amazing work. You planning on coming to the east coast anytime?
Thank you. Yes for sure but probably not this year.
Fantastic work! Very inspirational for the "budget" set of us who can't afford 10k in kit. Thank you for sharing your vision!
Thanks! Yes, can’t be a $1 app that does all photo processing.
Your photography is absolutely quality! I've never really found many photographers that inspire me quite like your work does! Truly amazing.
Thank you!
I stumbled onto your work today and I am so impressed that you have ventured into nature to take these photos. Its a mix of John Muirr and Ansel Adams with an approach to life. I've been wanting to take a sabbatical sometime in the future and travel and design. How has funding for food and gas served for you? I have an Explorer I would love to do the traveling in. Do you find work in various places or did you save up money before the trek?
Thank you. All my funding comes from selling my photos as stock photography and prints. Traveling like this wasn’t something I planned on but just happened as the opportunity came.
Is there a trick to making sure your shots are in focus, especially wildlife? I've found that any little movement and the shots blurry. Your work is simply amazing by the way.
No trick, just hold steady. Sometimes holding your breath can help.
how can i email you?
kevin.russ @ gmail
Has apple approached you yet to do a iPhone commercial? I bet it's only a matter of time!
No. That would be pretty neat if they did.
Hey, I had a question about selling your photos (and forgive me if it's been answered before; I noticed you get a lot of similar questions about things like editing apps). How much of your income is generated from iStockphoto versus Society6/Getty? I would love to be doing what you're doing and I've saved some startup money but since I'm not a well profiled stock photo contributor I'm worried about said money running out.
If you build up a good-sized portfolio, the income can be fairly consistent. I can imagine there are thousands of other location independent jobs out there but if you’re wanting to sell photos as stock and print it could take a while to get things rolling.
Here are some approx figures for income % and files for sales from those three sites: iStock 75% (13k files), Getty 12.5% (3k), and Society6 12.5% (128).
