Whatever terrain life brings to Noah Couser, the 29-year-old takes it on with passion — whether in front of the classroom teaching or behind a camera in deep powder photographing skiers at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

In his off time, this Kalispell Middle School health/physical education teacher and coach is a professional photographer specializing in action, adventure sports and commercial photography. 

The self-taught photographer first shot with a 35-millimeter film camera his grandfather had given him in high school. He estimated that he sold his first photo for about $90 during an art gallery opening his mother, an art teacher, organized.

It wasn’t until Couser moved from Idaho to Montana to attend college at the University of Montana that he was plugged into the outdoor lifestyle.

“I fell in love with everything that is Montana,” Couser said. “So I started climbing mountains, I started river rafting and fly fishing, everything I hadn’t done really before. I mean, I grew up camping and loved the outdoors, did a little bit of skiing and snowboarding, but I played basketball religiously and basketball was my life until graduating.”

He combined his photography hobby and the outdoors by bringing a camera along on the rides, hikes and climbs.

“I started taking pictures of all these things I was doing,” Couser said.

During his senior year at UM, Couser married his wife Megan. The couple moved to Whitefish and begin their teaching careers — Noah at the middle school and Megan at Flathead High School. 

The friends they met took them on more extreme adventures and Couser continued building his portfolio with his wife serving as a creative consultant.

“I just kept taking pictures along the way,” Couser said.

He soon expanded to commercial work and starting working for Whitefish Mountain Resort around 2008-09. He said the turning point in expanding his commercial work came after he was selected to photograph a shoot for Native Sunglasses when Whitefish was selected as a location for the company’s Locals Only Project in 2012. 

“I like being creative. My mom’s an art teacher. I’ve always sought out creative outlets,” Couser said.

The focus on outdoor activities comes back to his role as health teacher.

“I like to inspire people to get outside,” Couser said. 

Despite his success in photography, Couser said he couldn’t give up teaching and serving as a positive role model for students.

“I always get the question, ‘if photography continues to take off, are you going to stop teaching and just do photography?’ I don’t think I would ever quit teaching. I love working with kids,” Couser said. “I think it’s important to really care about what you do and feel you’re making a difference.”

Couser believes that eighth grade serves as a pivotal time when students are establishing their personal identities — deciding on the choices they want to make and the person they want to be.

As peer pressure becomes an issue, Couser said he wants to be able to motivate students to make good choices when it comes to nutrition, exercise, drugs, alcohol, sex, dating and relationships.

“[Health] is something I’ve found to be really important for myself. I’ve found the benefits in my own life of making good choices in those areas,” Couser said. “I guess I’m a believer of good health and making positive choices.”

 Couser also taps into multimedia projects in the classroom and has posted YouTube videos students have made — most recently one on the topic of empathy — as well as health talks he’s given in the classroom. Most recently he posted videos for talks he’s given on dating and relationships as part of a sex education unit. His hope, once again, is to be a positive, encouraging influence. Couser has received comments from people all over the country.

“It’s all about spreading a message — for girls especially — you’re worth waiting for,” Couser said noting that girls need to learn that, despite some messages in popular culture,   they deserve to be treated with respect, honor and value.

In addition to teaching, Couser and his wife work with youth as volunteers for Kalispell Young Life.

“We love being a part of this community and doing what we can to invest in the next generation,” Couser said.

To view Couser’s photography visit www.noahcouserphotography.com.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com