Kurtis Kristianson (Spindrift Photography) is an award-winning commercial lifestyle photographer based in Southern Alberta. Proficient in commercial content creation and hard-to-get perspectives, Kurtis specializes in photographing people, their personalities and the things they are most passionate about.

Kurtis believes it is important to connect with his clients and subjects and discuss ideas for a project to execute a shared vision. Over the last 20 years, he has had the pleasure of shooting diverse subjects, from professional sports and adventure athletes to national commercial ad campaigns. As such, he is comfortable working in extreme environments and solving technical issues on location.

Various photography and writing assignments for clients such as Coca-Cola USA, Motorcycle Classics, IMPACT magazine, Airdrie LIFE, and Lamborghini Calgary have given Kurtis the opportunity to work with interesting and passionate individuals from across North America. WestJet co-founder, Don Bell; Jim Nevada of Roper Apparel & Footwear; Canadian Punk icon, Art Bergmann; and Canadian Ultra-marathoner Dave Proctor, are just some of the public figures Kurtis has worked with.

The landscape of photography has changed in recent years with so many people picking up a camera and becoming proficient at taking a technically good picture. However, Kurtis believes that photography is more about connecting with your subject and understanding the client. It is about creating a great experience that not only captures a great moment but also one that produces an image that lasts. Spending time with the client to refine the vision and the final images the story will tell is really most of the work. The rest is just showing up, having fun and pressing the shutter. Anyone can take a pretty picture, but producing work that speaks on its own or tells a story is what it’s all about.

While large-scale commercial projects and clients are a good part of his work, Kurtis loves being outdoors. When not on assignment, he spends time exploring the backcountry, white-water kayaking, and paragliding. “I have the best job in the world: photographing and telling the stories of people who believe they have the best jobs and lifestyles in the world.”