2021 Client Review

From remote wilderness action/adventure to the much more sedentary “talking head”, I enjoy looking back on a year and reflecting on the people and projects that I was blessed to work with. These clients listed on this post are (mostly) paying ones that help supplement my income to a small degree.

At this point here at the end of 2021, I have now been working with Faithful Friends as Communications Manager since July in a half-time role. The remainder of my work hours is generally focused on cross-cultural faith-based media projects in which I raise funds to help cover my work hours through Reliant Creative. If you would like to see what I’ve been working on through those efforts, just let me know.

Due to my background and interests, much of my work even in my for-profit work seeks to help locally or globally focused non-profits.

CultureBound (ongoing)

For the past few years I have been using office space hosted at CultureBound which is just a ten-minute walk from my house. As I have a studio space set up with lights, backdrop, etc. it has become a convenient place in which to shoot a number of teaching-style “talking head” videos that CultureBound has used in many of their trainings (available online).

This non-profit based in Portland is the go-to training group if you are looking to find the tools to succeed when working in cross-cultural situations, whether staying in your own country or moving into another. Check out their podcast “Walking Between Worlds” and their “Culture Learning” book just recently released.

Cowley-Ahounou Wedding (Feb)

Our oldest daughter, Marika, married Romy earlier this year! It was a small, simple yet beautiful affair being COVID and all. As father of the bride, I wanted to capture the day via video in such a way that the many families based overseas (or local even who couldn’t make it due to size limitations) could celebrate simultaneously with us. So here is the edited version of that lovely day (obviously not one of my paid projects but certainly worth mentioning). The talented Amy Glover took photos for us, as well as hosted us at her house for the ceremony. Read the entire post here.

Trinity Academy (April)

Due to COVID we had a truncated spring cross country season that carried over from fall 2020 (in which we had another, but even shorter season). Each season I try to take the photos from our meets and put them together into a video.

Jubilee Hall (April)

A few friends of mine are hard at work raising build out funds to get a non-profit coffee shop, Jubilee Hall, set up just a 15-min walk from my house in a key part of the city where a good number of immigrants and refugees live. The goal will be to provide job skills and English training for those who are accepted into the program. I traded services with Jubilee Hall since they provided tea, coffee and chai at my daughter’s wedding. This video includes my son-in-law as the new arrival and my father-in-law as the local American guy who picks him up at the airport.

Trinity Academy (May)

With gatherings of people still considered unsafe, Trinity chose to have me film a concert from the school grounds that could be shared with the community to showcase what the students have been working on over the past months.

Bend Racing (May)

Expedition Oregon, “America’s Toughest Race”, is Bend Racing’s flagship multi-day event that hosts teams from all over the country as well as several international teams. Having volunteered to shoot at Lapine Loop in 2020, I was invited to join the media crew for a five-day adventure in central Oregon to document teams of 4 who would race by whatever human-powered means necessary (may include but not limited to whitewater paddling, mountaineering, caving, canyoneering, rock climbing, rappelling, tyrolean, tree climbing, swimming, bike-whacking, bike-rafting, orienteering course, SUP, outrigger, sailing, canoeing, and survival skills).

Teton Ogre Adventure Race (June)

The beautiful mountainous border region near where Idaho and Wyoming meet is the setting for races put on by the Teton Ogre husband and wife team of Jason & Abby. I was a racer for one of the 8-hour races where I filmed my own journey, then photographed & filmed another 8 and 24-hour race.

U.S. Adventure Racing Association (USARA) Nationals Race (September)

United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA) is the national governing body for adventure racing (AR) in the United States. They support racers & race directors and organize the USARA National Championship adventure race in the fall. For 2021 the national competition was hosted in Wisconsin in September. I was invited to act as the social media manager to compile, edit and publish video content remotely throughout the 30-hour event to the USARA Facebook page where “dot watchers”, family and friends would be eager to track the progress of their favorite racers.

First Image (October)

First Image serves and helps to support moms-to-be and families who are in need of compassionate care and understanding when dealing with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy. I was invited to serve as the event photographer for their annual fundraiser.

De Rose Community Bridge (November)

My friend Rose, originally from northern Nigeria, is doing some good work in outer east Portland with women from various refugee and immigrant backgrounds. She asked me to produce a video for her that would be used to apply for a grant that could help cover project needs for the next three years, if selected. Fingers crossed!

Trinity Academy (December)

As Portland-based schools get back to in-person events, this fall my daughter was involved in a play with others from her junior class at Trinity Academy. I was asked to film and produce a version that could be shared with friends and family as those who attended were few in number due to ongoing precautions.

Do you have a photography or video project in mind? Let’s talk.