Case Study: Klahoose Wilderness Resort

In 2023 season I had the privilege of working with the Klahoose Wilderness Resort to help them expand upon their existing content library. Located in Desolation Sound this remote lodge treats its guests to incredible wildlife encounters, awe-inspiring landscapes, and an intimate opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and traditions of the Klahoose people. As with many of these operations the sum-total of the guest experience is so much more than just one activity – it’s the moments in-between the highlights that help to make a trip like this truly special. It’s the inspired culinary offerings, authentic connections with staff, and quiet moments of reflection. This was our first challenge: not only to capture what the guests see, but also what they feel.

Along with this we wanted to make sure the imagery was reflective of the fact that the resort is 100% owned and operated by the Klahoose First Nation, with all the activities and tours being led by locally rooted indigenous guides. It was a real treat to capture the intersection of the area’s natural beauty alongside the longstanding traditions of those who have called it home since time immemorial. To experience the wonderment of this place through the lens of the Klahoose people is something I’ll cherish forever.

“We've recently partnered with Dolf Vermeulen to capture the soul of Klahoose Wilderness Resort, illuminating our vibrant cultural traditions such as drumming, alongside the allure of our newly renovated rooms, cabins, and main lodge. With a focus on our latest amenities like the wood-fire cedar sauna and tantalizing culinary offerings, as well as the excitement of guest activities including unforgettable wildlife encounters with whales and bears, Dolf's expert photography skillfully unveiled the essence of our resort and the ancestral lands of the Klahoose people. His work exceeded our expectations, leaving us eagerly anticipating our next collaboration.”

– Chris Tait, Tourism Manager, Klahoose Wilderness Resort

The days were long, but incredible. Waking up early to shoot sunrise each morning and staying up late to capture the enchanting night sky. I still have a clear memory of standing under the milky way doing my best to capture it’s beauty; despite being 16hrs into my ‘work day’ all I felt was immense gratitude for the experience and opportunity! Over two trips and nine days I captured their accommodations, amenities, meals, activities, scenery, staff, wildlife, details and more. I utilized many different tools in my arsenal to showcase the experience from different perspectives, including from the air, in the water, and on land, shooting both photos or video. Deliverables for this project included over 500 still images, 60 video clips, and one season highlight video.

SOCIAL CONTENT

Modern day social media platforms are content hungry machines!! Although this is not usually the sole focus of my projects all the imagery I create can all be utilized in a variety of manners. Still images can be posted onto social channels as-is, cropped, or combined in order to tell a story. Sharing these moments in time allows viewers to feel a connection to your business and adds a level of professionalism to your page. When it comes to video all my equipment records in at least 4K resolution, which allows for a vertical HD crop that doesn’t negatively impact upload resolution. This means the same great footage that may have been shot to live horizontally on a website’s landing page can also be repurposed to thrive on today’s most popular social platforms!