The May 2025 iFishiBelong’s “Be What You Don’t See” campaign proudly features Jessica Haydahl, a trailblazing outdoor and fishing photography professional, in conversation with iFishiBelong founder, Heather Hodson. As one of the few full-time women fishing photographers in the industry, Jessica brings a unique and powerful perspective to a space where representation is still growing. She has spent over 25 years behind the lens and 20 years running her own business, Jessica Haydahl Photography. Her work has graced the pages and covers of numerous sport fishing magazines and publications, including Angler’s Journal, Saltwater Sportsman, and The Drake. Jessica, who has dual Canadian and American citizenship, now lives in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, where she continues to blend her passion for wild places, storytelling, and fishing through the power of imagery.
In her first Instagram Live, Jessica shares how she became a professional photographer specializing in angling, her recent forays into filmmaking, and advice for others who wish to combine their passions for fishing and photography.
Jessica’ grew up fishing on the ocean in Vancouver, Canada, where her father was a tugboat captain. She was around ocean-going boats from an early age and at one point had a captain’s license and ran whale and wildlife watching tours. As a teenager she began taking photographs with her mother’s Minolta.
Jessica was recruited to play Division 1 Ice Hockey at Wayne State University in Detroit. There, she completed degrees in Marketing and Advertising, followed by earning her degree in Professional Photography from Langara College in Vancouver B.C.
At Langara, she had the opportunity to intern with the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team. The popularity of salmon fishing with the hockey players led to her first significant photography opportunity to document a catch-and-release fishing derby at a remote lodge in Northern British Columbia.
Jessica spent over 15 years photographing various fishing events at the lodge in Haida Gwaii, which she calls “one of the most magical places in Canada.”
When a second lodge opened in Panama, the owners sent Jessica to document the marlin fishing, further solidifying her fishing photography career. She began doing editorial work along with commercial photography after meeting her husband and relocating to the United States.
Jessica began Jessica Haydahl Photography nearly twenty years ago. She is a contract worker, available for hire to shoot products like Costa sunglasses, Shimano fishing gear, and Yeti coolers, as well as an editorial photographer producing arresting images of people, nature, and sports fishing for various print and online publications. Jessica is a self-described “heavy shooter,” taking tens of thousands of photographs in a day often, working in “burst mode” using the latest cameras to capture 120 frames per second. She then culls the images to between 500 and 1,500 to hand over to her client or publication.
Jessica also makes videos and maintains a YouTube channel @jessicahaydahlrichardson7951. In 2019, she traveled to Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in Micronesia with a group of women friends and made a film to document their experience titled Dropped In the Pacific which was shown as part of the 2021 F3T – Fly Fishing Film Tour.
“Whether it's fly fishing or conventional fishing, there is a moment where that rod flexes perfectly or the line sets back perfectly, or the water droplet comes off the fish perfectly. I'm just trying to be creative and capture the exact moment we want.”
- Follow @haydahlphoto on social media
- Subscribe to Jessica’s YouTube channel @jessicahaydahlrichardson7951
- Hire or recommend Jessica for photography assignments including portraits and events
- Checkout the gallery of prints available to purchase on Jessica’s website
Allies play a crucial role in supporting women in fishing by advocating for inclusivity, amplifying their voices, providing mentorship, and creating opportunities for greater representation within the fishing community and industry.
- Share Jessica’s photographs, films, and social media content with your friends to increase visibility.
- Share resources with women in the fishing industry.
- Speak out against chauvinism and misogyny in outdoor spaces.
- Help create welcoming environments for all anglers.
- Support organizations actively working to uplift women in angling.
- Volunteer at events or find other ways to lend a hand.
For more ways to support, reach out to Jessica at [email protected]. Your support helps ensure that fishing is truly a space where everyone belongs.
Jessica shared valuable insights and advice for photographers during the IG Live session. Here are some key takeaways to help photographers enhance their skills and navigate the industry more effectively.
- Understand Your Equipment
- Know your camera and lenses inside out.
- Vary Your Subjects
- Be open to shooting people, places, events, and objects, not just fish and fishing.
- Practice and Patience
- Take the time to get good at photography and to understand different fisheries, and capture the perfect moments.
- Don’t Neglect Post-Processing
- Editing photographs is as important as taking photographs.
- Network and Submit Images
- Identify publications that fit your style and ask to be on their call-out lists for editorial submissions.
- Continue to Learn
- Watch creative content on YouTube and experiment with different styles and techniques.
“I grew up fishing. I just never thought I would spend this much of my life watching people fish. I love it.” ~ Jessica Haydahl
The 2025 iFishiBelong “Be What You Don’t See” campaign highlights leaders breaking barriers in the fishing industry. Each month, we will feature individuals who challenge conventions and inspire change with passion and resilience, motivating the next generation of anglers to create their paths and “be what they don’t see.” By highlighting these trailblazers, we aim to inspire broader participation and show that leadership roles in the fishing industry are accessible to everyone, creating a more inclusive vision of success.
