Meet Dale Frink | Wildlife Photographer and Naturalist

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

Hi Dale, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After taking my goals into consideration, starting my business was the most logical choice I could have made at the time. Total creative control over my work and putting in only the hours I wanted to put in where incredibly important, but establishing my business meant that I could also invest time and money into products of passion. Even the best of jobs become stagnant without the occasional influx of satisfaction that comes from a passion project.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography is the result of seeing the world in ways I never thought would be possible. I want people to believe that the natural world isn’t just beautiful, but that it is also accessible. Anyone can have an adventure and experience things they never dreamed possible and my photography will hopefully lead people towards that whether or not they invest in a print, click a “like” button, or pay a compliment.

It was an easy path to start on, I actually fell into photography accidentally while pursuing a different career path! Walking that path though and continuing on it has become progressively more difficult yet simultaneously more rewarding as the days go by. Professional wildlife photographers compete with amateur photographers willing to post or give away their work for free in exchange for exposure, and only the best really rise to the level where their work generates passive income. I wouldn’t have it any other way though, because my work has helped me contribute thousands of dollars to charitable organizations that I would never have been able to provide otherwise.

The simplest way to overcome the challenges in my line of work is simply to want whatever it is you want badly enough that you are willing to put in the time, investment, and effort in yourself. The photographer is more important than the camera equipment no matter how expensive the equipment is. Its a simple way with a simple description and yet it can still be the hardest thing in the world. The emotional toll of wanting to make a breakthrough can be very stressful. I am still trying to learn how to balance my goals and motivation with the need for self care. Sacrifice is what happens when balance isn’t achieved.

If the world was to know only one thing about my work and my brand its that I might make my living sharing the sights and sounds of the natural world, but I do so in an effort to give back and make a positive difference for those ecosystems I document. “Spreading awareness” isn’t enough and my work puts me in a position to take the extra step to make tangible differences.

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.
San Diego has so much to offer it feels like a week isn’t quite enough! If I was bringing someone important to me for their first week each day would have to be spent a little bit differently. A day spent on a chartered fishing boat looking for whales and other marine life while trying to catch some large fish to have for dinner is an obvious first choice for me. Hiking in Anza Borrego State Park is also one of the most beautiful Southern California experiences anyone can have and there is the potential to stop at different spots on the way back to the city. Petco Park is arguably the most beautiful stadium in all of baseball so at least one Padres game would be mandatory if baseball was in session. It’s San Diego so planning too much in advance would be almost unfair to a first time visitor especially if the weather is nice.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Nobody deserves more credit than Jon and Fisk, for being my biggest supporters and showing me that I deserve to have courage.

Website: www.dalefrink.com

Instagram: @dalefrink

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalefrink

Image Credits
©Dale Frink