The Photographer’s Playbook
Your resource to becoming an adventure photographer
The Adventure Photographer’s Playbook is an e-book created by full-time photographer Dalton Johnson to help new photographers go from nothing to booked in the adventure photography space.
This adventure photography e-book goes over the business and what “making it” as a photographer in the outdoor space requires. Covering topics such as pricing, marketing, building a body of work, reflection questions, and everything you need to know to make a career out of adventure photography.
Updated: June 2025
Making a Campsite Look Lived-In Instead of Staged
A professional adventure photographer explains how to balance authentic, lived-in warmth against visual clarity when creating camping-focused outdoor lifestyle imagery.
Capturing Motion in Tight Spaces When Photographing Trail Runners
A professional adventure photographer explains how to capture authentic motion in the narrow, technical trail spaces where trail running frequently happens.
What Kayak and SUP Photography Requires From the Water
A professional adventure photographer explains the balance, equipment protection, and coordination required to create compelling imagery directly from a kayak or paddleboard.
Protecting Camera Gear While Photographing From a Climbing Harness
A professional adventure photographer explains how to protect camera equipment when working from a climbing harness, from tether systems to backup kits and team coordination.
Capturing the Moment That Actually Matters When Photographing Hikers
A professional adventure photographer explains how to identify and capture the genuinely meaningful moments within a hiking day, rather than defaulting to generic trail imagery.
The Expenses I Write Off That Most Photographers Miss
A professional photographer walks through commonly overlooked deductible business expenses, from home office space to software subscriptions and professional memberships.
What I Actually Track for Quarterly Taxes
A professional photographer explains the practical income and expense tracking habits that make quarterly tax obligations manageable for a self-employed creative business.
Why I Include a Payment Schedule in Every Agreement
A professional photographer explains why every agreement includes a staged payment schedule, how it protects cash flow, and how clients typically respond to the structure.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Write My Contracts?
A professional photographer explores when a generic contract template is sufficient and when legal review genuinely becomes worthwhile as project scale and risk increase.
The Clause That Protects You If a Brand Uses Your Photos Wrong
A professional photographer explains why every licensing agreement should include a clause addressing usage beyond agreed terms, and how to handle misuse fairly when it happens.
Getting Permits and Access for Remote Locations
A working adventure photographer explains how he researches permit requirements and builds access timelines into project planning for remote and protected locations.
Shooting From a Moving Vehicle Without Wasting the Shot
A working adventure photographer breaks down the technical settings, safety considerations, and creative choices behind shooting effectively from a moving vehicle.
Why I Still Shoot Some Trips on One Lens Only
A working adventure photographer explains why deliberately shooting entire projects on a single lens sharpens creative instincts and produces more visually coherent work.
How I Shoot Into Direct Sun Without Blowing the Highlights
A working adventure photographer breaks down the manual exposure, composition, and post-production techniques used to shoot into direct sun without losing critical highlight detail.