Meet Jakob Wandel | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jakob Wandel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jakob, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Since I’ve been running my business / freelancing, work-life balance has been a huge challenge for me. Admittedly, the first 2 years there was no balance – it was all work. I have, however, discovered that finding the balance is crucial to a successful career, especially a career that blends passion and client work.

Over the last 8 months, I’ve dedicated a lot of time to finding a routine that allows me to have a healthy work-life balance and it is the most important and rewarding thing I have probably ever done for myself.

Because I’ve been able to do this, my productivity, creativity, and efficiency have been better than ever before. Now I make sure my mind and body are taken care of before anything work related.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a photographer, which is always weird for me to say it like that because I am so much more than JUST that. But for the sake of my art, I am an image maker.

I am just generally really proud of all the different types of work I’ve been able to create over the years and how many memories are permanent because of my art. That is the most rewarding thing for me; to look back at photos and think of all the stories I have associated with them.

No, it hasn’t been easy to get to where I am but it has been fun. I have put in a lot of hours to get where I am and some days it was tiring and I would be working until the sun came up but I’ve learned so much about myself and my craft through this process.

I think obstacles, failures, and challenges are all great and I welcome them with open arms. Without them, we wouldn’t have the chance to reflect and grow. I think the best times in my life were followed by the worst times and it was because of the adversity that I was able to see what needed to be fixed. There is a book called “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday that talks about all of this – 10/10 would recommend.

Hmm one thing I would want the world to know about me… Probably that the reason photography has worked for me is because it allows me to capture fleeting moments, things that I know will be valuable to me or others in the future. It is one of the most tangible ways to remember the past.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ok so my best friend Shawn flies in and I pick him up from the airport and the first place we are going is to Prince’s Hot Chicken.

After that, we’d go get a drink at my favorite speakeasy, Attaboy in East Nashville.

I am a big coffee drinker, so there would be at least 5 different coffee shops on the itinerary.

I would spend an afternoon showing him some of my favorite non-touristy things – places I like to hike or mediate at. My favorite used book store and for sure stopping by Grimey’s to check out some records.

And then most obliviously, we would drink some whiskey and go to different spots around town and listen to some live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow choosing just ONE thing? That is super tough.

My dad is probably the most important person and influence on this journey of being a business owner.

He’s shown me how to be resilient, passionate, thorough, and tough when things aren’t going as planned.

Website: jakobwandel.com

Instagram: @jakobwandel

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakobwandel/