Jacque Tietjen is a Utah-based mountain athlete, outdoor educator, and award-winning and published photographer whose life has been shaped by time spent in the mountains since childhood.
Growing up skiing and climbing in the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains, her connection to the outdoors began early and was deeply shaped by her years at Cheley Colorado Camps, where she first learned to live, move, and grow in mountain environments. Those experiences formed the foundation of both her athletic identity and her creative voice, and continue to influence how she engages with nature today.
From an early age, Jacque pursued a wide range of athletic disciplines—from endurance cycling, swimming,triathlons, skiing, climbing, Highland Games, and aerial arts—developing a lifelong relationship with performance, resilience, and exploration across both physical and mental boundaries. Over time, this evolved into a deeper understanding that true strength is not only physical, but also rooted in awareness, mindset, and adaptability in complex outdoor environments.
Her creative work in photography began long before it became a profession. Carrying cameras into the mountains for years, Jacque developed a practice of documenting not just landscapes, but the emotional and human experience of being in them. Since 2009, she has been capturing moments of adventure professionally through a blend of landscape and action photography, focused on the raw, unfiltered experience of movement in the mountains.
A trek to Everest Base Camp in 2018 became a pivotal moment in her evolution, deepening her appreciation for both the beauty and emotional intensity of mountain environments and influencing her transition toward fine art and expedition storytelling. Through her images, she hopes to share not just the beauty of the outdoors, but the awe, serenity, and human spirit that live within it, inspiring others to connect more deeply with nature in their own adventures.
Jacque’s philosophy centers on the idea that “conquering yourself” is the greatest challenge in any mountain environment, not the terrain, but the internal dialogue that shapes how we move through it. This perspective has been shaped through years of personal experience in high-consequence environments, including skiing, climbing, expeditions, backcountry travel, as well as a recent traumatic brain injury that has further reinforced her commitment to safety, awareness, and intentional decision-making in the outdoors.
Today, Jacque works across multiple mediums—as an outdoor educator, mountain athlete, and photographer—bridging lived experience in the field with storytelling, education, and visual documentation of the human experience in the outdoors.
Professional Certifications:
- B.S. Health Education, Utah Valley University
- Physical Education Endorsement, Utah State Board of Education
- NASM Certified Personal Trainer
- ISSA Stregnth and Conditioning Certification
- 200HR Registered Yoga Teacher
- Sport Psychology Coursework
- First Aid/CPR Certified
- Former PSIA Ski, US Swim, Climbing, coach and movement instuctor across multiple disciplines
Her work is rooted in a lifelong connection to wild places and a belief that time in the mountains has the power to shape who we become.
“On December 31, 2021 my childhood best friend from camp passed away. It brought up a lot of memories but it also made me realize how truly special that place was to us and how much it saved me in some of my darkest moments in my life. My wish is that every child has an opportunity to attend a summer camp, to allow them to find their own connection to the outdoors, have a safe sanctuary where they are free to be themselves, and help them grow confidence in their abilities to reach for their dreams.
I am Climbing for Campers. I would not be persuing my climbing dreams if it weren’t for the things I learned and confidence I gained from camp. Through A Thousand Summers, I hope to raise money through my climbing and photography to send kids to camp who otherwise could not afford it.”
“In these mountains we share smiles, swapping tales for miles, and when we’re through, what am I without you?” -Shelby Newly
BIG THANK YOU TO MY BRAND PARTNERS!
“I’m fortunate to have the support of great companies that support my outdoor endeavors.”
Discover the brands Jacque works with, and find out how you can use her favorite gear — or even partner with her.
Jacque has been featured with:
Jacque Tietjen is a proud member of the Nature First Alliance
Nature First is built on a set of core principles that help communicate how each of us can enjoy nature photography responsibly. The Nature First Principles were developed to help educate and guide both professional and recreational photographers in sustainable, minimal impact practices that will help preserve nature’s beautiful locations.
- Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
- Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
- Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
- Use discretion if sharing locations.
- Know and follow rules and regulations.
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them.
- Actively promote and educate others about these principles
Jacque Tietjen 