Today we’d like to introduce you to Weston Carls.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to Austin in 2003 and four years later, I graduated from The University of Texas in 2007 with a journalism degree and concentration in multimedia design.
Not having a job lined up after graduating, I came across a Craigslist posting for a design internship and over the next 11 years, I served as the creative director for this monthly fitness publication, Austin Fit Magazine (AFM).
At the beginning of my time at AFM, I was an unpaid intern and worked 40+ hours at two other jobs — a coffee shop and law firm. At my 6-month mark at AFM, I being part-time assistant to the art director. On December 2007, the art director took another job and the position was open for me to apply for. I was essentially thrown into the fire but was able to manage it based on the fact that I had to manage working 40+ hours and going to school for 16 hours. Over the 11 years at AFM, I grew into the role of creative director (with many hats).
Some of my duties included: curating content and storyboarding ideas, writing content, creating and managing the social media platforms starting in 2009, managing the website and newsletter, designing the magazine, advertisements, in-house marketing, and also directed photography. I was fortunate to eventually photograph a cover feature in 2017 of Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting influential people in the Austin community and made it a practice to utilize my journalism expertise to connect with the subjects – bridging their story to produce impactful content. I can proudly say that I’ve produced over 200 magazine issues, directed over 1,500 photoshoots, and produced over 10,000 pages of content for varying publications such as: Austin Marathon, AFM FITTEST, TFG, North County Kids Magazine, Nashville Fit Magazine, foundingAUSTIN Magazine, Austin Runner Magazine, and Austin Fit Magazine.
I live it and breathe it. I’m outgoing and lead an active lifestyle. I’ve driven 6 hours West to Fort Davis to run a 15.5 mile trail race in the Davis Mountains and I’m also an avid yogi. I love testing and reviewing workout classes, fitness apparel and products, and healthy food wherever life takes me.
My most cherished philanthropic endeavor was when I helped create a global philanthropic movement. My childhood friends Kyle Kuhlmann, Ryan Tisinger, and I created the first philanthropic Undie Run at San Diego State University in 2006 and ever since have helped donate over 200,000 pounds of clothing to local social service agencies around the country—and all over the world. In 2010, AXE took on title sponsor and helped us donate over 25,000 pounds of clothing as well as a $50,000 donation to the ten college campuses participating across the country. In 2011, we partnered with Virgin Mobile to help donate over 20,000 pounds of clothing. We soon were helping people all over the world start an Undie Run with the simple premise of: giving the clothes off your back for someone less fortunate. We’re proud to have started this international philanthropic movement and encourage our youth to be creative and fun with your fundraising events. “Philanthropy just got sexy!”
I became a professional photographer by way of a case of mistaken identity. In 2016 Camp Gladiator reached out to have me photographer their trainers. I had never used a professional camera, I just directed hundreds of shoots by this time. I didn’t end up doing that job, but the next day I bought a camera and just started shooting. Instead of using stock photography for the magazine, I recreated what I wanted using personal trainers or people who wanted to model. After six to 12 months, I was inquired by a personal trainer in town for a shoot and asked, “how much do you charge?” I don’t know, $50. The pictures from that shoot are still on the forefront of my personal website.
After a couple of years, I was encouraged by my then girlfriend to pursue photography full-time. I laughed at first, but when I was offered a photography gig that was large enough to give me reassurance, I made the leap. Let’s just see what happens!
In 2018, I started TheFit.Biz, an endorphin-generating creative agency that offers a wide variety of content creation services. My hope is to bring more energy and creativity into building stronger communities.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course not, lol.
This is a learning in progress type situation. I’ve never operated a business before and when tragedy strikes, what will you have done to save your butt?
On December 24, 2019, months before the pandemic I was playing flag football and injured my achilles. I had no idea it was as bad as it was until three days later, I was told it was a partially ruptured achilles. OK, so how much is surgery? $7,000 cool…
I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do photography really, and thus I wasn’t able to bring in revenue. As I was coming out of recovery and start to walk again, let alone place my foot on the ground for more than a few minutes, Covid hit. Seven gigs from SXSW down the drain. My savings was drying up and had NO idea what the heck was going on. Thankfully I was able to have help from family, the fitness community, and the government with a PPP loan, disaster unemployment assistance through the CARES Act, and was awarded a creative workers relief grant from the Better Business Bureau of Texas. All that was minimally good, but I still had a medical bill to pay. The assistance money dried up in July 2020 and I felt like I was starting over again.
It’s June 2021 and I have to say, business is picking up and moving in the right direction. There will always be challenges and it’s all worth it for the life I get to live. Let’s just pause on the pandemics for a while.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in branded active lifestyle photography. I’m most proud of being internationally-published by way of a power yoga book featuring 356 images.
What sets me apart from others is that I’m not just a photographer, I’m a content producer. I have 14 years of experience in magazine and content production.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I will forget someone! But,…
My family
Coworkers of AFM
Brian Fitzsimmons, photography mentor.
Lauren Brown encouraged me to pursue photography full-time.
Leah Cullis, internationally-published yoga book author.
Jessica Clark first paid shoot.
CLEAN Cause, Wes Hurt, first photography subscription client.
All of my subscribing clients, Athletic Outcomes, HEAT Bootcamp, Body & Shine Wellness, 5 Star Nutrition, Evo Performance, NeuFit, 1080Motion, and more.
CrossFit Central, for being there for me during the pandemic.
Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, for editorial business.
Bandolier Media, for fun, creative photography projects.
All my friends who hired for shoots.
Contact Info:
- Email: weston@thefit.biz
- Website: www.westoncarls.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/westoncarls
Image Credits
Photography by Weston Carls
