There are stupid ideas and then there are creative itches you have to scratch. This hike to a "hidden waterfall" in Alaska was kinda both.

Many of us return from a trip, drop our gear on the floor of our now dusty rooms, and head for a quick shower hoping to feel whole again. While the hot water feels great, processing a trip doesn’t happen that fast. But, clean is always a better feeling than being dirty. Yet, the “to do list” when arriving home is lengthy:

Sitting here on my couch, feeling excited and a bit bummed, I’m reflecting on why I keep trying to make this failing side hustle work. Again and again and again and again and again, it has failed in one way or another. Yet, I keep iterating and grinding away hoping to make this side hustle a reality.

Four years ago, I photographed my first hotel, for free, to start a hospitality portfolio.

As far as smooth productions go, this one was clean and easy, after a few hiccups to start. Getting the tires on the Ford Bronco was a challenge as the car arrived late to the shop, delaying the scouting day. Good thing we booked two scouting days and I had visited this area countless times for rock climbing!

I overlooked one of the smallest details during pre-production and it almost jeopardized this entire campaign.

That detail: overnight parking at the trailhead

Here's how I fixed it without the client ever knowing (yes, if they read this it will be the first time they ever know about this mistake).

There is something about having a mountain of debt, no inbound leads, no business model, and youth that makes you sit back to reflect upon the compounding dumb decisions you have made up to this point. At least for me, that was the case.

For most adventure photographers, one-off shoots are the natural entry point into the business. A single project might cover an expedition, a branded social media campaign, or a weeklong assignment with an outdoor company. These opportunities are exciting, often highly creative, and a great way to get your foot in the door.

Adventure photography is exciting, creative, and deeply rewarding — but it’s also a business. One of the best ways to keep your photography career sustainable is to create multiple revenue streams. Not everything will be “hot” all the time, so having different income sources gives you balance, consistency, and room to grow.

When you step into the world of adventure photography, you’re not just a creative—you’re also a business owner. That means your success depends not only on how well you shoot, but also on how well you run your business. Many photographers fall into the trap of spending all their time “in” their business—editing, emailing, and shooting—while neglecting the bigger picture of working “on” their business. To build something sustainable, you need both.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as an adventure photographer is that photo licensing belongs in every contract. It protects your work, ensures you get paid fairly, and prevents misunderstandings with clients. Without clear licensing terms, you’re leaving the value of your images up to interpretation, which can lead to disputes or lost income.

In photo licensing, usage refers to where and how a client is allowed to use your images. It is one of the three key elements of licensing, along with duration and exclusivity, and it directly affects the value of your work. Understanding usage helps you price your projects fairly and protects your ability to monetize your images in the future.

In photo licensing, duration refers to how long a client is allowed to use your images. It is one of the three key components of licensing, along with usage and exclusivity, and it directly impacts the value of your work and how you structure your pricing.

Exclusivity in photo licensing refers to whether the client has exclusive rights to use the images you create, or if you, as the photographer, can sell or license the same images to other clients. Understanding exclusivity is crucial because it directly affects the value of your work.

Photo licensing can feel overwhelming if you let it, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In my experience as an adventure photographer, there are three key components that determine the value and scope of any license: usage, duration, and exclusivity.

When you’re hired as a photographer and nothing else, day rates are still common, especially in agency work. This means you are given the creative and asked to show up with your camera to bring the concept to life. A day rate typically includes your cost of doing business and travel expenses, but these are becoming less common as licensing has become the standard way to value your work.

Maybe it is surviver bias convincing me this, but ever since my first "big" investment into my photography career I've been hooked.

When you’re building a career in photography, one of the first things you need to understand is whether you are operating as a freelance photographer or as a solo-agency. This distinction affects how you price projects, manage clients, and structure your business.

When clients receive a photography estimate, one line item that often raises questions is the production fee. Unlike the creative fee, which compensates the photographer for their vision, skill, and licensing of images, the production fee accounts for the tangible costs of bringing a project to life. It’s the backbone of any shoot — the logistical and financial structure that ensures everything runs smoothly.