In this chapter, featuring an interview with renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker, Jimmy breaks down how creative relationships fuel his photography, and explores the importance of forging partnerships with those who push you to greater heights.

Photo Studies: Creative Partnerships

Teaches Adventure Photography

Jimmy Chin

Meet your new instructor—world-renowned photographer Jimmy Chin—and join him on location for a photoshoot with his climber friends Conrad Anker and Bree Buckley.

On Location: Climbing Photoshoot

The photoshoot continues as Jimmy leads you through an outdoor portrait session with Conrad and teaches you how he thinks about using natural light.

On Location: Portraits and Natural Light

Learn Jimmy’s philosophy for finding your voice as a photographer, evolving creatively, and learning from failure.

Capturing Your Passions

With a focus on editorial photography, Jimmy teaches you how to construct a photo narrative to win magazine clients and tell a compelling story.

Principles of Narrative: Concept, Research, and Pitch

Now that you have a clear, powerful story in mind, Jimmy explains the core tenets of working with your editor and subjects to bring that story to life.

Principles of Narrative: The Shoot and the Edit

Join Jimmy as he breaks down two sky-high photoshoots from his career: one from the top of the tallest building in the United States, the other from the peak of the tallest mountain in the world.

Photo Studies: Shooting at the Top

Learn Jimmy's strategy for winning commercial clients, executing effective work, and integrating your creative voice into brand campaigns.

Commercial Work: Pitching and Working With Clients

Analyzing photos and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from a high-alpine photoshoot, Jimmy teaches his approach to leading a team and composing shots in the mountains.

Commercial Case Study: Canon Shoot

Learn Jimmy’s set of practical directives for safely and constructively running a creative shoot when the stakes are high.

High-Stakes Photography

A photographer is often the creative leader of a team. Jimmy teaches you how to set the bar high for professionalism and convey your creative vision, and lets you in on the preproduction meeting for the on-location shoots earlier in the class.

Building and Leading a Team

Jimmy breaks down his approach to photographing mountain landscapes, and how he composes his shots.

Photo Studies: Mountain Architecture

Using the photos captured on the shoot with Conrad, Jimmy teaches you his process for sifting through hundreds of images to find the best few for his narrative.

Editing

Jimmy takes you through a granular look at the tweaks he makes to a photo before presenting it to a commercial or editorial client.

Post-Processing: Conrad on the Wall

Learn Jimmy’s techniques for retouching portraits as he moves through wide shots of Conrad against the horizon to portraits of him atop the wall.

Post-Processing: Portrait

Jimmy describes which cameras, lenses, and accessories he takes with him on shoots—and why.

Gear: Cameras, Lenses, Power, and Storage

Get the most out of your camera's functions and lenses. Jimmy dives into how different settings have different effects, and shares practical tips for determining which configuration will help you get the best shot.

Settings: Modes, ISO, Focus, and Depth of Field

Building a career takes tenacity and patience. Learn Jimmy's philosophy behind a life in photography--and how hard work, passion, and perseverance can lead to success.

Career Advice: Building a Body of Work

From his childhood in Mankato, Minnesota to the cover of National Geographic, Jimmy shares his story of becoming a professional photographer and offers advice for finding your own mentors.

Becoming a Photographer: Jimmy's Story

Jimmy wraps up his MasterClass with a few encouraging words on the importance of valuing the process over the final achievement, living in the moment, and pursuing your passion.

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Photo Studies: Creative Partnerships

About the Instructor

Jimmy Chin