Photo Shoots

For more than three decades we have photographed climbers and climbing in a wide variety of settings on six continents. Although technical rock and ice climbing photographs are our forté, we are comfortable with all sorts of adventure photography, as well as mountain landscapes and travel photography. We shoot year-round, at whatever time of day is required, to get the photographs we are after.

Having guided for more than thirty years in the Adirondacks, our home mountains, we have an intimate knowledge of the area's natural resources, especially climbing routes, and how to photograph them to get engaging results. Since we are familiar with nearly every climbing area in the Adirondacks we can usually determine, fairly accurately and in advance, what a photo shoot will require in terms of access, rigging, light and numerous other factors. If you are looking for a particular feel or look, we can probably make suggestions regarding where, and when, to find it. If you have a specific location in mind we can probably suggest ways to photograph it that will help you get what you are looking for.

For technical shoots (involving ropes and rigging) we normally work as a team of two photographers to facilitate the rigging and to get a variety of shots efficiently. For landscape and other non-technical shoots we work alone, unless complex lighting or other concerns are involved.

For most shoots, once we have a sense of your expectations, we'll develop a shoot plan for you to review. Our shoot plans list the shots we envision and how we expect to get them. Depending on the complexity of things this could include everything from lens selection to how we expect to rig each shot and the timing required to make it all happen. For some shoots we'll rig the day before to assure everything is in place and ready.

Costs for our photo shoots are based upon the complexity and difficulty of gathering the photographs as well as the time required to do it. As one might expect, long hikes, carrying lots of equipment to remote places that require complex rigging will be more costly than roadside shoots that can be completed in a few hours. 

Normally we license the images we gather from a shoot for a particular purpose and we retain all other rights. A variety of licensing options is possible depending upon your requirements. We can also deliver printed output, including custom archival prints and bound books. Our goal is to tailor our services to your needs.

If you have something specific in mind please contact us. We'll be happy to discuss the particulars and provide a cost estimate.

Private Photo Shoots

If you've tried to photograph your climbing partners while on a climb, or from the ground, you already know this is usually not very satisfying and it has nothing to do with how expensive your camera might be. Good climbing photos usually require angles that are not possible from a climb and the butt shots you get from the ground are almost never flattering.

If you really want striking photos of yourself and partners you need a skilled climbing photographer in exactly the right place at the right time. Having guided and photographed vast numbers of climbers and climbs we know those places and times for most routes. We'll work with you to make sure every aspect of the shoot plan, from the climb to the color of your helmet, offers the best chance for the kind of photos you'll want to display proudly.

We can deliver a custom-designed, hardcover book to present a collection of your shoot's best photos, along with a variety of print options to display on your wall.  For special events, such as a birthday or anniversary, professional climbing photos are a great way to commemorate the occasion.

Assignment Photo Shoots

We accept assignments to photograph for a variety of outdoor and adventure related stories. Our long careers as mountain guides allows us to provide perspectives and detailed information well beyond what could be expected from the vast majority of photographers. If you have an interesting angle on a story we welcome the challenge of coming up with equally interesting photographs to bring it to life.

Commercial Photo Shoots

The Adirondacks offer a unique and iconic palette of visual possibilities. The "big air" feel of many of the locations we have at our disposal offers a new and different view of an old and familiar place that might be just right for your needs. We have stock photos for some locations to give you an idea of what's possible. We look forward to hearing your ideas so we can work with your models (or ours) and/or products to produce an inspired solution.