EP 98 - Jason Vinson
Hi everyone! This week I’m joined by Jason Vinson - photographer, educator, and all-around creative risk-taker. We chat about his bold approach to lighting, why failure is actually essential to growth, and how his personal projects documenting family life have shaped his storytelling.
Meet Jason:
Jason Vinson is a husband, father, and wedding and documentary photographer, based out of Northwest Arkansas. He has a passion for creatively documenting real moments, as well as taking epic and unique portraits. He has been ranked as the #1 Fearless Photographer in North America and Top 3 in the World for 2021. He is also ranked as one of the Top 100 Fearless Photographers of all time. He is a multi award winning photographer through Junebug Weddings, Worlds Best Wedding Photos, ISPWP, Masters of Wedding Photography, Documentary Family Awards, and more. Jason also is an ambassador for brands such as Stella Pro Lights, Flashpoint, Magmod, Aftershoot, DreambooksPro, Holdfast, DVLOP, and more. In addition to his photography work, Jason spends countless hours educating the photography community. He has been a speaker, instructor, writer, and content creator for establishments such as WPPI, Portrait Masters, Rangefinder, PPA, Fstoppers, and many more.
The Art of Failure (and Why It Matters)
One of my favorite takeaways from Jason is how he talks about failure. For him, failure isn’t really failure at all - it’s just part of the creative process. Every “mess-up” is another step toward figuring out what works, and often those so-called mistakes lead to your most interesting images. It’s such a good reminder to keep experimenting, even when it feels risky.
Playing with Light
Jason doesn’t shy away from light. From natural light to flash to layered setups, he’s always trying new angles, directions, and ways of using light to tell a story. His whole philosophy is about using light not just to see your subject, but to make people feel something when they look at the image.
Personal Projects that Matter
Beyond weddings and portraits, Jason has a tradition I love: every year he documents his family for 50 days straight, then creates a yearbook out of it. It’s full of unposed, everyday life moments - the kind of stuff you’d otherwise forget. It’s such a beautiful way to both preserve memories and sharpen storytelling skills at the same time.
A Life on the Move
Jason’s stories go way beyond Arkansas. He’s photographed weddings around the globe - like a mountaintop ceremony in New Zealand that sounds straight out of a movie. He also shares so much of his knowledge through YouTube, blogs like Fstoppers, and at major conferences. Whether he’s breaking down travel tips, giving honest gear reviews, or teaching lighting, he’s always trying to make education accessible and practical.
Final Thoughts
Jason’s career is such a cool example of what happens when you combine curiosity, education, and a willingness to try (and fail) over and over again. From off-camera lighting experiments to the quiet documentation of family life, his work shows that photography is about so much more than pretty pictures - it’s about creating stories that last.
If you want to keep up with Jason, follow him on Instagram or YouTube - he’s constantly sharing and teaching. And of course, stick around here for more inspiring convos with photographers who are pushing the boundaries of what this craft can be.
Connect with Jason:
Website: www.vinsonimages.com
Youtube: @JasonVinson183
Instagram: @vinsonimages_jason
Workshops, conferences, etc. are coming up - follow Jason on instagram to stay in the loop!
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