As outdoor and active lifestyle aesthetics collide with streetwear, expressive individuality is replacing uniform utility. As an active photographer plugged into the outdoor industry, I discuss how subculture, niche identity, and unapologetic taste are shaping modern visual storytelling, and what that means for brands and campaigns in 2026.

Don’t wait for the brief. I’m spilling the tea on how I art directed a Brooks Running spec shoot, with real runner casting, and motion-focused urban imagery, to book a real photography campaign with Brooks Running.