Getting out of the car, today’s walk was going to be short and full. Kristin and Chestnut were joining me for the evening stroll. Yes, it’s day two of my personal challenge to go for a daily photo walk, and this one was a close call. Today was filled with an afternoon of chores; taking Chestnut to the vet, donating stuff to Goodwill, and more boring things like that. The real life of a photographer, am I right?!

Sedona is a destination that I've returned to time and time again as its stunning red rock formations, mystical vortexes, and a unique blend of outdoor adventures pull me back. Sometimes I live large in hotels and other visits to Sedona, AZ I sleep in the red dirt while camping in the expansive BLM land surrounding the town.

Something came over me as I lingered in the CVS parking lot trying to decide if I should continue with the day’s chores or take the Sunday evening off and head for a sunset walk at Fallen Leaf Lake. Looking for some encouragement, I texted Kristin, “Hey! Why don’t you get ready and we go for a sunset hike at fallen leaf?”

As a kid, I dreamed of traveling the world and telling stories, but there was no clear path to making this happen. I had role models who gave me insights into what living your dream life looked like, but no industry connections for telling stories. So, when I started down my path of living my dream life, I looked to my greatest roll models to figure out how they were able to live their dream lives.

For the last decade, I have called Lake Tahoe my home and there are few spots that I return to several times throughout a year. However, Bonsai Rock, on the northeast shore of the lake, is one of those places.

Who still uses day rates when hiring a photographer? This is what I'm seeing...

Part of the industry is clinging to day rates meanwhile another part of the industry is looking towards photographers to be the producer, creative director, editor, photographer, etc. 

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.

I am supposed to be on Everest, right now, the broken record in my head repeats. Why am I standing on top of my van watching the sunrise from Las Vegas?

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

Finding new destinations can be hard in today’s digital world where everyone is trying to sell you on something “new”. So, here at UnBound, we have created this space to highlight the best destinations we have explored. These destinations can be far fetched locations that we have fallen in love with, or, backyard hot spots that we just want to share with everyone.

Regardless of the location, these destinations are all places we have personally visited and think you should consider when planning your next trip.

Adventure and hotel don’t belong in the same sentence, so why am I calling Trailborn Rocky Mountain the basecamp for adventurers? The answer I’m crazy. Just kidding. This adventure-forward hotel fosters a sense of community and encourages adventure. A steep task they have taken on, if I say so myself, but here’s how they do it.

Gear is everywhere and it is hard to know what is “good gear” and what is “bad gear” so, I have paired up with a few gear heads to create a space highlighting the gear we personally tested and liked each week. Our gear recommendations vary widely from kayaks to climbing gear to dog treats, but they all have one thing in common; helping you adventure.

Our goal is to share gear that improves your ability to adventure.

Earlier this year, Big Agnes called me with a desire to create their release promos for a new bikepacking tent, but, if you know anything about Big Agnes, they don’t like fake. So, the plan was to meet in Phoenix/Scottsdale for the Queen’s Ransom bikepacking loop.

Just over a year ago, we parted ways, and it had been coming for years. You saw it coming and so did I. Heck were were together full-time for 8 years! Yet, the off-and-on nature this year has been, well, complicated. With a little a spring tease wandering the secluded roads of Idaho looking for hot springs to soak in under the milky way to the month long summer fling to the mountains of Colorado, I’d say I am a bit… confused. Yes, we said it would be a casual, but I don’t really think this is casual.

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!

With the timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park, access to Bear Lake at sunrise takes a little bit of planning. While there are day of permits available, they seem to be impossible to land. So, if you are making the trek out to Rocky Mountain National Park, I suggest you secure your entry permit months beforehand.

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.