JEROME POLLOS // Don't be trendy; Be timeless (#001)

JEROME POLLOS

Jerome Pollos (@TheRomer) is an award-winning Northwest photojournalist specializing in documentary work, weddings and portraits for clients who love timeless, candid moments.

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

Joining the U.S. Navy right out of high school as a self-described "troublemaker", he was sent to journalism school in Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, studying broadcast journalism, TV and radio; writing, and a two-week course on photojournalism — which he unceremoniously failed. After a deeply emotional photography assignment, while stationed in Washington, D.C., he saw the true power of photography and his love for the craft grew assignment by assignment. Pollos had an illustrious 13-year career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but searching for greater creative control and financial freedom, took the freelance plunge in 2014. After a rocky start, he has excelled as an award-winning editorial, wedding, and portrait photographer in the Idaho and Northwest. 

When I was thinking of how best to start this weekly series, at first, I gravitated to the idea of interviewing a “big name” photographer, capitalize on their status and get listeners hooked from the get-go. But I realized early on that didn’t jibe with my whole philosophy for undertaking this – I’m in it for the long haul. Obviously I want to connect with incredible photojournalists the world over, but the soul and purpose of this show – educating photographers on the art of visual storytelling, from photographers with stories of their own that fascinate me.

So, when I stepped back to thinking about photographers with fascinating stories, unique philosophies, and with whom I’ve got a personal connection— it was actually pretty obvious who to invite first. My mentor and friend Jerome Pollos – who gave my career a massive kick-start at my first internship at the Coeur d’Alene Press back in 2010.

In this episode we unpack a ton of interesting stories about finding your visual style as a photographer, how to totally screw up a long-term documentary photo project, and making the earth-shattering move from a staff photographer position to a full-time freelancer (and not losing your mind and bank account in the process). I hope you guys get as much out of this listening as I did recording it.

Enjoy! 

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