CO-FOUNDER

Justin Bridges

Hi, I’m Justin and I’m excited to meet you! I am a serial entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of El Camino Travel. Oddly enough, I’ve been everything from a trader on Wall Street to a fashion photographer and yet here I am! I was raised outside of Atlanta, Georgia and spent a lot of my childhood obsessed with playing basketball, secretly falling in love with classical music, and filling up more notebooks than I can count with rap lyrics and poetry. Eventually, I set off for college in Washington D.C. where I attended American University. Thinking my future was destined to be in the boardroom of a major company, I focused my studies on finance and economics - fun stuff. Even though I started my career at an investment bank in NYC, my takeaway from AU was the ability to think which has served me in all the twists and turns I’ve taken along the way. Thankfully, I was able to pivot my career early and lean further into my creative inclinations. Either by work or curiosity, I’ve managed to travel to several countries including Honduras, Portugal, Denmark, and Japan. Every journey has brought a fresh perspective, friendship, and a stockpile of inspiration.

When I’m not feeding my work addiction, you’ll probably find me cycling around NYC, logging too many hours gaming, or meditating at the summit of an upstate hike. I’ve worked for a lot of interesting and exciting companies, but I’m most proud of my efforts to teach over 70,000 students photography and personal finance through my classes at Skillshare.

What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?

Greenland

What’s one item you could never travel without?

A camera. Whether it be a film camera or an iPhone.

Top travel tip?

Don't bring it. If you ask yourself that question you probably don't need it. I try to base my wardrobe decisions around interchangeable basics. I'd rather bring stuff home than take it there.