Tourism Photography - British Columbia & Canada
Welcome!
I'm Ian Harland, a Vancouver-based freelance photographer specializing in the British Columbia tourism industry. My work primarily involves collaborations with Destination Management Organizations such as Discover Surrey, Destination BC, Destination Canada and Destination BC. Beyond these partnerships, my portfolio reflects a wide range of subjects, capturing the unique spirit of tourism operators, the charm of diverse hotels, and the lively atmosphere of restaurants.
As you navigate through this page, exploring both my photographic journey and approach to collaborations, I hope to offer you a clear picture of what partnering with me entails. By the end, if you feel we're a great match for your next project, I encourage you to reach out using the contact form below.
Clients
Experience
My early days as a photographer focused on wildlife and nature in British Columbia's wilderness. Fresh out of high school, I embarked on multi-week camping trips across the province. These trips varied, from driving to the Yukon border from Vancouver to searching for the elusive coastal wolf on Vancouver Island.
As my career progressed, I shifted towards documenting human stories with an environmental focus, contributing to publications like the National Post, National Observer, Vancouver Sun, Chatelaine, Travel + Leisure, Canadian Geographic, and the Financial Times. At the same time, I worked on commercial projects, including branding photography for British Columbian tourism operators like Squamish’s Sea to Sky Air and Northern Vancouver Island’s Coastal Rainforest Safaris, Sea Wolf Adventures, and Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures. I also delved into architecture and hotel photography, capturing rooms, staff, and food.
My diverse portfolio, rich in nature and storytelling, began to attract the tourism industry. My first tourism gigs included photographing tours in destinations like Cuba, the Yukon, and Churchill. This exposure eventually led to opportunities with tourism boards. I found that tourism photography uniquely combined all my photographic interests, something I previously thought wouldn’t be possible. A typical DMO shoot could involve utilizing my skills in photojournalism, wildlife, nature, commercial, hospitality, and food photography, all skills I have been honing for years.
*The final image in the Behind-The-Scenes gallery captures a 15-year-old me, cold and wet, yet enthusiastic, posing next to birds, something you can still find me doing today.
Behind The Scene Photos
Nature, Wildlife & Adventure
Serving DMOs Needs:
My aim is to simplify collaboration. I'm well-versed in the photography guidelines of Destination British Columbia and various DMOs, focusing on authentic, impactful imagery while avoiding over-used tourism cliches. As suggested by Destination British Columbia, I offer a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, assignable, worldwide license for image usage. I also encourage sharing image assets with tourism partners during shoots to foster collaboration. One of the common frustrations I’ve encountered when chatting with various DMOs is that their image asset usage agreements are all over the place. Sometimes, they are restricted to using the images for a set amount of time or only in specific ways. Additionally, they may not have the right to sublicense the imagery to further promote their destination. With my image usage agreement, you can use and share the images confidently.
For shoot planning, I can collaborate with DMO or agency teams, or manage the production myself, which would involve an additional fee. However, even when DMO or agency teams are handling the production, I prefer to be involved, offering feedback, ideas, and photography-specific advice. For larger-scale shoots, designating an individual or team for planning is highly recommended. Combining these shoots with video productions can also save time in planning both.
For many photo shoots, having someone else on set to assist me significantly speeds up my workflow. This assistance can include handling model-release forms, occasionally holding a light, standing in a scene for a light test before the talent arrives, or acting as a person in the photo to add life to it. With this extra person around, I can concentrate on the photography aspect, which allows me to produce better images during typically fast-paced shoots. This assistant role can often be filled by the shoot coordinator, but if that's not feasible, I am also willing to hire an assistant. Although I am capable of working alone, the setup for many shoots takes additional time, which consequently reduces the time available for actual shooting.
Cuisine & Restaurants
Food Photography Case Study - Raincoast Breads
Imagine the power of professional imagery in enhancing the marketing efforts of small businesses. I'm always happy to share the rights to the images with the businesses we work with. Raincoast Breads is the first restaurant licensed to serve foraged foods in Canada. A fascinating story that needed photos to do it justice. Above, are the photos being used before, and below are some of the photos we shared with them.
AFTER Pro Photography
BEFORE Pro Photography
These photos were commissioned by Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures, one of the primary sea kayak expedition companies in British Columbia. After their multi-day trips in Haida Gwaii, they end with a celebratory dinner at Raincoast Breads. Click here to view more photos I’ve shot for Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures.
Hospitality & Architecture
Hospitality Photography Case Study - Surrey Hotel & Motel Association
The quality of imagery in the accommodation sector varies significantly, from high-end professional photography used by large chains to outdated, low-quality photos used by smaller establishments. Professional accommodation photography ensures a high standard of content across marketing platforms, promoting both large and small properties alike. This type of photography delivers one of the highest ROIs, especially for small hotels and motels that have not yet invested in quality images. From the perspective of DMOs, usually funded mostly by MRDT taxes, keeping hotels, motels, and other short-term rental accommodations well-photographed can be a great idea.
BEFORE Pro Photography
AFTER Pro Photography
The "before" photos were sourced from the Days Inn's online marketing materials. This property is one of the 15 hotels and motels I photographed for the Surrey Hotel & Motel Association. Click here to view more photos from this project.
People, Activities & Culture
Urban Exploration
Special Skills:
I possess unique skills that may be beneficial for some DMOs and tourism operators:
Underwater Photography: Equipped with professional underwater housing and lights, I can capture creative shots of marine ecosystems and water sports.
Drone Pilot Certification: Although currently limited to Basic Operations, I can fly in more remote areas or hire professional drone pilots on request.
Outdoor Expertise: My extensive experience in outdoor activities like backcountry camping, climbing, skiing, and extreme sports, enables me to access and capture diverse landscapes and activities. I offer standard and exploratory day rates, the latter being more suitable for shoots involving significant travel and minimal gear.
Sample Shoots
Discover Surrey
Destination Vancouver
Canadian Safaris
Destination Canada
Kingfisher Adventures
Testimonials
5/5 Stars on Google from 23+ Happy Clients
“Our team has had the pleasure of working with Ian on a number of projects, and the outcome is always above and beyond our expectations. Not only is Ian excellent to work with, but his passion for his craft and how he connects with clients is outstanding. We look forward to working with Ian on many more projects to come.”
“If you need a photo shoot, Ian is the man for the job. He’s remarkably professional, and the quality of his work is impeccable.”
Contact Form
If you don’t hear from me within 48 hours, please check your spam folder or email me directly to ianharlandphoto@gmail.com