Meet Jesse Yeakle

We recently connected with Jesse Yeakle and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jesse, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Developing confidence and self-esteem is an ongoing internal process for me. I did not always use to have confidence in myself or think of myself in a bright light. However, now I feel and look at myself differently and how I show up in a room, or space. I am a military veteran, and with that comes some low self-esteem, always being told you’re never good enough intellectually, physically, or most anything, you are always falling short and can always be better or do better, but never enough. Surrounded by a bunch of alpha-males all trying to be at the top is good competition and good fun, but not when your life is defined by rubric that is not all-encompassing. I think that is why my drive for improvement is so high. Technically looking to improve, as well as, subjectively looking to improve. You could say I am somewhat addicted to learning. Being a military veteran and artist is an interesting combo.
Now I have learned to fight against low confidence and low self-esteem with a few tools.

1. If you say something bad about yourself, respond to it by saying something good about yourself.
2. Be grateful for little things and celebrate often.
3. If you feel less than someone else, know that you’re different, and know that your difference is what makes us all similar. No person is greater than the next.
4. Smile frequently, laugh even more frequently.
5. Surround yourself with mentors and quality friends.

Confidence can be as simple as getting a haircut, putting on your favorite shirt, or hanging out with friends. I think it’s learned personal trait developed by being surrounded by resources that support you and your goals or passions.

For me that means going to the gym with friends. Going on trips with friends. Talking to my family members. Chatting with other artists in the same or different fields. Feeling healthy. Eating well. And celebrating often!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Jesse Yeakle, I am a photographer located here in Minnesota. My photography and body of work started when I was traveling during my time as an enlisted service member in the United States Military. You travel a lot with the military, and I thought it was a good opportunity to pick up a camera and start a hobby. Eventually my hobby turned into my career, and I was being paid to take pictures for people, brands, and I began selling prints.
Lately my body of work is focused on large, printed pieces.
Shooting for brands in a different way by creating branded printed pieces for billboards, or for them to have hanging in and around their stores. Or just making prints for art’s sake. Coming up with my own ideas and printing them for the general public. The artistic side of photography is what excites me.
I love and enjoy the whole process of creating prints, from idea creation to seeing the image coming out of the printer. I think of an idea, gather models, friends, supplies, or whatever comes into my brain, and I try my best to recreate that idea in the form of a photograph.
My website is where I sell most of my printed works, but also, I do giveaways on social media for those that enjoy my work but don’t have the funds can win a print, photoshoot, etc.
I love everything about photography, and I plan to keep shooting and keep creating for the rest of my life.
My current claim to fame is I am a featured photographer in the New York Times for taking pictures of fossils found after the ice melting in Antarctica.

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 have been a photographer for over 7 years now, and I think the most important qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge would be:
1. Truly be yourself 100% of the time. Being chosen for a photography job sometimes feels like a competition between peers, but if you are being truly yourself, bringing your own unique perspective and personality to the forefront of your work, I believe people resonate with that; almost more than the work itself.
2. Don’t quit. If you are pursuing your passion, dream, whatever, treat it as such and give it everything it deserves. It feels crazy, but don’t quit, and don’t put in minimal effort, go all-in. If you’re serious about it, it will succeed.
3. Never stop learning, growing, trying new things. Get your friends together and receive honest feedback. Look into areas of your dream that you haven’t learned or tried yet. Always try to improve something about yourself, your business, or craft. Lifelong learning is special, and I think we can never know enough.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am looking for people, brands, and/or businesses to collaborate with. I create large, printed works and am always looking for spaces or businesses to work with. Creating artwork and large format photography for interior and exterior spaces. I am looking for new brands to work with who would be interested in these services. I have always wanted to intertwine my passion for health and wellness, running or fitness, with my photography work and would love to work with a brand or local store that’s targeted towards the health and wellness industry. I think art and health go hand in hand and think this would be such a cool opportunity.
If you’re reading this and think we could be a good fit, then the best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or call or text me at (218)213-8932.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jesseyeakle.com
• Instagram: @jesseyeakle

Image Credits

Jesse Yeakle
Madison Messingham
Isabella Carlson
Lilly Mertes
Jessica Sieber
Kaydince Thoms
Charlie Halvorsen