Van Life as a Freelance Photographer: 7 Months In
- shaladdis1
- Jun 26
- 6 min read
Updated: 13 minutes ago
And just like that, we're halfway through the year. The shortest day has been and gone and while colder days are yet to come, that's all part of the adventure. I know we're not supposed to start sentences with 'and' but surely I make the rules for my own blog?
I’m not entirely sure what made me want to move into a van, although I've listed a few below. All I know is it just felt right at the time. Everything in life, and I mean everything, is a result of the decisions you make (which can sound scary when you think about it), and this was no different. There wasn’t a single big moment that pushed me into van life, but the constant theme of “COLLECT STORIES” definitely nudged me over the line.
It’s not for everyone, but I think everyone should try it. It forces you to let go of comforts you thought were necessary, be more intentional, and deal with a lot of unseen “van admin.” The tradeoff? Growth, adventure, new horizons, and a freedom that’s hard to explain.
Here’s what 7 months of van life in New Zealand as a freelance photographer has really looked like — the wins, the chaos, and the coffee.
Why I chose Van Life as a Photographer
In November last year, I packed my camera gear into a van and hit the road full-time. Since then, I’ve been trying to find showers, places to sleep and easy ways to meal prep! While there perhaps wasn't a single big motivator for giving this lifestyle a go, there were, in my mind several positives.
1. I’m a photographer who can work from anywhere. May as well try!
One of the perks of being a photographer these days is the freedom to work wherever there’s internet and a good view. So why not take advantage of that? I wasn’t tied to a desk or even a traditional office setup. The van gave me a chance to literally bring my workspace with me. It felt like the perfect way to combine my work and love for adventure into one lifestyle. Plus the adventure space is somewhere I want to continue growing in personally and professionally. I'm a big believer in walking the talk. If I'm ever to work with brands like The North Face, I need to be living and breathing what I do.
2. Save money.
Van life isn’t just about chasing freedom. It’s also a smart way to save money. Rent and bills pile up fast, especially in places I’d rather not be stuck. Living in a van slashes those costs big time. Yeah, there’s still fuel (which I'd have anyway), occasional camp fees, and the odd expensive van fix (so far it's been a $1200 service, $850 for new brakes and rotors, $2000 in diesel mileage, and a $280 tyre recently). But hopefully, that’s all the wallet drama for now. Ha, I never want to spend the money, but I gotta look after my house!
3. Explore more of my own country and collect more stories.
New Zealand is packed with incredible spots, and I wanted to see as many of them as possible. Being on the road means I can chase light and capture unique moments through adventure photography whenever inspiration strikes. It’s also an amazing way to meet new people, hear their stories, and add fresh experiences to my photography (Mind you, I've met some odd people haha).
That said...A lot of my work is still Bay of Plenty or Auckland based. Honestly? I haven't gone as far as I would have liked but that's okay. I'm building toward more remote work and we're making progress! Things locally have been busier than ever, so it's been hard to find time for bigger missions, but they will come.
4. Live differently and break free from clutter.
Living in a van forces you to simplify. There’s no room for excess stuff, so I’ve had to get really intentional about what I own and carry. It’s a daily reminder that I don’t need all the things I thought were necessary. This lifestyle helps me focus on what matters most: experiences, creativity, and the people I meet along the way.
5. Simply to say I’ve done it.
At the end of the day, I just wanted to challenge myself and try something different. Van life isn’t for everyone, and it’s definitely not always easy. But for someone like me, who likes comfort, who's probably more "Type A" versus "Go with the flow", it was necessary. I wanna become someone who does cool shit and lives differently. Someone who can look back and say, “Yeah, I did that.” It’s a story I’m proud to tell and one that’s shaping how I see the world and my work.
The Work-Life Balance and Concerns
Before moving into the van, my biggest worry was figuring out how to balance building my career with actually getting out and exploring. I’ve got a decent handle on who I am these days, and I know I’m not someone who can just drift around aimlessly. I need purpose. I get an immense amount of satisfaction from ticking things off, chasing goals, and feeling productive.
So if van life was going to work long-term, it couldn’t come at the cost of my work. I had to be all in, on both adventure and my business. That meant fitting the van out properly: enough power to charge all my gear after big shoot days, a comfy little workspace, even space for an external monitor. I’ve also got more than enough storage for all my camera gear and recently added Starlink (haven’t activated it yet — hotspot’s holding strong… for now). I’ll save it for proper off-grid missions, though, because that thing ain’t cheap. See why this lifestyle works for me?! It's because I'm a cheap bastard. I'm saving rent, but I'm still being a tight-ass on extra bills!
If you’re curious about working with me, here’s how to get in touch and if you're interested, here's a quick week in my life.
Van Life Challenges (It’s Still Worth It)
So what are some of the challenges I've run into?
The first month was a little strange. I definitely felt a strong sense of loneliness but that's all part of the human experience I guess. Like I had discussed in a previous blog, I had to reframe my mind from loneliness to solitude because they are vastly different. Google AI assist states, "Loneliness is a painful emotional state caused by a perceived lack of social connection, while solitude is a chosen state of being alone that can lead to personal growth and self-reflection." I chose this path so it was a great reminder that I'm exactly where I wanted, and probably needed to be.
After that first month or so, I was away. Those feelings of uncertainty were quickly replaced by excitement and an immense feeling of gratitude for not only the decision to live like this, but the ability to live like this.
Mental challenges aside, of course there are everyday admin challenges that I think most YouTube van life creators discuss.
Storage
Showers
Where to park
The fatigue that comes from being constantly on the move
Shorter days = less solar charge!
Small tasks take longer. For example doing the dishes requires me to first boil water, which also must be used sparingly since I only have a 25L fresh water tank. Some times I don't cook because it does mean more dishes — this means I often eat easy dinners like wraps which can get old.
Honestly though, those are all such small things which are pale in comparison to the Pro's.
I'll be honest, I asked Chat GPT to give me some rough structure for this blog but we'll be here all day if I actually used it. It did suggest I elaborate on:
Financial lessons
Budgeting tips for on-the-road-living
Freelance tips and tricks
Problem solving
Growth through experience
Essential van-life items
If there are any area's you're interested in learning more about, or if you have any questions, please reach out! I have concocted a couple of "van rules" I'll share in future relating to stealth camping.
Final Thoughts
The past 7 months have been epic. It doesn't even feel like van life anymore. It's just become who I am and what I do. It's the new normal and at this stage, I fucking love it. While I haven't scratched the surface on exploring here in NZ, I've stayed at some absolute banger spots. Parking somewhere beautiful, going for a cold swim, then wrapping up and watching the sun go down beats any Airbnb I've ever stayed at. Bonus when I get to share it with beautiful company.
If you're thinking of giving it a go and you have the ability to, just fucking do it. Less thoughts, more action. Out of the head and into the world. All we have are the experiences and memories we create, so go and create yours.
At the risk of being overly cliche, nothing changes if nothing changes. So if you're reading this and you've ever been tempted, please, please, PLEASE pull the trigger.
You're welcome.
P.S. The last line in the intro mentioned coffee. Bialetti Moka Pot all day! The occasional V60 or Aeropress. My go to beans lately have been nice and easy Flight Coffee or Supreme. If I'm in a V60 phase then I'll typically get beans from a boutique micro-roastery. A clean, fruity single O usually does the trick!
Got questions about van life or photography? Drop me a message or check out my portfolio here
Kommentare