Do you live in Your van full-time?
Yes! I’ve been living in my van full-time since June 2019, and before that I lived in my SUV for 14 months. I pet-sit & house-sit to break up long stretches on the road (you can read more about that here). I also book airbnbs or stay in hotels sometimes. Otherwise, my van has everything I need! You can see a complete tour of it here.
How do you afford to travel so much?
I am a full-time photographer and creative, so I’m able to work remotely. In a lot of ways, my work actually benefits from full-time travel and living on the road because it allows for diverse shooting locations, fresh perspectives, and greater flexibility in avoiding less than ideal lighting/weather situations. Being mobile means my office and home are always with me wherever I go.
The majority of my income stems from brand partnerships. Partnerships vary, but essentially it means a brand is independently contracting me as a photographer, social influencer, model or all three. I generally work with brands in the travel & outdoor adventure space, as well as some luxury brands. I also work with tourism boards and destinations, which pairs pretty well with road life. I posted a video with in-depth details on how I make money here.
For the work that I do, travel is often part of the job. Oftentimes, travel expenses are covered by the agency or brand that I’m working with. This is especially true when working with tourism boards. Other times, I am paid a flat fee that is meant to cover both my rate and any related travel expenses. In those cases, I just factor estimated expenses into my final rate.
When I’m traveling outside of work, I find ways to keep my expenses low. I shop at grocery stores rather than eating out - I use apps to find cheap gas - basic stuff. I would say the real key to my financial freedom has been in keeping my overhead low. By that I mean, I have very few personal expenses beyond food, gas, insurance and my phone bill. I don’t pay rent. I don’t pay utilities. I don’t have a vehicle loan, credit card debt or student loans. If I can’t buy something and pay in full upfront, I don’t buy it.
I’m debt-free and financially independent because I’ve learned to live with less. It’s a really beautiful, minimal way to live - if you ask me. But it isn’t for everybody. If you’re interested in learning more, you can sign up for my mailing list.
There is one thing I should mention, though. My Mom works for the airlines so I can fly standby for free. I’ve definitely taken advantage of this many times, but when it comes to work or trips with hard deadlines - I always end up buying a regularly priced ticket. But I feel like it’s worth mentioning here…working for the airlines is a great way to see the world!
What are your ‘van life essentials'?
Trelino Composting Toilet (use code CHRISTIAN for $30 off)
Do you travel alone?
Yes and no. I’m probably an introvert in the sense that I need time alone. Being alone is how I recharge, and it’s also when I do my best creative work. With the exception of my closest friends, I really prefer to travel alone or just with one other person. The people I travel with most are the ones who I can be myself around. People who are willing to engage in deep conversation, but who can also be comfortable in silence. I’m also kind of a kid at heart - I love to dance and be weird and totally silly.
How do you meet people on the road?
Some of my best friends today are people that I’ve met through social media. Instagram has been huge in making connections with like-minded people and becoming part of the outdoor community. Before Instagram, I made friends all over the world just by booking hostels instead of hotels. Keep an open mind, and always trust your gut.
What about safety?
Is it safe to travel alone on the road? As a female?? I get this question ALL the time. Here’s what I can tell you after three years of living on the road.
how do you shower and where is your bathroom?
My van has a Trelino composting toilet! There are also campgrounds, libraries, gyms, public parks, grocery stores, etc. If I’m camping on BLM or National Forest land, I follow LNT (Leave No Trace) principles and local guidelines.
When it comes to showers, I have an international gym membership at Anytime Fitness. I also use a solar shower - a simple black 2.5 gallon bag with a shower hose. After a full day in the sun, the water is quite warm and you can hang the bag from a tree or the back of the van. Other options are campgrounds, truck stops, aquatic centers, hotels, airbnbs, and friend’s houses. For the times I’m backcountry camping…lakes, rivers and waterfalls.
Who Built your van and how much did it cost?
My van is a 2019 Ram Promaster 1500 High Roof 136WB. I bought it brand new as a cargo van, and outsourced the entire build. The van + build cost under $80K total. If you’re interested in a build quote, you can contact Brett McCarthy. I absolutely love my van and highly recommend him! If you are interested in living on the road but don’t want to invest in a van, I put together a pdf on how I lived out of my Nissan Xterra SUV for 14 months.
do you have any advice on how to get started with vanlife?
Yes! Here are 10 tips and pieces of advice I wish I had before beginning van life.
What does your desk look like?
What programs do you use for editing?
Desktop: Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop & Premiere Pro
Mobile: Tezza, Snapseed, Unfold, Canva
How I license music for my Youtube videos: Musicbed
How did you get started/learn photography?
I bought my first digital camera for $300 when I was going to college in Hawaii. It was a 3MP pocket camera, and I took it with me on a 22 mile hike along the Na Pali Coast in Kauai the next week. I’ve pretty much always owned a camera since then.
I didn’t become fully invested in photography until 2014 when I began working as an assistant for some local photographers. Until then, I had been working full-time in the corporate world and photography was just a hobby. When I was 27, I realized corporate life wasn’t for me and decided instead to spend a year backpacking around the world. It was during that time that I really fell in love with photography and story-telling.
I’ve never taken a formal photography class or workshop. Just about everything I know stems from personal experience, experimentation, and most importantly - the advice of friends and mentors I’ve been lucky enough to learn from along the way. I also have a BBA degree in marketing, which has been really helpful in building my own business as a freelance creative.
How did you start working with brands?
My first paid job was promoting the Galaxy S6 for Samsung. Samsung’s PR agency reached out by email and asked if I had any upcoming trips. I happened to be hiking the John Muir Trail (241 mile hike through the Sierra backcountry) later that month so I pitched the entire trip and they said yes. It was pretty good timing.
From there, I built a small commercial portfolio that garnered new brand partnerships and additional work. I have pitched on a few occasions, but I would say 90% of my work comes through my network: referrals, word of mouth, former clients, and/or social media.
what camping gear do you use on your trips?
What is the best camera if you are on a budget?
This is a tough question, as there are so many good cameras out there! I personally LOVE Canon. If I were just starting out, I would start with the Canon EOS R (my first DLSR camera was the Canon EOS Rebel T1i).
Do you sell prints?
Yes! You can check out my print shop here. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to email me about custom printing at info@christianschaffer.art
Do you sell presets?
I don’t sell presets. For the most part, I edit every image from scratch.
Do you offer workshops?
I don’t currently offer workshops, but I’m considering it! I would love to hear from you if it’s something you are interested in.
How can I work with you or license your work for commercial use?
I would love to hear from you! Please email info@christianschaffer.art with a screenshot of the image(s) you’re interested in and intended usage details. If you would like to work together on a brand campaign, please send over details and we can schedule a call. I am not accepting product trade or unpaid collaborations at this time.
Can I assist or intern with you?
I’m not currently working with interns but that may change! The best way to hear about possible openings is to sign up for my mailing list here.
Where can I follow your adventures?
Links to my social profiles: Instagram, Youtube, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, Travel Journal
Do you have a music playlist?
Yes! I have a public Spotify playlist with some of my favorite artists and songs. You can check it out here. A few of my favorite artists are Ben Howard, Gregory Alan Isakov, Lana Del Rey, RY X, Angus & Julia Stone, Ocie Elliott, Cigarettes After Sex, Dustin Tebbutt, Phoria, Charlie Cunningham & Christian Löffler.
What are some of your favorite books?
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