Life Through a Lens

by Mackenzi Greene ‘17

Jack Garell has found that his vision for others can also serve as his own personal creative outlet.

And now, Garell is hoping that his passion for photography can be more than just a creative outlet...it can be a fulfilling path.

During the summer going into his 8th grade year, Garell, now a senior at OLu, went on a trip to Europe and was allowed to use his dad’s camera to take high-quality pictures for the first time. He was astounded by what a camera could do and wanted to get his own.

Jack Garell '17

“My neighborhood friend and I would take pictures and mess around on the nature walk around our houses in Newport Coast, and soon after that, I made an Instagram account to share my pictures with friends and family,” Garell said.

After large feature accounts began reposting Garell’s photographs and crediting his work, Jack gained a larger following and started to have models request he take pictures of them. Towards the end of his freshman year at OLu, Garell started promoting his work by encouraging followers to reach out to him if they needed photography work.

“I worked with other photographers, models, and people in that line of work to increase my experience and recognition,” Garell said. “During sophomore year, people started calling me by my Instagram account username, “@jacknewport,” and I was known as the photography guy. I knew then that my work was being taken seriously.”

Garell kept working with as many new models and companies as possible. Jewelry, swimsuit, and clothing companies would contact Jack to shoot their work and promote it on his Instagram page. Beginning his junior year, he began taking his passion to a new level by interning for big photographers, and branching out by shooting weddings and other events.

Currently, Garell has over 29,000 followers on his ‘jacknewport’ Instagram account.

Photography has given Jack an outlet for his creativity and imagination, while also teaching him a great deal about what it means to run an independent business and have self management skills. Social media has played a huge role in this.

“The internet sometimes has a bad rep for promoting people who pretend to be someone else, but when used cautiously, it is an incredible connecting point,” Garell said. “In my Instagram community, everyone knows each other, and it’s been easy for me to make friends that are safe and that I have a lot in common with.”

Through social media, Garell has met numerous other photographers, models and talented people in the photography business.

“If I didn’t have photography I would not have a form of selfexpression and thus not be able to show who I am through my artistic passion. In college, I plan to major in business and continue doing photography work. One day, I want to own a business and incorporate my photography into it.”

Jack has also grown immensely in his faith over his time at Orange Lutheran, which has affected his approach to photography.

"My faith has kept me grounded in the way I do photography and how I work with my coworkers,” Garell said. “My faith in Christ has influenced my perspective when taking photos because of the fact that we are all equal sons and daughters of Him. Rather than viewing myself as a successful photographer who happens to be a Christian, I am a Christian who happens to be a photographer. That mindset makes all the difference."

When reflecting back over his experiences with photography, Garell added, “I remember when I first started my account just to share with my family and friends, and I never thought it would grow to where it is now or transform me into the individual I am today. I’ve matured creatively, professionally, and emotionally because of my experiences with photography, and I cannot wait to see where it takes me in life.”

All photos provided by Jack Garell '17