Photographer & Director For Adventurous Brands

I photograph, direct, and write adventure stories for
brands and tourism boards

My Latest Film, Now On PBS

Climbing For Furely

Now streaming on PBS, Climbing For Furely, tells the story of Epic Bill overcoming grief while attempting to climb Denali in Alaska

adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a climber on Mount Denali walking on snow in a white out
Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a small rocky island with trees and a building, surrounded by calm water, with mountains and a foggy sky in the background in Lake Tahoe.
adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a man standing on a paddleboard on a calm body of water during sunset, with large rocks in the water and mountains in the background in Lake Tahoe.

Join the next storytelling project:

Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a person jumping off a tall pole into a body of water during sunset, with mountains in the background, in Lake Tahoe.
Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs aBoulders on the shore with water flowing between them, under a colorful sunset sky with clouds and mountains in the distance in Lake Tahoe.

How I Help Adventurous Brands Tell & Distribute Stories

I work with a limited number of travel & outdoor brands who want to weave real experiences throughout their marketing using story-focused photography and video marketing.

Whether through long-term partnerships or one-off projects, the focus is always the same:
honest, narrative-led photography, video, and writing that reflects the people and places we adventure.

  • When you want your brand documented in the real world, I’m here for you.

    We plan an expedition or trip together — backpacking, mountaineering, surfing, road trip, whatever fits — and I handle everything from ideation through postproduction.

    Documenting your product and the lifestyle around it, honestly as it unfolds, using a mix of photography and videography.

    If you want help getting that work in front of people after, I can handle distribution strategy too.

  • Every year, I organize about ten storytelling projects a year — backcountry traverses, river trips, mountain missions, whatever the story calls for.

    Brands sponsor these projects and get naturally integrated into the narrative as it unfolds. You're not a sidebar or a testimonial. You're part of the story.

    In return, you get guaranteed reach with measurable EMV, plus marketing assets you can use across your own channels.

  • If your brand has a story worth telling as a film, I direct it.

    I've overseen documentaries that landed on PBS and won awards, and feature-length projects like Fourteeners. From ideation through postproduction, I make sure it gets made well and finishes strong.

    This is for brands ready to invest in something that stands on its own.

  • Your product gets a million views in ninety days using my distribution strategy. That's it.

    No long sales cycle, just a flat fee with your money-back guarantee.

    I take your product and put it in front of a million people. You get the exposure, the reach, and the proof that distribution is what moves the needle.

  • For the brands who have more content than they know what to do with it.

    I come in, audit what you're doing, show you the gaps, and hand you a roadmap to fix it yourself.

Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a person kayaking near a large iceberg in icy waters with a partly cloudy sky in Antarctica.

Recent Campaign:

Make it more.

A photo & video campaign for Big Agnes

Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a two people sitting near camping tents with mountain bikes in a desert landscape during sunset, with rocky hills and cacti in the background near Phoenix, AZ

My Principles

Lived Experience Over Staged Content

The work starts with being there.

Time in a place, real conditions, real moments—this is where the strongest stories come from. The goal isn’t to manufacture content, but to document something that actually happened.

Story First, Always

Every project is built around a narrative.

Whether it’s a campaign, a film, or a body of work, the focus is on creating something cohesive—something that holds attention because it means something.

Depth Over Volume

Fewer, better projects.

I work with a select group of partners to build work over time—allowing for consistency, trust, and a stronger point of view.

Built to Last

The goal isn’t just content for now.

The work is created with longevity in mind—imagery and stories that can live beyond a single campaign, and continue to carry value over time.

Trusted By:

(and 152 additional brands)

Adventure photographer Dalton Johnson photographs a self portrait preparing rock climbing gear from the back of a camper van in a parking lot surrounded by trees in Yosemite National Park.
Let’s Work Together

If you're interested in working with me, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.

Testimonials

  • Lacy Kemp; BUFF North America Marketing

    “This is our third time partnering with Dalton for content creation, but this time we asked for both photo and video assets from the Canyons Endurance Runs. This is a tricky event to capture, especially as a solo content creator. Dalton hustled around the clock, including some very late-night and early morning stints, to capture the challenge and energy of ultra running. It’s no easy feat, but he does it all with a great attitude and always delivers a polished product.”

  • Esther Drebelbis; Marketing Manager at Big Agnes

    "Dalton is a one-of-a-kind creator. He excels at bringing stories and campaigns to life for both visual and written mediums. I’ve worked with Dalton for over three years on various projects and he always delivers above expectations. He's a strong communicator, asking intentional questions to understand the goals of a project and regularly gives project updates to ensure everyone is on the same page."

  • Ginger Naylor; CEO at Outward Bound USA

    “I would highly recommend Dalton Johnson for his exceptional talent as a wilderness and nature photographer/videographer. His ability to capture the beauty of the natural world is awe-inspiring. Dalton and his team consistently produces images that captivate the imagination and engage audiences with stunning visual narratives. In our work together at Outward Bound, Dalton has also demonstrated remarkable adaptability and professionalism, consistently delivering high-quality work even in challenging environments.”

  • Becca Poskin; Social Media Marketer at Experience Scottsdale

    “I enjoyed working with Dalton on a photo and video project because he shoots quality work that highlights the best areas of our local landscapes. Also, Dalton was easy to work with because he was very communicative, willing to answer questions, and submitted work in a timely manner.”

  • Mark Pattison; VP The Arena Group

    "Dalton is an autonomous storyteller you can count on. You ask him for something and he delivers."

  • Ian McWilliams; Director of Brand & Marketing at Klean Kanteen

    “Dalton Johnson is a talented visual storyteller. I had the pleasure of working with him on an image and video project at Klean Kanteen. They brought a wealth of creative ideas to the table and flexibility to adapt to brand needs and timelines. The final deliverables were of highest quality and drove substantial engagement across channels. Dalton and his team have a unique mix of creativity and understanding of brand side needs. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for a visual content partner.”

  • Lindsey Malone; Marketing Lead at Gregory Mountain Products

    "I had the pleasure of working with Dalton during my time leading marketing at Gregory Mountain Products, and he quickly became a consistent and stellar partner to collaborate with. Dalton has a talent for crafting creative, tangible projects that make it easy for brands—big or small—to participate meaningfully. He’s incredibly thoughtful in how he structures opportunities, always finding ways to align goals while offering flexibility in scope and pricing. On top of that, he’s reliable, communicative, and consistently delivers on what he promises. Beyond all of that, Dalton is simply a great human, he's kind, collaborative, and genuinely fun to work with. Any brand would be lucky to have him on their side."

  • Madaline Spinks; Art Director at Swiftwick Socks

    “Dalton Johnson is truly my go-to photographer for anything adventure or outdoors-related. Dalton and his team was always open and great at collaborating on projects, and I trusted that any project we worked on together would deliver incredible results. They have a knack for finding the perfect location, models and angles and knows the great outdoors like the back of his hand. I highly recommend Dalton and look forward to the next time we are able to work together again!”

  • Rob Peterson; Marketing Specialist at Big Agnes

    “Dalton Johnson has become a go-to for the Big Agnes Brand when it comes to needed content. Their great to work with and their attention to the details of what a brand needs from their content is always on point. Especially coming from a brand that may have a different eye than the rest of the industry.”