A Year in the Field: Recent Projects from Wilkinson Visual
Looking back over the last year of work at Wilkinson Visual, a pattern started to emerge. Even though the clients, locations, and deliverables were wildly different, nearly every project landed in one of three buckets:
Large, full-scale productions for major clients.
Climbing and adventure work.
And projects right here at home in Kentucky.
That mix pretty accurately reflects how I like to work as a filmmaker and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. I’m drawn to outdoor and adventure storytelling, but I also genuinely enjoy corporate and smaller, locally-based projects when the work is well thought out and the people care about what they’re building.
Here’s a quick roundup of some of the projects that defined the last year.
Full Production Projects: From Concept to Final Cut
Some of the most rewarding projects this year were the ones where Wilkinson Visual was brought in for full production services—direction, cinematography, audio, editing, and more. These were larger jobs that required bigger crews, more planning, and a lot of collaboration.
On each of these projects, I served as director, working closely with creative directors, agencies, and the clients themselves to shape the story before a camera ever came out of the case. That early creative development is where these projects really start to separate themselves. When the messaging, visuals, and pacing are aligned from the beginning, the final film has room to breathe and do its job.
These productions often involved multi-day shoots, multiple locations, and specialized crew roles—camera operators, audio techs, drone pilots, and production assistants. Whether the end result was a brand film, a documentary-style piece, or a campaign asset library, the goal was always the same: create visuals that feel intentional, honest, and built to last beyond a single post or ad cycle.
This kind of work sits at the core of what I do as a commercial filmmaker in Kentucky—bringing structure and clarity to complex stories without sanding off what makes them human.
Climbing & Adventure Projects: Getting Vertical with a Camera
Adventure and climbing work continues to be one of the most energizing parts of my year.
Dangling 200 feet off the ground to capture stunning landscape-style climbing photos of North Face Athlete Sam Elias.
Photos above: Brrrrr! Michigan Icefest participants and athletes braved cold temps to kick and stick their way up frozen waterfalls on the shores of Lake Superior, and I was right there with them with my camera gear!
I was hired on several climbing-related projects, ranging from straightforward documentation to more specialized roles. One standout was teaching an ice climbing photography clinic—an opportunity to combine technical instruction, creative problem-solving, and a deep appreciation for being outside in uncomfortable conditions with cameras in hand.
Besides ice climbing, I was able to work with the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition on several video and photo projects, one of which resulted in some awesome images of rock climbers enjoying routes on several of the newly acquired properties. (see images to the right) We had great volunteer talent that day as well; the time and intention it takes to get good climbing photos such as these is no accident!
One climbing project, that is still very much a work in progress, was filming Seb Bouin (one of the top rock climbing athletes in the world!) trying to send one of the hardest rock climbs in the world! Over several days he threw every ounce of his strength at this route, The Odyssey, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to finish it before he return trip to France. (See the two reels below.) Hoping to see him back next year to get the send!
Another unique project was serving as a drone operator for a TIME Magazine shoot, in collaboration with Land Rover, focused on the Wolfe County Search and Rescue team. That assignment was a reminder of how powerful aerial cinematography can be when it’s used with restraint and purpose—especially in rugged eastern Kentucky terrain where landscape and story are inseparable.
Adventure filmmaking demands flexibility. Weather changes, plans shift, and gear gets tested. It’s the kind of work that rewards preparation and calm decision-making, and it’s a big reason I continue to pursue projects in the outdoor and adventure space.
It can’t always be redbulls and high-fives, so having a variety of other projects to keep the calendar filled is vital to staying busy and constantly growing as a Kentucky based filmmaker and photographer. So with that said, the third category of projects I dug into this past year was…
Local Clients: Staying Connected to Home
As much as I enjoy working with national brands and non-profits, collaborating with local clients remains one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
This year included projects like promotional videos for a local car wash, portraits for an architecture firm, and documenting a solar panel installation at a school in eastern Kentucky. On paper, those might sound like straightforward corporate video projects—but they matter. Below, we got to capture a series of poignant testimonials given by Berea College graduates, and were able to build a small but dramatic interview area within time and budget. The results were fantastic and the client loved it.
Working with local businesses, schools, and organizations keeps me connected to the community that shaped how I see the world. These projects often move fast, rely on trust, and benefit from local knowledge—understanding how people talk, what they value, and what visuals will actually resonate.
Getting to work on projects for social media reels is a fun new challenge for me; faster-paced edits, framing for vertical presentation, and multiple versions of sequences is a bit of a departure from the traditional longer-form documentary style, but for fun subjects like car washes and dog agility, you can see how it works better!
Looking Ahead
If there’s a common thread through all of these projects, it’s adaptability. Whether I’m directing a full-scale production, hanging on a rope with a camera, flying a drone for a national publication, or filming interviews on a college campus, the goal stays the same: create honest, effective visuals that serve the story.
If you’re looking for a filmmaker or photographer in Lexington, Kentucky—especially for outdoor, adventure, education, or well-executed corporate work—I’m always open to new conversations.
You can see more recent work at wilkinsonvisual.com, and I’ll continue sharing behind-the-scenes insights and project breakdowns here.