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.
Documentary Style vs. Directed Adventure Photography
A professional photographer explains the spectrum between documentary and directed adventure photography, and how to decide which approach a given project genuinely needs.
Capturing Motion Blur on Purpose
A professional photographer explains how to use intentional motion blur as a deliberate creative technique for conveying speed and energy in adventure photography.
Photographing Gear in the Field Instead of a Studio
A professional photographer explains the technical challenges and creative benefits of photographing outdoor gear in real field conditions rather than a controlled studio.
Working With Non-Professional Models in the Outdoors
A professional photographer explains how to direct non-professional subjects in outdoor settings, favoring genuine activity and comfort-building over explicit posing instructions.
Building a Visual Style That Holds Up Across Seven Continents
A professional adventure photographer explains how consistent visual style comes from underlying creative principles and decision-making, not from forcing every location to look the same.