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🎥 From Ski Instructor to Freelance Videographer & Photographer - How Tom Carved A Career in the Ski Industry
Tom’s mountain journey started with a school ski trip—and never stopped. One EA Ski and Snowboard Training season turned into ten, and now he’s filming backcountry lines for Red Bull TV and Nat Geo. From ski instructor to full-time videographer, his story shows what can happen when you back yourself and chase the endless winter. Read his story in the Q&A below:
How did your journey in the snow industry begin, and what led you to join an EA Ski and Snowboard Training program?
My love for skiing and snow-sports all started with a school ski holiday when I was 13-14 which I was lucky enough to experience. This inspired a ski season in my gap year between college and University. I then studied Photography and Media at University, and after graduating and knowing I didn't want to work in a studio, I did another ski season. After experiencing a few ski seasons and also wanting to take photography and media to the mountains, I knew I wanted to spend as much time on the slopes as possible and being a ski Instructor felt like a good way to do that. With a guaranteed job offer and assistance being set up in another country, EA Ski and Snowboard Training seemed like an easy way to get a foot in the door. I’m now on season 10 and live and work in Canada full-time, but I always think about where I would be if I didn't go on that ski holiday as a young teenager, which I believe was where the fortunate fork in the road began.
Can you tell us about your season as an EA Ski and Snowboard Training intern? What did you take away from that experience that helped shape your career?
It definitely taught me how to both work in and respect the mountains. It also showed me a completely different side of skiing than I was used to (Freeride/Powder/Offpiste), which I am now completely in love with. It also taught me variability of the sport, the unpredictable conditions, safety considerations and the importance of staying adaptable. I guess it also taught me that if you really want something you have to go and get it.
You’ve gone from ski instructor at Revelstoke Mountain Resort to photographer and videographer of the mountain and now operating as a freelance Videographer/Photographer — how does that feel?
It feels good for sure, it was kind of my master plan before coming out here and it all happened step by step with one opportunity leading to another and consistently trying to improve the craft. I feel blessed to be able to do something I enjoy and it can be a bit stressful at times working as a one man band and having to make all the decisions and calls as well as having deliverables to meet and manage your own expectations of things, but It still feels like I’m just doing what I love, but now with a heavy backpack and a camera in my hands as well as skis on my feet.
How did you make the leap from ski instructor to freelance videographer and photographer?
It was a gradual process and ski instructing was definitely a stepping stone that helped me facilitate that. I started shooting photos and filming friends on days off, making little edits and posting images and videos online. I also reached out to the resort media/marketing team and other local companies, ‘expressing my interest in shooting’, not for money but for the experience and one opportunity led to another. In my second season here I was working part-time for the marketing team and part time instructing and I soon realized in order to do one thing right I had to fully commit to it. There’s definitely elements of ski instructing I miss, but I feel i'm where i'm supposed to be now.
You’ve now worked with some huge names — Red Bull TV, National Geographic, Sherpas Cinema, The Natural selection and more. What’s been a career highlight for you so far?
I remember my first time being in a helicopter for a shoot was definitely special, I remember thinking how have I made it here, this is wild. However I think one of my personal highlights, was shooting for Sherpa Cinema on their Film "Alpine Rhapsody" which was part of Warren Miller Entertainment's 75th ski movie. I was inspired by both Warren Miller and Sherpa Cinemas flicks, and to contribute a small part to that and see my name in the credits was a dream come true.
What advice would you give to someone keen to follow a similar path — combining a love of snow sports with media and videography?
If you love doing it, go for it! Take any opportunity you can, put yourself out there and network with people, be prepared to work for free if it's something you love doing. Be prepared to be in it for the long haul as things take time to get going and look at it like a journey instead of trying to arrive at a destination. Be prepared to get lots of things wrong, as I've learnt a lot by doing thighs wrong. One thing I will say though, this industry is competitive, so you need to work hard to make it work. I still question myself all the time if this is a sustainable career as this industry definitely has its peaks and valleys, however it's something I truly enjoy doing, and feel very blessed to be able to do for a job. Another good bit of advice I wish I had learnt sooner is to learn to manage your expectations and to try not to focus on gear too much, just use what you have and think outside the box. Shoot what resonates with you, not what you feel others will like, and share your work. Connections come from putting in the hours, putting yourself out there and showing up consistently — not from waiting until it’s perfect.
Was there a “pinch me” moment when you realised you were actually making a living shooting ski films/clips in Revelstoke?
Yes — every time i’m flying out to shoot a day of Heli skiing thinking to myself, “how the hell have I swindled this,” and having the biggest smile on my face looking over endless mountains, it doesn't get old. That being said, there’s also pressure on my shoulders to deliver and make the client happy, but being able to do that for a job and getting paid for something I love doing is a dream come true.
Looking back at your first EA Ski and Snowboard Training season — could you have imagined where it would lead?
It was part of my masterplan but I didn't actually think it would work, hahaha.
What’s the best thing about turning your passion for the mountains into your career?
I think the lifestyle is the most special thing, it's a combination of living in a truly beautiful place, living an active lifestyle and ability to be creative in my job are my favourite things. Being outside, capturing the world as we experience it, and constantly pushing yourself — creatively and physically. It’s a lot of work that I've had to learn on the job, but it doesn’t feel like a job all the time.
What’s next for you? Any exciting projects or personal goals you’re working on?
Honestly, just keep things moving forward and continue to develop the craft, I still feel I've got a lot to learn and there’s lots of elements of this business I need to dedicate more time to. It’s a difficult industry to make work financially so finding a balance of doing what I love but making it work financially as a business is important for longevity. That being said, I've got a couple of passion projects I've been thinking about for a while now I'd like to work on, as well as trying to focus on some narrative-driven short films. In regards to personal goals I'd like to try and dedicate more time in the backcountry and see new places and ski need lines.
Watch Tom's epic winter showreel:
