Meet Jared Olson of East Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jared Olson.

Hi Jared, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I picked up my first camera in 2014 while studying Graphic Design and Communications. Growing up in North Dakota, I started out by focusing on landscape photography. After some time shooting different scenery across North Dakota, I slowly started taking photos of people, mainly senior portraits, family sessions, and even a few weddings. Soon after that, I started taking photos for my now wife (Kendra) and her sister when they started a band called “Tigirlily Gold” in our hometown of Hazen, ND. In 2017, I moved 1400 miles away from my small town to Nashville, TN to further my photography career on an unpaid internship at a well known photo studio in Franklin, TN. The internship only lasted a week before I started getting hired around town as a photography assistant for other photographers. I spent over three years working with some of the best photographers from around the world. Learning from these photographers and working on different sets every day was the best learning experience I could have asked for. Most of that time was spent on music sets, lighting for some of the biggest country artists in Nashville such as Garth Brooks, Reba, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban to name a few. I’ve been blessed to have the talented Lauren Alaina, Walker Hayes, Caitlyn Smith, and Ashley McBryde in front of my lens. And to this day, I still shoot all the photography for Tigirlily Gold, including their album art, press photos, and some of their live concerts. In 2021, I made a career move and went to the corporate world where I now focus on shooting advertising photography for brands under Mars Petcare and freelance on the side.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving to Nashville from North Dakota was smoother transition than I anticipated. I always felt very welcome on every set I was apart of, but when I was getting started, there was always a fear of where the work would continue to come from. I learned very quickly how powerful word of mouth is in this town and that if I worked hard, had a good attitude, and problem solved when there were issues at hand, I would continue to get work.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say I’m most known for photographing Tigirlily Gold. Watching their success in the music world and being there to capture a lot of it has been so fun and rewarding. I love listening to the music they create and then taking the photos that will help bring that music to life. Because I’ve been photographing the girls for over a decade, I already know what they will like and dislike before they look at a single photo. Documenting them backstage before major award shows, such as the CMT and ACM Awards and capturing them performing live on some of the biggest stages such as Lambeau Field and The Today Show have led to some of my all time favorite photos.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan on continuing my current path at Mars Petcare and photographing artists here in Nashville. I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world with a camera in my hand, and look forward to more of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.jaredolsonphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaredolsonphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaredolsonphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-olson-861578236/