A girl running along the beach at sunset; a young couple waiting out a rainstorm in their tent; friends laughing as they get off a chairlift. These moments do more than create great photo opportunities, they epitomize the essence of the active lifestyle. For advertisers wanting to align their products or message with this lifestyle, images of these scenes can be powerful marketing tools. Spend a week with professional photographer—and RMSP graduate—Heath Korvola as he takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of what goes into creating images of outdoor adventure for editorial and commercial clients.

Focusing on a new activity each day, you create action images and environmental lifestyle portraits while working with models in a variety of different elements. Taking advantage of Missoula’s proximity to the outdoors, you photograph scenes that may include camping, mountain biking, running and kayaking. During location demonstrations Heath covers methods for lighting subjects in the field, point-of-view photography and ways to make your subjects feel at ease. A believer in the importance of self-promotion, Heath sees the power of marketing pieces that make you stand out, and shows examples of his own past and present marketing efforts. He discusses equipment considerations for the adventure photographer, including cameras, lenses, hard cases, sport-specific items such as underwater camera housings, and how to work in cold weather and on extended outings in the field. Daily classroom meetings provide time for group discussions about trends in the industry, the impact of new media, pricing and negotiating image usage with clients. Heath provides constructive critiques on the work you create throughout the week and helps you identify ways you can improve.

Please visit Heath’s bio to learn more about his photographic accomplishments.

Curriculum:
• Working on location—lighting techniques, logistics and models
• Trends in the adventure lifestyle industry
• Marketing tactics and self-promotion
• Concepts of new media
• Model and property releases

Tuition includes location and model fees.
This course begins Monday at 9 a.m. and ends Friday by 5 p.m.

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