Explore every episode of the podcast Footprints In Nature: Reflections

In this episode of Reflections, Chris explores the philosophy that defined his journey for years: "I am just a passenger on the road of life." While this mindset once felt like a shield against stress and a way to avoid the pressures of control, a sudden reality check from his oldest daughter, Alyssa, forced him to rethink everything.

Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 18: Leading by Helping.

See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In this episode of Reflections, Chris explores a fundamental trait that defined him long before he ever picked up a camera professionally: the drive to help, lead, and motivate people.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of "competition" in the creative industry, Chris explains why he views other creators as fellow travellers on the exact same road.

From organizing neighbourhood street hockey games as a kid and working at the Calgary Saddledome as a teenager, to a simple analogy from the golf course, discover why community and lifting others up will always come before the bottom line.

Main Takeaways 

• A Lifelong Default Setting: Tracing the natural instinct to lead and help back to childhood street hockey games and teenage years supervising at the Calgary Saddledome.

• Playing Your Own Game: Why photography and the creative industry are a lot like golf, and why choosing community over competition is the healthiest way to grow your business.

• The True Measure of Success: Exploring a powerful quote from Kobe Bryant and understanding that a lasting legacy is built on the people you inspire and help along the way, not just the invoices you send.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 17: The Black Hat (The Power of the Uniform).

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In this episode of Reflections, Chris shifts the focus to his literal daily uniform. We often talk about the "many hats" required to run a creative business, but in real life, Chris really only wears one: a basic, black ball cap.

From childhood habits and 25 years of competitive darts to wearing a special fuzzy winter edition in the snows of Churchill, that black cap is a constant companion through every pivot of his journey. Discover why putting on a black hat every single morning is more than just a wardrobe choice; it is a strategic ritual that protects the creative energy needed for the wild.

Main Takeaways

• The Power of the Constant: Why finding a physical anchor in your daily routine can help ground your business, your family life, and your time in the field.

• Defeating Decision Fatigue: Understanding how removing mundane daily choices, like what to wear, preserves your "mental battery" for the complex creative decisions that actually matter.

• The Hat as a Tool: Moving beyond fashion to see headwear as essential gear, whether framing a shot at a dartboard or blocking the glare while tracking wildlife and operating drones.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 16: The Steps In Between A-Z.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In this episode of Reflections, we confront our modern obsession with the finish line.

We live in a world that constantly pushes us to want the final product or result immediately, tempting us to find the shortcut and skip straight from A to Z.

Drawing from his early days threading one-inch tape onto massive reel-to-reel machines to flying modern drones, Chris explores the danger of relying on the "Auto" button.

Discover why handing your creative vision over to a microchip leaves your foundation fragile, and why the difficult steps in between aren't just in the way of your destination, they are the destination.

 Main Takeaways 

• The Danger of the Shortcut: Why relying on automated tech features robs you of the foundational skills and creative intent you need when things inevitably go wrong.

• Taking Creative Control: Shifting your mindset from simply operating a machine to understanding the "why" and the "how," allowing you to dial in exact settings that truly bring a frame to life.

•  The Process is the Prize: Realizing that true confidence doesn't come from a shortcut; it comes from knowing you have walked every single step of the trail to earn the final result.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 15: The Visual Historian.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

We often focus on the artistic or therapeutic value of our photography and filmmaking. But what happens when we view our cameras as tools to document history? In this reflection, we explore the profound responsibility of being a "visual historian." From the frozen tundra to the quiet corners of the mountains, we are doing more than just capturing beautiful images—we are preserving a vital historical baseline of natural history and animal instinct. Tune in to hear why every frame you capture is a gift to the future, and how your lens serves as a crucial bridge between the wild and the people who may never have the chance to stand where you are standing.

Main Takeaways

• Beyond the Art: Why shifting your mindset to view your camera as a tool for history changes how you capture the natural world.

• The Honest Lens: The profound responsibility we carry to capture the raw truth and the daily stories of survival in the wild, rather than just the beautiful highlights.

• Building a Visual Bridge: How your work acts as a legacy, ensuring the magic of these places is never truly lost for future generations.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 14 on The Intentional Frame.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In this episode of Reflections, we explore the therapeutic side of nature photography and what my friend Brett calls the "self-regulating component" of the craft. We discuss how the simple act of hunting for a composition forces you to look up, step out of your own head, and truly immerse yourself in the present moment. Whether you are looking for a single still frame or capturing the rhythmic story of a video clip, we examine why the "intentionality" of holding a camera acts as the bridge between a distracted walk in the woods and a true mindfulness practice. In a world increasingly obsessed with AI and instant digital results, tune in to discover why that raw, mindful connection with the natural world is something technology can never replace.

Main Takeaways

• The Self-Regulating Lens: How adding a camera to your hike transforms it from an aimless walk—where your mind is still trapped at your desk—into a grounding experience.

• Composition Hunting: Why the search for a frame forces you to actively observe the world around you and appreciate the environment.

• The Irreplaceable Real: A look at why AI can generate a perfect forest, but it can never replicate the chill in the air or the magic of the split-second connection when a fox crosses your path and time slows down.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 13 on The Show Must Go On.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

The beauty of being a freelancer is being the director of your own life. The reality? The director still has to show up on set, even when they have a severe case of the man cold. In this episode, we talk about the quiet grit and professionalism required when you are the entire business and there are no paid sick days to fall back on. If you have ever pushed through a pounding headache to check your batteries, load your gear, and deliver a stunning final product for a client, this reflection is a nod to your resilience.

Main Takeaways

• The Freelance Reality: Navigating the lack of a safety net and the stark realization that you cannot simply ask a manager to cover your shift.

• Pushing Through the Static: The dedication required to compartmentalize how you feel physically in order to deliver absolute excellence for your clients.

• The Flip Side of Freedom: Acknowledging the heavy, inescapable responsibility that comes hand-in-hand with running your own creative brand.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 12 on The Power of the Intentional No.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

When you leave a structured career to build your own business, you trade the corporate safety net for total freedom. But without boundaries, the fear of failure can trap you in a seven-day hustle, turning you into a machine that never unplugs. In this reflection, we tackle the perfectionism and people-pleasing that leads to working from dawn until midnight. Discover how implementing the "Intentional No" to the wrong projects is the ultimate boundary—and the only way you can start saying "yes" to your family, your weekends, and your own life again.

Main Takeaways

• Breaking the 7-Day Trap: How the pressure to succeed can quietly strip away the very freedom you started your business to achieve.

• Reclaiming the Present: Recognizing when you are physically in the room but mentally trapped in terabytes of data, and taking the steps to plug back into reality.

• The Director of Your Life: Why learning to say an intentional "no" is the most powerful tool you have to protect your peace and prevent burnout.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 11 on Storage Wars.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

We all love dreaming about the latest cameras, the perfect light, and cinematic shots. But none of that matters if your backend infrastructure fails. This episode shines a light on the unglamorous "Storage Wars" of the digital age. From the days of paying a dollar per megabyte to the modern anxiety of a "Disk Full" notification, we explore the reality of managing massive amounts of irreplaceable data. Discover why transitioning from a casual creator to a true professional means taking sacred responsibility for your files the moment you leave the field.

Main Takeaways

• The "After" of the Capture: Why the true responsibility of a professional begins once the moment has passed and the data needs to be secured.

• Building Resilient Infrastructure: The absolute necessity of having scalable backup systems and RAID workflows to survive the relentless flood of files.

• Becoming a History Keeper: Shifting your mindset to view data management not as a technical chore, but as the act of protecting irreplaceable stories.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 10 on The 2,000 Push-Up Pivot.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

It is dangerously easy for creative entrepreneurs to become ghosts at their own desks, prioritizing client work and deadlines over everything else. In this episode, we explore the mental health toll of working in dark rooms tied to an editing screen. Sparked by completing a 2,000 push-up challenge for the Canadian Mental Health Association, we dive into the vital importance of stepping away to reboot the system. Tune in to hear a raw reflection on why you have to clear out the noise of your to-do list so you can show up for the people who matter most.

Main Takeaways

• The Ghost at the Desk: The physical and mental dangers of a 24/7 work mindset, and how ignoring your well-being diminishes your presence at home.

• The System Reboot: Why taking just a few minutes a day to step away and reset is not a luxury, but a necessity for longevity.

• Prioritizing the Provider: Realizing that to support your family and clients effectively, you must first do the work to keep your own mental signal clear.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 9 on Many Hats.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you are struggling, please reach out to the Canadian Mental Health Association or call 9-8-8.

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator.

If you look at the social feeds of a creative professional, you usually see a highly curated highlight reel. But what does it actually take to keep that creative signal alive? In this reflection, we pull back the curtain on the invisible grind of running a photography and filmmaking business. From luxury real estate shoots to sitting in the quiet Canadian wild, we discuss the relentless juggling act of being a technician, marketer, and business owner. Learn why you have to respect the business of the craft if you want the craft itself to survive.

Main Takeaways

• The Invisible Grind: Understanding that the actual "creative" work is often only a small fraction of the job, while the rest is strategy and execution.

• Respecting the Business: Why spending time fixing the backend isn't a distraction, but a vital necessity to ensure your art has a platform.

• Serving the Core Mission: Realizing that no matter how many distinct hats you have to wear, they all ultimately support your primary role as a storyteller.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 8 on The Visual Bridge.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

Nature photography is often viewed as a solitary pursuit—a quiet wait in the cold wilderness. But the true work happens the moment you share the capture. In this episode, we discuss the concept of "The Visual Bridge." We explore the profound responsibility of serving as a witness, bringing the intimate, raw stories of the wild back to those who may never have the chance to stand there themselves. Discover why crafting micro-documentaries isn't just about business, but about leaving a legacy that brings the light of the natural world home.

Main Takeaways

• Beyond the Solitary Pursuit: Why the journey doesn't end when the shutter clicks, and how sharing the visuals completes the creative cycle.

• Serving as a Witness: The responsibility to capture not just iconic landscapes, but intimate wildlife stories for people experiencing it from their living rooms.

• Building the Legacy: How prioritizing the story over the business metrics turns your work into a bridge that inspires wonder in others.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 7 on Seven Bucks.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

Inspiration isn't always found in the grand, sweeping moments on a mountain peak; sometimes, the most powerful inspiration fits right in your pocket. In this reflection, we dive into the story of carrying exactly seven dollars as a physical reminder of resilience and hard work, inspired by the journey of Dwayne Johnson. We talk about the importance of dreaming big, building your own vision, and using humble beginnings not as a weakness, but as an anchor when the entrepreneurial road gets tough.

Main Takeaways

• The Power of Starting Small: Why beginning with almost nothing is a foundation for persistence rather than a limitation.

• Anchoring Your Dreams: How a physical totem—like seven dollars in your pocket—can remind you of your capacity to turn a dream into reality.

• Forging Your Own Legacy: The importance of identifying your calling and committing to making a lasting impact, even if the path isn't fully revealed yet.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 6 on The Weight of Readiness.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

With over 35 years of experience behind the lens, there is one difficult truth to shooting in the wild: the biggest barrier to an honest moment is technical noise. We explore "the weight of readiness"—the mental and physical checklist you carry before ever seeing an animal. Discover why obsessing over settings, data rates, and gear at home is the only way to be light enough to follow the story in the field. When the machine finally goes silent, the beauty of the wild truly opens up.

Main Takeaways

• The Technical Noise: Why fumbling with gear and settings in the field distracts from the raw instinct and connection you are trying to capture.

• Carrying the Weight Early: The importance of putting in the heavy, repetitive work of preparation at home so your movements become muscle memory.

• A Voice for the Wild: How mastering your technology allows it to vanish, leaving you completely present to act as a clear witness for nature.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 5 on Just Start.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

It is incredibly easy to get caught up in past regrets, wondering where you might be today if you had only started that project five years ago. But dwelling on lost time doesn't change the future. In this episode, we issue a simple challenge: Just start. We discuss why creative businesses and deep nature connections are a "long play" that require consistency and a refusal to wait for permission. Learn why the fear rarely disappears, and why taking that imperfect first step is the only way to build a meaningful body of work.

Main Takeaways

• The Long Play: Understanding that mastering a craft or building a brand doesn't happen overnight; it requires you to pass the crucial day-one mark.

• Overcoming Hesitation: Why shifting your mindset to ask "Where could I be in five years?" is far more productive than dwelling on the past.

• Taking the First Step: How moving forward alongside your fear—stumbling over words or messing up the lighting—is exactly how great stories are born.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 4 on The Lynx.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

Every wildlife photographer has that one animal that sits at the very top of their bucket list. For this reflection, we dive into the pursuit of the Canadian Lynx—the ghost of the northern forest. We explore what it means to spend hours driving, waiting, and scanning the treeline for a shape that never quite appears. But rather than frustration, we look at the magic of the wait, the joy of celebrating friends' encounters, and the quiet belief that the preparation is never wasted.

Main Takeaways

• Embracing the Wait: Why the long, seemingly empty hours spent searching aren't wasted time, but the necessary work you put in before the magic happens.

• The Joy of Shared Encounters: How leaning into the community and celebrating the unbelievable wildlife stories of friends fuels your own journey.

• Anticipating the Magic: Knowing that the day you finally cross paths with your bucket-list subject will be incredible precisely because of how long you had to wait.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 3 on Master Control.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

Drawing from decades of experience in the intense, high-pressure world of television broadcasting, this episode explores the mindset of being the "last line of defence." When you are used to managing satellite signals down to the exact second, you carry that hyper-vigilance into your own business and life. We reflect on the heavy pressure of never letting the signal drop, and the difficult—but necessary—process of learning to walk away from the monitors. Tune in to hear why we aren't meant to be on-air 24/7, and how to finally stop being the operator and become the passenger.

Main Takeaways

• The Broadcast Mindset: How the pressure of running your own business mimics the relentless, second-by-second stress of a Master Control room.

• Allowing Dead Air: The importance of learning to step away from the screens, trust the quiet, and let the signal fail occasionally.

• Becoming the Passenger: Shifting away from constant management and hyper-vigilance so you can actually feel your life happening.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 2 on But Some Days... I See Nothing.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In this episode, we take a drive down the backcountry roads of Alberta and confront the days when the wildlife just doesn't show up. We are so used to measuring our days by output and results that it is easy to view an empty memory card as a failure. We discuss how to let go of the expectation of the capture and embrace the healing power of simply being present. Discover why the days where you "see nothing" are often exactly what you need to quiet the noise of the editing desk and reset your mind.

Main Takeaways

• Presence Over Productivity: Why letting go of the expectation to capture a story allows the drive itself to become the reward.

• The Healing Silence: How stepping away from the computer and into nature slowly loosens the grip of urgent thoughts and emails.

• Finding Value in the Empty Days: Recognizing that an "unproductive" day without a rush of adrenaline is still a vital, refreshing part of the creative process.

Links & Resources

• Catch up on previous episodes, including Episode 1 on Why Reflections.

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!

In the inaugural episode of Reflections, we introduce a quiet, calm, and inviting space designed for the thoughts that linger. While most media today moves fast and is designed to grab your attention before moving on, this space is different. We explore why it is so important to step away from teaching, gear reviews, and tips, and instead focus on the simple act of noticing. Tune in for a short, unhurried walk through the mind of a creator, exploring the balance between nature, creativity, and the realities of running a business.

Main Takeaways

• The Power of Noticing: Why slowing down in nature gives your creative thoughts the room they need to breathe.

• Beyond the Content: The importance of building a space to sit with an idea after the camera is put away, rather than just consuming fast media.

• The Journey of a Creative: Navigating the dual lives of a professional—from the quiet solitude of the field to the demanding glow of an editing screen.

Links & Resources

• See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca

• If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and share it with a fellow creator!