Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Lewis.
Hi Jeffrey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a small town in Michigan and began working part-time in junior high school, continuing all the way through college. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 1972 and started my career at Aetna Insurance Company. Over the years, I took on positions of increasing responsibility, eventually accepting the role of President of Prudential’s Property and Casualty company in 1993. I later held senior leadership positions at USAA and Allstate before retiring in 2004.
During my first ten years of retirement, I spent much of my time traveling, and when I wasn’t on the road, I was playing golf six days a week. During that period, I gradually returned to photography as a hobby and purchased my first drone. I was immediately hooked and continued expanding my equipment and skills.
As opportunities arose to use my drones commercially, I founded Special Point of View in 2019. Around the same time, people began asking if I could also provide traditional photography services, which led me to expand into engagements, portraits, real estate, and event photography. What began as a hobby was quickly evolving into a second career.
I also discovered a deep passion for landscape photography, which inspired me to travel throughout the United States and around the world, capturing images primarily for my own enjoyment. I soon realized there was a market for this work and began selling my fine art photography through platforms such as Etsy, Amazon, and Fine Art America.
Recognizing the need to continue developing my craft, I enrolled in Serge Ramelli’s Institute Master Fine Art Program. As I learned more about creating art, I also realized I needed guidance on how to sell it, which led me to Craig Alexander’s Thriving Artist Program, focused on helping photographers successfully market their work. To further refine my post-processing skills, I began training with artist Liesl Walsh.
This is where I am today. I enjoy every aspect of photography—from traveling and working with clients, to time behind the camera, and the hours spent at the computer refining each image. On a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, I captured over 7,000 images—an experience that truly highlights both the joy and the commitment involved in the creative process.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My working years were very enjoyable but stressful. Working long hours on the success treadmill took it’s toll on my personal time and relationships. In retirement the stress is of the fun kind. Learning how to fly drones, getting my FAA License, learning about the equipment and then going through that again with the photography equipment and even more so a all the software required to process today’s digital art. The drone flying education involved loosing several expensive drones requiring me to really hone my skills.
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?
As I am now retired it is easier to talk about my photography life than my work life. My work life was very rigid, it involved right and wrong decisions not really creative but fact based and by the way I was pretty good at that. With my photography I have a whole different set of issues. What to take photos of, what time of day, what angle, where is the sun, what settings to use on the camera, etc. Each of these micro decisions affects the outcome of the photo in the camera and then another whole series of decisions in post processing that affect the outcome. It is creative work that requires patience and lots of training. Anyone can look at a photo and like it but don’t realize what went into that outcome. On the client facing photography I very much enjoy working with clients, understanding what they are looking for and trying to meet those expectations. I am still very anxious when I present their photos hoping they are going to like them.
I’d like to think that I am becoming a very good landscape photographer as well as my wild mustang photography. I am just proud that I have taken this journey. I don’t know what else I would be doing with my time at age 75 if I hadn’t gone down this path.
What’s next?
For me, the future will be more of the same—and that’s exactly how I want it. I continue to work closely with my coaches, spending six to eight hours each week on Zoom calls, submitting three or four images for critique and thoughtful suggestions for improvement. That ongoing feedback keeps me learning and pushes my work forward.
I have a big job coming up doing, all the art in a new four story medical office building. There is also more travel ahead. There are still so many places I want to visit and so many iconic images I want to create for my portfolio. The journey feels open-ended, driven by curiosity, growth, and the simple joy of making photographs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jeffreylewisphoto.com
- Instagram: jeffreyalewis1950
- Facebook: ExecGolf4
- Yelp: www.Jeffreylewisphotography.com
- Soundcloud: https://landscapesbyjeff.pixels.com/galleries.html
- Other: Etsy Store:www.landscapesbyjeff.com
