Connor Nollen is a Japanese American photographer and mountaineer from Salem, Oregon. Drawn to the outdoors from an early age, he has always felt most at home in wild, unfamiliar places.

He arrived at UCLA on the pre-medical track, set on becoming a doctor. But after his first year of college, everything shifted when he climbed his first mountain. What began as basic curiosity eventually grew into a profound passion for mountaineering. Since then, he has been driven by the invaluable experiences and relationships he has gained through climbing.

Photography started as a way for him to hold onto those priceless moments. Getting his hands on his first DSLR camera became the catalyst for learning photography more seriously. It was a seamless way to integrate a new craft into his adventures. What started as a way to simply remember the feelings of climbing turned into a means of capturing moments outside the mountains as well.

Throughout college, he continued working toward medical school, but the path never felt inherently appealing to him. After graduating, he made the decision to step away, recognizing that pursuing a career without genuine passion wasn’t sustainable.

Instead, he chose to follow what felt undeniable: a desire to build a life centered around relationships, making memories, and capturing the moments he shares with those he meets.

Since then, he has committed himself fully to photography. He continues to refine his craft, carries a camera wherever he goes, and has learned to find meaning not only in high-risk environments, but in quieter, everyday moments as well.

He is currently focused on building a career creating visual narratives for clients who desire bold, eye-catching work.