I'm Jon - a Carolina boy with a creative streak who's constantly working to blur the line between livin' and livelihood. I specialize in editorial portraiture, travel, and documentary photography. Recently, I moved into my truck camper full-time and started a YouTube channel to share my experiences.

At eighteen, I moved from Apex, NC, to Western North Carolina and discovered the Appalachian Mountains. I learned there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors, so I started mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, and rock climbing.

In 2012, I became a wilderness guide. I loved getting paid to do what I enjoyed, so I spent five years guiding and finding seasonal jobs. To save money, I lived in the back of a Toyota Tacoma with a small camper top. This experience showed me that living in a vehicle could help me save money and travel.

I developed a love for photography and co-founded a small agency called The Beans and Rice with a friend. We gained experience and built a strong client list.

In 2020, I closed the business and became an in-house photographer at Outside Van, a van conversion company in Portland. This job helped me learn more about overlanding and improve my skills.

During this time, I felt a strong urge to pack my things and travel full-time in my truck camper. In April 2014, I left my stable job to embrace the travel life I had been promoting.

This blog shares my story in real-time.