In this episode of Ground Up Growth, hosts Paul Hopper and Hannah Pittman sit down with Ed Wall, owner of Wall Media, a standout outdoor photography and videography company. Ed shares how he picked up his first camera at 30 years old — with zero formal training — and turned a hobby born from deer hunting and dog photos into an award-winning career that’s landed his work on magazine covers and even the Mississippi Sportsman’s License.

Ed opens up about leaving a career in medical sales to go all-in on photography full time, the grueling 16-20 hour days that come with duck hunting season, and how he built a team to help him keep up with the demand. He also talks candidly about the balance (and imbalance) between passion and burnout, the importance of editing content quickly before details fade, and why duck hunting — more than deer or turkey hunting — offers the richest storytelling opportunities behind the lens.

Whether you’re an aspiring outdoor creator or just curious what it really takes to turn a camera hobby into a business, this conversation is full of honest, hard-won insight. Part two continues the conversation with a deeper dive into gear and how Ed protects his equipment in the field.