#039 Behind the Lens with Carly on the Kenai - Carly Padrta

 Carly Padrta — known across Instagram as Carly on the Kenai — is a lifestyle and adventure photographer based on the Kenai Peninsula. What started as a hobby born out of new motherhood and a pandemic-era YouTube rabbit hole has grown into a full creative career taking her across glaciers, into the backcountry, and all over the state of Alaska. In this conversation, Carly pulls back the curtain on what her life actually looks like behind the camera — from the gear she trusts in brutal Alaska conditions, to how she balances adventure with raising two young boys, to why bad weather almost always makes the best photography. In this episode: How a halibut charter in Ninilchik turned into a life in AlaskaThe accidental origin of her photography careerWhy she lets her camera take a beating — and what's survivedHer go-to gear: Sony, Sigma, and a backup SD card she keeps for emergenciesThe Knik Glacier camping trip that got a little too real at 2 a.m.Her honest take on AI editing and presets (spoiler: she's not a fan)Aurora photography, wildlife encounters, and her favorite spots on the peninsulaPractical advice for parents who want to get outside but feel stuckFollow Carly: Instagram & Facebook @carly_on_the_kenai Shoot me a text, what do you think?