Sometimes you see a photo that blows your mind. Queue this impeccably timed image from CA-based adventure and lifestyle photographer, Jo Savage. We caught up with Jo to discover how she plans and captures “the moment.”

You photograph a lot of surf & skate culture. Talk about your lifestyle and how this inspires your photography? 

I am fulfilled by capturing the activities I love to do. I’ve experienced how invigorating, cathartic, spiritual, and freeing it feels to connect to the ocean and cruise concrete waves.  

Surf and skate often take me to the most gorgeous landscapes and expose me to inspiring, talented, wonderful people from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.

I believe- if I put out the work I want to build my life around-- then that’s the work I’ll eventually get hired to create.  If things go to plan, I’ll be able to continue prioritizing those activities in my daily life. I find these activities (and the culture, communities and places that accompany) integral to my happiness.

Your photos all look personal. The subjects all look comfortable, like a good friend. Talk about your process. Do you generally orchestrate photoshoots or do you mostly photograph spontaneous moments?

Most (but not all) of the photos I take these days are orchestrated photo shoots.  Many times I conceptualize several key storytelling images beforehand, choose the location, time of day, art direction & style.  

I maintain space in my mind for unpredictable moments to occur, because many times that’s where the evoking imagery is born. And honestly, when shooting in the ocean unpredictability is the name of the game. 

The wonderful thing about photography is that there are always moments of spontaneity. I prepare by being trigger-ready to capture the genuine, in-between moments.  Building rapport with the person is always essential to achieve this. When you get two surf or skate enthusiasts together, add in boards, a recreational landscape, and a beautiful day it’s typically an easy formula for creative chemistry.

The nature of skate and the style of surf I tend to shoot is about having fun.  That is the culture- to be free, easy, flowing, creative and enjoying life’s simple pleasures in nature with friends.  So it makes it easy for us to be comfortable in the moment and build a friendship.

I generally select the most natural and unforced images. 

Do you ever leave home without your camera or put your camera down to enjoy a moment? If so, does this take a lot of self-restraint?

The short answer to your question is sometimes, yes, and occasionally.  

As a compulsive photographer. I find putting the camera down during a stunning, unique moment a tough discipline to adopt.  However,  through time, my relationship with photography while out enjoying nature has become more consciously balanced.  It’s important to be connected to the moments (and company) distraction-free.

I prefer not to leave the house without my camera.  More often than not, leaving my camera at home when I was “on the fence” is a choice I deeply regret.  

I’ve gotten to the point where too many photos in my catalog sit untouched. I don’t want to add more to the pile unless it’s really “worth it”. When it’s not, I capitalize on that time to play and forget about the camera. 

I appreciate my work more when I’m not shooting everything that moves, when I’m more selective or conceptualize images I want to create beforehand

What is your dream destination and why?

I’ll pull a name of one of the many of the dream destinations from my hat.

Tasmania.

I’m drawn to the access of its abundant nature, and stunning and rare landscapes to shoot anything adventure like surf, climb and skate.  There’s something extremely raw and remote about Tasmania that I feel completely magnetic.