In my years as an adventure photographer, one thing is clear: your clients know what they know, and sometimes that knowledge can be more than yours. But often, especially after you have been in the industry for a while, you find that the person hiring you knows less about the creative or technical side than you do. That means you have to recognize this, educate them, and keep moving forward.

In this industry, your clients usually know what they want — but not always what they need. And after you’ve spent some time in adventure photography, you start to realize that sometimes you actually know more than the people hiring you. That’s where the tricky part begins: educating your clients without coming across as a know-it-all.

If you want to make it as an adventure photographer, you have to play the long game. I wish there was a faster route. But after nearly a decade in this industry, I can say this with confidence: every meaningful success I’ve had has been built slowly, layer by layer.

An influencer told BFGoodrich to hire me and they listened.

Have you ever watched somebody scroll their feed? People move quick and don't give you a second chance if you're a brand putting out sterile content that is staged.

"Making it" just as a photographer doesn't really happen in today's landscape, but it's still possible with some creativity. Take a second and think about the biggest photographer's you know, I bet none of them are "just a photographer":

We all sat around a campfire in Alabama Hills, CA. I lived in a van, Andrew lived in the Museroamer, and Leah lived out of a car while on a road trip. Shooting the shit about photo and video ideas, Leah had an idea:

"I've always wanted to do a photo shoot hula hooping in an abandoned building!"

New work now live with BUFF® , The Surfrider Foundation , and artist Ian Ross. While, as you can see, the weather didn’t cooperate with us, this has been by far one of my favorite pieces to work on this year.

A little behind the scenes for all the photographers and videographers out there wondering how to make a tight deadline for a last minute project. In the end, the client, Buff, was very excited with the end result of this photo and video project. So, here’s how we delivered a project in five working days:

When I first started in 2016, I genuinely believed that becoming a great photographer meant mastering camera settings, nailing composition, and building a big social following. Maybe you feel the same—that technical skills, a signature editing style, or the ability to capture perfect lighting is what lands the biggest jobs.

Rising like a stone spire from the desert floor, the Totem Pole is one of the most iconic formations in Monument Valley—and one of the trickiest to photograph up close. Whether you're chasing sunrise light or dreaming of a long-lens shot that captures the scale of the Southwest, here’s how to see and photograph the Totem Pole respectfully and effectively.

Creativity is a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets. But, you can also overuse the muscle and wear it out. For the last few years, I have been in a stage of extreme output for my creativity. Creating a short documentary now airing on PBS, three travel series totaling 27 episodes, a poetry book, an e-book to help other photographers grow their career, commercial photo and video campaigns, an assignment on every continent in a single year for both editorial and commercial outlets… the list continues. Looking back, I would do it all again, but I also have to admit, I am not surprised my creativity has been at a low.

Picking up my watch, 4:51 AM. Nine minutes before my alarm is going to go off, so I crawl out of bed without waking Kristin, grab my camera, pet Chestnut who’s greeting me with a sleepy smile, and head outside under the cloudy, blue-yellow sky. In about 20 minutes sunrise will change the color of the clouds, but for now, Chestnut and I, walk around our campsite as the birds chase bugs. It’s quiet, but there is an audible noise from the river close-by.

Adventure photography can feel like a dream career because who doesn’t want to capture epic landscapes, document extreme sports, or share their passion for the outdoors with the world? Yet, turning that passion into a sustainable livelihood requires more than just snapping stunning images. In today’s ever-shifting creative marketplace, successful adventure photographers embrace multiple revenue streams, understanding that each avenue reinforces the others and builds long-term stability.

I paired up with Tamron Americas to bring to life a 1500 word guide, filled with images, about photographing historical monuments in Egypt. This story is focused on sailing/cruising the Nile, visiting the ancient sites of Luxor, visiting museums, and, of course, photographing the pyramids.

Personally, this project was one in a lifetime, as I achieved a childhood goal of visiting every continent. Finishing with Egypt, a childhood fascination, I couldn't be more in shock. Before I write any more of a sob story about achieving childhood dreams, here is a taste of the article:

Every successful adventure photographer—from the earliest pioneers scaling granite walls to today’s social-media storytellers—follows a simple yet powerful creative cycle. It’s a repeating loop of creation, exposure, monetization, and reinvestment. When you understand each stage and learn how to navigate it intentionally, your craft improves, your earnings grow, and your professional network expands.

Adventure photography sits at the thrilling intersection of exploration, storytelling, and visual art. It’s about more than snapping “pretty” landscapes—it’s about capturing moments of human endeavor, raw emotion, and the awe-inspiring power of nature. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your passion for the outdoors into a fulfilling freelance career, this starter guide comes from The Adventure Photographer’s Playbook and will show you exactly how to get started, grow your reputation, and land the work you want as an adventure photographer.

Climbing for Furley follows Northern California resident, Epic Bill Bradley as he attempts to climb Mount Denali after the loss of his best friend, Furley. Bradley is an ultra-endurance athlete who has held world records and completed several mind-blowing races like Ride Across America, a quadruple Bad Water, double Ironman, and many hundred mile races.