Wesley Verhoeve
WESLEY VERHOEVE
Photographer / Writer / Director
New York • San Francisco
www.wesley.co
www.oneofmany.co
Instagram @wesleyverhoeve
Twitter @wesley
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a photographer, writer and director with a focus on portraits, travel, and narrative editorial storytelling.”
My purpose is to find, capture, and share meaningful stories that positively impact our world.
Whether through photography, writing or video, I enjoy working with publications, startups and brands to tell meaningful stories that spread wide and far.
Having a background in business and marketing allows me to serve as a translator and bridge between the artistic and the commercial side of storytelling.
For my project One of Many, I explore the movement of creatives leaving NYC and SF to pursue work and life elsewhere. I have captured the creative communities of twelve cities in portrait and writing, with more to come.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
My path was non-linear, and in a way a bit circular even. I grew up with a photographer father so that was an activity I was always surrounded by. In high school I was obsessed with drawing and writing comic books, but then ended up going to business school and teaching some courses. The next chapter in my life brought me to the music industry. I worked for several major labels and ended up starting my own label and management firm. I worked with creative startups as well, and even worked with Apple to provide the music for the launch of the first iPad. After a decade in that industry I was in need of a change. I ended up completing the full circle and back in love with photography and writing. I now work with amazing publications and startups to tell meaningful stories.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD, WHAT DO THEY USUALLY LACK?
I can only speak for myself. In the past, I've been impatient. I have failed to ask for help when I needed it. I have been stubborn. I have failed to see the bigger longterm picture and chose to focus on short term or vanity gains. I have failed to get out of my own way. None of these things contributed to my success.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I'm split my time between client work and personal work. I love helping startups and publications tell stories through photography, writing and video. I'm working with various startups in SF and NYC to create beautiful team pages full of editorial style staff shots instead of the boring head shots you often see. I'm also working on travel stories for different magazines. As far as personal work goes, I'm preparing the second season of my project One of Many for which I travel around capturing creative communities across the country in portrait and writing.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
My project One of Many represents my style quite well. I shoot portraits in which I attempt to bring out a version of that person that is most representative of who they feel they are. It's an intimate and sensitive way to do this, but also a great fun time for both my subject and myself. There is a whole lot of talking and then really just a tiny bit of picture taking at the end, but I try to leave it all in the resulting photo. Everyone is beautiful when they are comfortable.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I am quite pleased with my current balance.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Sometimes there can be times where I have so many exciting client projects that are hard to say no to, which means I have less time to work on personal work. That's a luxury problem of course.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HOUR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I am lucky to work with an amazing assistant who handles many of the tasks I am not particularly good at. He is worth every penny.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
Relax, set a goal and take baby steps towards it every day. It will take forever.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I'd geek out about technical matters with an older generation of photographers and directors.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I am always excited to collaborate with startups that understand the power of telling a great story. Whether that is helping them enhance their marketing or team photography, or creating video pieces. It's all about meaningful stories that move people and achieve goals.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT?
An open mind, a strong vision, clear goals, a collaborative approach to achieving those goals, and a team effort to get the work out far and wide.
Producer
WHAT IS YOUR RATE?
Budgets vary per project. I work with tiny startups in their seed round, as well as large multinationals preparing global campaigns. I also work with publications of various sizes. If the project and the story is of interest to me and the team is great, I will make it work for my client.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Very easy! I am a big fan of a concise short email about a potential collaboration, followed by a phone call or in person meeting if it seems to be a fit.
list@wesleyverhoeve.com
HOW Do you stay Creative?
It's a job. Show up daily.
This member profile was originally published in October 2016.