Heather Young is a photographer, musician, and athlete who has never fit into just one box. Growing up in a small New England town, she dreamed of the action sports world she saw in surf and skate magazines, never imagining she’d one day be capturing it herself. A self-taught photographer, she moved to California with little more than a camera, a Craigslist room, and a determination to make it work. 

That determination paid off. While working at a resort in Laguna Beach, she landed her first professional gig as a studio photographer for a baby bag company. From there, she took on more clients, eventually carving out a space in action sports photography.

A decade after going all-in on photography, it’s safe to say she made it work. Today, her day job consists of capturing athletes and campaigns for the action sports industry- including shooting the likes of LeBron James for Canyon just last year. Her photography blends movement, landscape, and raw energy, shaped by her own experiences as a rider, hiker, and musician. Whether she’s learning to mountain bike or diving into music production, Heather thrives on challenge, adaptability, and the mindset of always being a learner.

Read more on Heather’s story, below.

 

On Finding Herself Smack Dab in the Middle of the Action Sport Industry

I was athletic growing up, but I didn’t grow up doing any action sports. At least not very well. I definitely didn’t know anyone making a living off of action sports or commercial photography. But I would pour over surf and skate magazines, and would fantasize what it would be like to live somewhere like California, it seemed like a magical place where everything I dreamed of could happen.

I always was creative as well and spent a lot of time drawing and painting as a kid. My dad first bought a digital camera when I was in high school and as soon as I found out this new way of capturing things that inspired me, I think I loved it. Nature and being outdoors was always my happiest place and still is, so that has only been a big foundation in my work.

On Southern California’s Influence on Photography

California can be a tricky place to shoot a good chunk of the year. It’s dryness and lack of variety forces you to look at things from different angles and perspectives, utilizing things like interesting architecture, wider landscapes and allow viewers to appreciate the bigger picture. I’m constantly getting creative with things like dust while a subject sprints or hits a corner on a bike. There isn’t much to filter the light out here, so taking advantage of golden hours and embracing wide open landscapes is key.

On Beginner’s Mindset

I didn’t grow up mountain biking and was thrown into it at the same time I started shooting it about 4 years ago, so I had to learn quickly and often was in way over my head. I have had some near-tear-inducing days on a bike. But also, some of my best. It has taught me a huge amount of resilience and brought me a lot of confidence. My goals as a mountain biker are not crazy high, I just love to be able to hang on and have fun. 

I am also a lifelong musician (piano and guitar) and my latest pursuit has been trying to learn music production software. Possibly the most difficult thing I have tried yet…but I am hoping to bring some of my learned resilience into it.

On Versatility As a Superpower

If there is one thing that I feel encompasses how I see myself as a person is that I have never fit into one box; both in my hobbies, and my career. I have always been a weird mix of a lot of things. I think being versatile and adaptable has been a big factor in getting me to where I am, and finding myself and the people I surround myself with. I think when you have diverse hobbies and traits, it can be challenging to find where you fit in, but when you do find others who get it and things that click, it makes it all that more special.

Follow Heather Young on Instagram.