Jason Hales is a creator, a photographer, a husband, a father, and one of the most intentional people I know. In this episode, we talk about the long arc of becoming who you want to be - from leaving corporate sales, to building a family-run creative studio with his wife Natalie, to raising daughters with grit, independence, and imagination.Jason opens up about the early days of discovering photography, the whirlwind of wedding work that launched his career, the adventure years of taking any kind of photography job he could get, and the creative studio he’s built out of his home alongside his wife, Natalie. We also talk about the power of photos in shaping memory, navigating screens and boundaries, and a vasectomy story that’ll leave you without words. I walked away from this conversation encouraged and grateful. Jason’s life is a reminder that being a great dad isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence, intentionality, and choosing (again and again) to build a life around the people you love. As always, chapter markers and relevant links can be found below. 👉 Subscribe to join the conversation, hear new episodes, and explore more stories from Dad’s World and Calico Sonder. 🔗 Links: Jason’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hales_photo Hales Photo: https://www.hales.photo Wild Dingo Studios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilddingostudios Wild Dingo Studios: https://www.wilddingostudios.com Dad’s World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsworldpodcast Calico Sonder: https://www.calicosonder.com 📖 Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro 01:34 Welcome 02:05 Elevator pitch 03:14 The power of a name 04:10 From corporate sales to creative life 05:06 The power of a spouse 06:36 Creative spark 09:23 The engagement shoot 11:09 Meeting Natalie: a love story 13:57 Fitness, aging, and refusing to be “the old dad” 15:21 Running a business from home as a family 16:37 Parenting in the early years & remembering through photos 19:19 Pulleys, dinosaurs, and nurturing curiosity 20:50 Social growth & the landline idea 22:22 The Vasectomy Story 25:19 Raising strong, independent girls 28:00 What do you want your kids to know about you? 29:30 Closing Thoughts + outro