ASK COREY: How can I learn more about the way you work?

Hey Corey. I’m working on building a professional photo and video career and already you have been a great resource for information. I’m really interested in learning more. I would love to follow you around and shadow you on a real shoot and watch you work. Is this possible? What’s the best way for me to learn more? Do you have an internship program? Do you teach workshops? Thanks for everything! Best, Monty

©Brett Wilhelm / Wilhelm Visual Works

Thanks, Monty. I’ve always said that if I wasn’t a photographer and filmmaker, I’d be a teacher like my dad. In my life, especially early on, I’ve had many fantastic mentors who have passed on a lot of info to me. Of course I want to return that favor and pass on what I know to inspired photographers and filmmakers like yourself.

Unfortunately, I’m afraid that I would never allow folks to shadow me on jobs. Quite frankly, the jobs I’m doing these days are too high stakes, with very little margin for error and no room for inefficiency.

That said, I have been experimenting with online teaching. Last year, I got the opportunity to teach a 3-day CreativeLIVE workshop, “Still and Motion: Storytelling on Location,” in which I actually shot a real campaign for my friends at Jackson Kayaks in front of a live audience. This course is still available for digital download, and with over three days worth of content, it would serve as a great proxy for actually shadowing me on one of my shoots.

One of the great mentors in my life is Rich Clarkson, who runs his Clarkson Creative business out of Denver, CO, and holds the Summit Series of Photography workshops which, for the last 31 years, have been held at various venues around the country. Years ago, Rich invited me to be an instructor at his Photography at the Summit workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as at the Sports Photography workshop at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. These workshops are unique because Rich brings together a team of instructors—all of whom are really talented, dynamic folks who all have different ideas and approaches to their work. This team-teaching environment is really cool because you get to see many different ways to skin a cat. What works for me might not work for you—but at least you’ll increase your arsenal of tricks, ideas and skills that you can use to create your own methods.

One day several years ago, I was having breakfast with Rich Clarkson, Brett Wilhelm and Chris Steppig and we hatched a harebrained idea to add another workshop in response to many students’ consistent feedback. From that breakfast, the Adventure Photography Workshop was born. Early on, the National Geographic Society and The North Face came on board as sponsors, and today it’s also underwritten by Nikon (huge thanks to these companies!).

The Adventure Photography Workshop is closing in on a decade running, and over these years we’ve had many wonderful students who have gone on to do many great things. I think most of them were predestined to be super stars anyway, regardless of the workshop. But still, it’s worth mentioning that guys like Keith Ladzinski, Justin Bailie, Krystle Wright, Gregg Bleakney, Andy Bardon and Greg Mionske were all once students. And it’s even cooler to see that Keith Ladzinski has returned to the Adventure Photography Workshop as an instructor.

These workshops are probably the best way to learn everything you need to know about making it as a professional photographer/filmmaker.

Last but not least, our office in South Lake Tahoe is always accepting applications for our paid internship. We’re constantly on the hunt for good people, who are fun to be around, work really really hard and are really talented with both shooting and editing video. If that’s of interest, please see this link for more information and send your resume to [email protected].

Thanks again, and hope this helps!