Experience the healing power of adventure

First Descents

When First Descents and Rise Outside partnered to host outdoor climbing days at Peterskill in the Gunks, the goal extended far beyond simply getting participants on the wall. These events were built around community, encouragement, and creating an environment where cancer survivors, healthcare workers, and first-time climbers could challenge themselves in a supportive outdoor setting.

Across two separate events in November 2025 and May 2026, we documented the experience both on and off the cliff through photography and short-form social content. Working alongside the guides from Rise Outside, our focus was on capturing authentic moments throughout the day — instruction at the base, encouragement between participants, and the reactions that came with people realizing they were capable of more than they originally believed.

PHOTOGRAPHY
VIDEO PRODUCTION
PHOTO EDITING
MOTION GRAPHICS
ART DIRECTION
DIGITAL & SOCIAL DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY
VIDEO PRODUCTION
PHOTO EDITING

ART DIRECTION
MOTION GRAPHICS
DIGITAL & SOCIAL DESIGN

Empowerment Outside

The production combined rope-access photography, handheld video coverage, and lifestyle imagery throughout the climbing area at Peterskill. Rather than treating the events like traditional outdoor marketing shoots, the objective was to document the human side of the experience: nervousness turning into confidence, strangers becoming a community, and participants stepping outside of their comfort zones in a meaningful way.

The final deliverables included event photography, Instagram carousel assets, and short-form social reels designed to help both First Descents and Rise Outside share the energy and impact of the events across their digital channels. By staying lightweight and integrated into the experience itself, the content was able to feel authentic to the environment, the participants, and the mission behind the programs.

Adaptive Climbing Group