Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Wasylko
Hi Gabe, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ever since I was young, I always found myself around creative media and entrepreneurship. My father built a career in corporate video and Public Relations while my mom started her own gift basket company when I was only a few years old. As I grew older and explored what I wanted to pursue as a career, I wanted to do something completely different than my parents.
In 2015, I graduated from Brunswick High School and pursued a Pre-Med degree from The College of Wooster. That career path was short-lived as I found that my passions didn’t live in Chemistry and Biology class, but in another STEM field – Mathematics. I quickly adjusted my course work, added another major in Political Science, and structured my next few years to pursue a career to become a sports agent.
During my years at Wooster, I also worked in the Creative Services Department of the Akron RubberDucks, the AA-Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians (formerly the Cleveland Indians). During these years, it become evident that I did, in fact, have a passion for the creative field and telling stories, evoking emotion, and capturing the beauty in the everyday.
Upon graduating from Wooster in 2019 with a degree in Mathematics and Political Science, I moved into a full-time role with the RubberDucks leading their Creative Services Department and managing everything from video production, marketing, social media, and the game-day presentation. I found that I not only enjoyed creating final videos, headshots, and social campaigns, but I enjoyed the process of building these projects from start to finish. I enjoyed the story.
At the end of 2020 during the midst of the pandemic, I found myself looking for a new creative outlet. Sports was on hold for the time being and the world was still opening back up. I turned to my trusty camera, which I used mainly for video, and challenged myself to learn the art of photography. What started as posting a photo each day to Twitter turned into the opportunity to meet new people, start a new career at Destination Cleveland as their Social Media Manager, and become a better photographer and person.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In a short answer, no it hasn’t. Balancing photography with other full-time efforts, family life and going back to school presented challenges I didn’t know existed. I really had to be intentional and work photography into my life, rather than let it make the decisions on how I spent my time. Leaning on my amazing fiancé and family has helped me manage the changing responsibilities and opportunities, but maintaining the joy that got me into photography in the first place is the thing I hold near and dear to my heart and will work to never let go of.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Cleveland Landscape, Cityscape and Portrait photographer based in Cleveland, Ohio, with the one goal of changing perceptions of Cleveland and making people smile each day. Whether it’s waking up before sunrise to staying out late to get the perfect shot, I love the chance of capturing a moment in time that many people don’t get to see on a day-to-day basic. I’m most proud of being able to make a difference in the community that I grew up in. Whether it’s capturing landscapes or showcasing photos of local businesses in a new series on my social media, I love to shine a light on Northeast Ohio and showcase its unique beauty each day.
What does success mean to you?
I define success on if my actions are moving the needle forward on my goals. At the end of the day, my #1 goal is to help change the perception of Cleveland while helping people smile and find the beauty in the everyday. If I’m able to help make progress on those initiatives, I call that a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gabewasylko.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabewasylko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabeWasylkoPhotography
- Twitter: https://x.com/GabeWasylko
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_wasylko
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabe_wasylko
