Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Wilder
Paige, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ok my story, so these days my dog, Makai, and I live in Encinitas CA, I work at F45 Encinitas, Mesa Rim, a rock-climbing gym, and I am a photographer. The things that are important to me are nature, adventures, and sports.
When I was a kid, I loved being outside. Playing with friends out in the woods, by the lake, or at the beach. My family went camping a lot out in the desert or up in the maintains. One of my favorite trips was to Yosemite National Park. I remember being in awe of everything, the granite mountains, fresh air, and beauty of nature.
I graduated from University of Hawaii Manoa and being on the island have been some of the best years I’ve had so far. The beauty of the land and ocean made me so happy. I’m a huge ocean girl so the surfing, diving, sailing, and all the other things were amazing. I spent so much time in the water and up in the mountains. That’s also when I started bringing my camera and GoPro on my island adventures. I loved taking photos and making videos of hikes I did, waterfalls I found, or waves that I surfed, it was so fun. That’s where I found the spark for my creativity, on the ʻĀina (island). I graduated from UH with a BA in Communications, focusing on Photography and Videography.
In the outdoor world I’ve been inspired by visual artists like Krystle Wright after watching her episode of Photographer. Paul Nicklen and environmental conservation work through his photography. Then recently I’ve been curious about concert photography and have been pursuing that these last few months in San Diego. Travel, adventure sports, and photography/journalism are some of my big life goals.
Growing up my parents raced in triathlons, we would travel around the states going to races, camping, and having adventures along the way. They gave us freedom to be independent, explore, and learn which is one of the things I’m grateful for and is a part of who I am today. They also showed us that an athletic life is exciting and fun! It inspired me to become a competitive athlete for multiple sports. Being active and healthy is really important to me, there are so many physical and mental benefits that come with being healthy. I want to inspire and help people reach their goals. This has led me to pursue experience in the fitness industry with my first big opportunity at F45 Encinitas Central.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road, hahaha no, the Universe gave me a good dose of character development in 2023. It was after college I was back in my hometown in LA, and I had gone back to work at a job that I really loved. I had interned and worked there for about 8 years by then, so it had become my community, it was a huge part of my identity, and I was going to make it my career. Unfortunately, there was an unexpected falling out and that job/career was no longer an option. I was so upset, crushed and unprepared. It felt like I had suddenly lost so much. My friends, my community, my identity, the sense of an altruistic life purpose, and a career that I had planned my whole life around.
I didn’t have another job lined up, so I moved down to San Diego with my relationship at the time in the beginning of 2023. I got a job as a substitute teacher and a bartender and tried to pivot and bounce back but my mental health really took a dive. I was anxious and depressed which then affected everything else in my life, physical health, mental health and the relationships with the people in my life. Character development continued into 2024 with my 3-year relationship ending, financial instability and falling into a deeper depression. Not gunna lie, it was pretty freakin rough. I felt so stuck, chaotic, and lost that I didn’t really recognize myself anymore.
Two books came into my life that started sparked a change in my mindset. “I Don’t Want to Grow Up” by Scott Stillman and “Will to Wild” by Shelby Stanger. Stillman’s book gave me ideas to reshape how I thought my life’s structure was going to go. How there are so many ways to live life other than the 9-5 until you’re 65, societal norms of today. Shelby’s book helped and inspired me to get unstuck from my life. Similarities between the books include influences from Nature, how to reframe and train your mind and mindset, and being on the lookout for ‘trail signs’ or clues from the Universe. One of Shelby’s ideas for getting unstuck is going on an adventure, so for the summer of 2024 that’s exactly what I did.
I packed up my car and drove to Teton National Park, Wyoming. For the next few months, I worked on a ranch leading backpacking trips into the back country. It was an incredibly wild summer. I found peace from being offline, felt like I could finally slow down and catch my breath. I made new friends from all over the world, who also loved being outdoors and nature. I learned so many new skills upon entering the outdoor industry. Risk Management, trip preparation, wilderness first aid and rescue, backcountry camp set up, navigation, Leave No Trace, and more. I watched the Milky Way cross the sky in a field of native wildflowers and counted the shooting stars as they passed. I watched the sunrise turn the Teton Mountains pink as the sun crested the horizon. I found a rare Wyoming rock fruit on top of a mountain. I cooked pancakes for dinner and line danced with my friend while the sunset turned the clouds to cotton candy pink. I rode horses through the valley and raced in my first rodeo. I floated down the Teton river on an SUP for hours laughing with friends under a cornflower blue sky.
Not to say it was all sunshine and rainbows though. There were many challenges too, but they made the stories better, they gave the summer some grit and they gave me some grit. I thought to myself if I can tackle this, then whatever challenge I face down the road won’t be so hard. The grit of the summer included. Not having modern comforts like, phone service, running water, heat, showers every day. Getting caught in a snowstorm on my first trip and getting stuck up on the mountain, it was freezing cold, and we had hiked through snow that day, so everything was wet. Swatting away clouds of mosquitoes. Waking up early, and hiking all day, uphill, with a heavy backpack on. Getting caught in two crazy lightning storms and feeling the thunder explode in the sky right above my head. Squaring up TWICE against actual BEARS who wanted our food. Defending camp from the countless, mice marmots and other small critters who also wanted our food. Standing between the group and the moose that were next to the trail. The long days and long weeks of working out in the harsh environment. Patching up a few minor injuries on the trail and hoping that it doesn’t turn into a major injury. Completing ranch traditions like the Rough Ride. And realizing that somehow in a blink of an eye, the air is getting chilly, and summer is coming to an end. One of the biggest challenges was saying so long to a place and people, who out of nowhere, now mean so much to me.
We should all face some challenges every now and then. If everything is easy all the time and we’re never pushed outside of our comfort zones, we won’t grow. Now whenever I find myself getting stressed out. I think, “wait a second, I’ve summited mountains, squared up against bears, and survived my rough ride. I’ve got this.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that nature heals. It’s sad to see that our society has gotten so cut off from nature and I think the negative effects are starting to really creep up on us. Being on the ranch and out in the back country with no phones encouraged us to slow down, be in the present moment, and connect to the people and world around us. I don’t remember the last time I felt so peaceful, engaged, and happy for such a long period of time.
I came back to San Diego feeling refreshed and all around in a way better place. I returned to work at f45 Encinitas, and I’m so stoked to be back gaining experience and helping people. With ideas to blend my photography, passion for fitness, and love for nature I am in a good spot to be, and I am so grateful. There were days where I truly believed that things would never get better, but it does. Little by little it does. So, if you find yourself in a rough spot. Drink some water, have a little treat, and go stand out in the sunshine for a few minutes. It will help and things will get better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For my work in photography, I am trying to explore everything. In Hawaii I was taking photos out in nature of the landscape, plants and animals. Of sports like surfing and sailing. And of my friends and I out on adventures. After college I went on lots of road trips all over the PSW and the PNW. Out to the different types of deserts, up to the high mountains with the pine trees, and along the coast to the redwoods and rainforests. There was so much out there, I couldn’t get enough of it I wanted to go everywhere, see everything, and learn about each destination I traveled to. When I was out in Wyoming, I took photos of everything I could. Landscapes, animals, people, outdoor sports all of it. Most recently I’ve been in the city and taking photos of people surfing, skating, and artists performing at concerts. I don’t want to limit myself right now by specializing in something, but I do have a theme that I try to follow. I’ve seen a few examples of women achieving great success in their field, whether that is in sports, a career, or an art and being labeled as a female artist, or female athlete. Acknowledging the importance of representation, one person said it would be nice to just be called a great artist.
I heard that artist talk about that in an interview, and I can see that point of view, but it gave me a different idea. If I will possibly be labeled as a female photographer down the line of my journey, then I’ll take it and run with it. I want to specialize in female photography. Women out there in the surf line up, girls at the skate contest, women in male dominated field of work. Women being their amazing selves and doing epic badass shit.
What I’m most proud of right now was getting my first article published in the Local’s Break magazine. I followed the trail signs, put myself out there, and made it happen. I can’t wait to see what I will do down the road.
What sets me apart from others is that I’m me! I have a unique point of view and way of seeing the world from my gathered experiences. Every now and then when I get anxious and compare myself to others I stop and remind myself that. Yes, there are other photographers who have the newest camera and whatever, but I see the world though my eyes and that no one else can do that. I’m doing this for me because photography makes me happy.
Contact Info:
