Sponsored projects have become one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of my career as an adventure photographer. They are a way to fund personal stories I care deeply about while also building my body of work and, in many cases, earning real money.

The process usually starts with an idea. That idea could be anything from a road trip or expedition to a local story about a friend. Once I know what I want to create, I put together a pitch deck to help communicate the concept clearly to potential sponsors.

Then I start sending it out. My average sponsorship rate is around three percent. That means for every 100 potential clients I contact, about three sign on. It’s a numbers and timing game, and you have to be okay hearing “no” a lot. But if you believe in the project, you keep going.

Sponsored projects can range from massive to modest. I’ve worked on everything from ten-part TV shows and short documentaries to simple photo essays. The key is matching the scope of the project to the story and budget.

Here are the basic steps I follow for each one:

Come up with an idea you are excited to create
Build a pitch deck that tells the story and outlines the vision
Send it to at least 50 potential sponsors
Land one or more sponsors (enough to fund the project fully, ideally)
Go out and create the work
Deliver it to your sponsors
Market the final project
Repeat

It might sound simple, but sponsored projects take a lot of time and effort. They also take a thick skin, solid communication, and the patience to manage moving parts and expectations.

I talk about this entire process in The Adventure Photographer’s Playbook, including how to pitch, structure your deliverables, and turn these kinds of projects into career-defining opportunities.

The truth is, these projects have brought me the most joy, the most frustration, the most growth, and the most income. If you want to take your work to the next level, this is where things get real.

This lesson comes from my ebook "The Adventure Photographer's Playbook" and it costs $10. Why so cheap? The goal is to help as many new to mid level photographers as possible go from nothing to getting booked in 18 months: