Alumni Spotlight: Connor Jalbert
Tackling film with freelance artist Connor Jalbert Looking through the lens of freelance artist Connor Jalbert's journey in journalism, from documenting 12th Man flag raisers to shooting live music sets in the desert
Story by Raine Westfall
Picking up a camera in an elective class as a junior in high school, Connor Jalbert had no idea he was learning the skills that would set him on his future career path. When a local Seattle producer and friend gave Jalbert a call, inviting him to shoot the Sam LaChow show at the Vera Project, Jalbert found his direction in life.
New to photography and still learning the ropes, Jalbert said that, looking back, he was terrible. But after that first show, his purpose in life clicked as the shutter closed, and the hustle of steamy bodies outlined against the colors of stage lights packed the stadium. Jalbert knew that’s what he wanted to do. Shoot shows. He hit up LaChow and went on a Northwest tour through Portland to the Tri-Cities, where he fell in love with the music industry lifestyle.
Jalbert said the music industry realm gave him a sense of purpose in life, “I’ve never been the best artist,” Jalbert said. “Like, I can’t draw. I feel like I can’t. I was never really good at math or sciences but when I picked up a camera and started photography, that’s where I finally felt like I can do this. Like, I’m good at this.”
Having the freedom of a flexible schedule and the opportunity to meet incredible artists, Jalbert said, is the most rewarding part of his work as a freelance media artist.
Urging students to live life satisfied, Jalbert said to always prioritize your own happiness and freedom in life.
“Trust your gut, and your instincts,” Jalbert said. “Do what makes you happy and what you want to do. Don’t get roped into something that you look back on and be like, ‘wow, I wasted so much time there.'”
Jalbert will also be working with N33d Creative’s Austin Yuen to shoot media coverage for Seattle’s rugby team this season, the Seattle Seawolves.
While Jalbert has worked with the team before doing advertising shoots, he hasn’t had the opportunity to document sports at the stadium. Meeting these Seattle legends working the 12th Man project as a die-hard Seahawks fan, Jalbert said, has been what he looks forward to the most.
As a big sports fan, Jalbert said outside of work, he frequently plays many intramural and rec league sports like softball and soccer and loves to take time to snowboard and ski.
Drawn to Western by the school’s proximity to the Seattle music scene and the promise of a mountain ready to shred, Jalbert said Western’s program helped him learn about storytelling through film.
Aspiring to start his own production company specializing in live music sets Jalbert is working with his friend Jake Southard to invent Red Dot Media, which shot their first live video set back in 2020.
Starting to get the hang of photography Jalbert moved to Los Angeles, working with many hip-hop, electronic and indie music artists, later moving to Bellingham and working as the in-house photographer for the Wild Buffalo at just 21 years old.
After graduation, Jalbert started a production company with a group of friends in Seattle called Fortitude, then moved to LA where he freelanced with music artists and advertising for companies like Monster Energy. Now, he said, he’s finally at a spot where he feels financially comfortable, but the adversities of freelancing started his career on a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle.
Jalbert graduated with a degree in visual journalism and a minor in film studies from Western in the summer of 2017. After navigating the post-graduation rodeo of freelance journalism, he started working with production company N33d Creative to document the 12th Man Flag Raisers. This year Jalbert has also been working with UK artist Daktyl to shoot a live-set album set in the California desert.
When the pandemic shut the music industry down, Jalbert moved back to Seattle and began working with N33d Creative, where he started working on the 12th Man Project.
Jalbert documents the day of the 12th Man flaggers at Linfield, from capturing their morning radio interview to seizing the moment they step onto the field and meet players, coaches and mascots.
“In the Cascades” is a music video produced, filmed and edited by Connor Jalbert along with his friend Jake Southard and fellow VJ alum Caleb Albright.
Warning This video contains some short scenes of flashing lights/colors that may cause discomfort and trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.