Meet Jared Moossy

We were lucky to catch up with Jared Moossy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jared, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My self-confidence comes from taking risks and learning through experience that my visual voice is strong—that I trust my instincts and point my camera in the right direction. My self-esteem was shaped through years of traveling the world, living out of a backpack for over fifteen years. Experiencing different cultures, spending nearly a decade in war zones, and recognizing how fortunate I am to still be alive and mobile has given me deep gratitude and perspective on the life I’ve been given.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

After finishing high school, I spent nearly a decade working as a carpenter, constructing homes and exploring various corners of the globe. I often found myself sleeping in garages or backyards, building houses to fund my travels until my money ran out. After about ten years of this lifestyle, I made the decision to return to school, earning nearly a full scholarship to Parsons School of Design in New York City to study photography, despite having no prior experience in the field.

While studying in New York, I learned the art of photography and, during a break between my junior and senior years, I traveled to Afghanistan, marking the beginning of my journey as a war photographer. After graduating, I continued to document conflicts around the world for the next decade. My big break came when I was invited to work on an HBO series directed by Michael Mann, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and propelled my career forward. I began to branch out into commercial projects and narrative filmmaking, but documentary work remained my primary focus.

However, my life took a dramatic turn ten years ago when I was hit by a drunk driver while riding my motorcycle without a helmet. The accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury, and I spent two months in a coma. It erased my memory and had to relearn everything as if I were a child—starting from the alphabet to walking, and even rediscovering my identity and personal history. My recovery process took a couple of years in rehabilitation, but with the help of a few colleagues, I created a film about my experiences for Time Magazine, which won a Webby Award. Since then, I have gradually returned to my passion for filmmaking.

In early 2026, I plan to launch a fundraising campaign to support the completion of a documentary film I’ve been developing for six years, focused on motherhood, family, and gender.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I read light well, and I read people well. I have a strong ability to connect with humanity, to observe quietly, and to blend in without being seen. I’m attuned to people’s mannerisms and unspoken cues, which allows me to anticipate situations and adapt to whatever circumstances arise.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

As I noted earlier, my primary struggle has been trying to restore my life to its pre-accident state. It was a constant grind for me. I was always on the lookout for job opportunities, having previously built a solid career working for prominent magazines and newspapers, as well as networks like HBO and Netflix. However, with the rapid evolution of the industry—from film to digital formats, and now to cutting-edge 6K and 12K footage—keeping pace has proven to be quite challenging.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jared-moossy.com
• Instagram: jaredmoossy