The best impact you can make on the world is a little less impact
Let’s enjoy public lands responsibly,
so all of us can experience the same great outdoors tomorrow as we do today.
Because the earth rocks, friends
100% of proceeds go directly to Leave No Trace
What Does It Mean to
“Leave No Trace”?
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a non-profit dedicated to educating people on how to leave less impact on the environment while enjoying time outside.
Simply put,
Leave No Trace is the best practices we can follow to enjoy AND protect the outdoors at the same time.
Did you just cringe thinking about all the times you didn’t exactly put the Earth first? It’s okay!
Leave No Trace isn’t here to shame you or call you out for past mistakes, because let’s be honest—that tactic doesn’t work & we’ve all messed up (yes, us included!)
Anni Graham
Elopement Photographer
Maddie Mae
Elopement Photographer
Adventure Instead
Gabi & Brandon Fox
Elopement Photographers
The Foxes Photography
The 7 Principles
of Leave No Trace
Ethical principles to bake into your business, so we can all keep operating outside.
At the heart of Leave No Trace are 7 principles for reducing the damage caused by outdoor activities.
Plan Ahead
& Prepare
Travel & Camp
on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste
Properly
Leave What
You Find
Minimize Campfire
Impacts
Respect
Wildlife
Be Considerate
of Others
But instead of saying “Do this or you’re bad!” the 7 principles say,
“Here’s some things to consider, please do what makes sense to you.”
They aren’t a set of “rights” and “wrongs”—they’re ethics
to keep in mind while you’re outside.
I love the outdoors!
But what’s this got to do
with photography?
A lot! (Everything actually)
Think about your last few outdoor sessions—how amazing was it to have your “studio” be the grand awesomeness of nature? How many times did you stop to say, “Wow, look at this view!” or “The scenery behind you is insane!” As wedding & elopement photographers, our “office” is the outdoors—how cool is that?
But if we don’t take learn how to take care of it this is what happens:
Can you imagine showing up to your go-to spot and it being closed for restoration or damaged unrecognizably?
100% of proceeds go directly to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
“Leave No Trace” is the absolute “lifeline” of my business. I used to think that it was a “party pooper” concept and set of rules designed to hinder my use of the outdoors—but in reality, Leave No Trace gives us MORE access and freedom—not less. It’s a vital tool to my and any business who relies on being able to operate on public lands. I want to be able to take clients back to their elopement locations for their 10-year anniversary and for them to be just as gorgeous as when they got married there.”
– Maddie Mae // Adventure Instead –
Elopement Photographers & Guides
Well first, let’s be honest.
We’ve all made mistakes
We’ve all left too much impact on the environment for an epic photo before.
But Leave No Trace isn’t about perfection.
It’s about leaving less impact the next time you’re outside.
Anni Graham
Maddie Mae
Gabi & Brandon Fox
And we have the power to make changes to each of our businesses in an effort
to limit our impact & better the “best office in the world”
(THE WORLD!)
No shame—but have you ever…
Seen a place you used to love to go to, get trashed, overrun, crowded, or destroyed to the point that it just wasn’t the same place anymore? (And did it make you sad?)
Been sad or annoyed that the place you once loved to photograph or enjoy for recreation was closed for restoration, instituted a permit system, or actually became off-limits for photographers? (Yeah, us too)
Been shamed online by someone who said you did something wrong in the outdoors or damaged the environment—which made you feel defensive and super scared to ever talk about it?
Been frustrated because you’ve seen another photographer or hiker do something that could damage the environment but you didn’t know how to properly address it?
Left more impact than was ideal or necessary on the outdoors (because you didn’t’ know better) and felt that because you haven’t been perfect in the past, there’s no way you could ever help promote Leave No Trace principles because you’re afraid of being shamed for your past mistakes?
Felt the burden of your “impact” on the environment as a photographer but feel lost on how to lessen it or where to even start?
Yeah, us too—and we’re here to do
something about it.
“As business owners whose job it is to lead people out into the outdoors, it’s our responsibility to make sure we all have a great time, stay safe, and leave as little impact on these spaces as possible. The climbing community has been a big influence on us too. We’ve seen how being good stewards to the land protects access and allows us to keep enjoying these places. The photographer community is no different. If the elopement photographers become known as being good stewards of the land, it’ll ensure we’re able to keep working in these epic landscapes and that couples can keep getting married in them!”
– Gabi and Brandon Fox // The Foxes Elopement Photography
For all photographers who use public lands (national parks, state parks, national forests, BLM lands, city & county parks, etc) as a backdrop for sessions, weddings, or elopements.
If you…
The Earth doesn’t need a few photographers practicing Leave No Trace perfectly.
It needs thousands of photographers practicing it imperfectly, and doing their best.
100% of proceeds go directly to the Leave No Trace Organization
Don’t forget,
The environment isn’t the only one benefitting…
When you infuse the Leave No Trace principles into your business, you AND your clients enjoy a better experience and your business benefits massively.
Baking Leave No Trace principles into your business isn’t a “why”…it’s a “why not?”
100% of proceeds go directly to Leave No Trace
“Leave No Trace is such a vital part of my life as a photographer. It’s easy to forget how much power you have through your images and with so many people in the world trying to access all these amazing locations we see online everyday, Leave No Trace has become absolutely necessary to continue access. I used to feel so frustrated when new ropes went up at my favorite waterfall, limiting access and changing the entire experience of it, until I realized the part I played in it. I believe our job as photographers, who carry so much impact through the sharing of our images, is to take care of these landscapes or we loose the chance to experience them. It’s not about what you are allowed to do or not to do, it’s about taking responsibility.“
– Anni Graham
What’s Inside
The “How To Leave No Trace” Course
How To
Leave No Trace
This course is the first of its kind, combining the 7 ethical principles taught by Leave No Trace expert, Ben Lawhon with photographer-specific insights & tips from Anni Graham, Maddie Mae, and Gabi & Brandon Fox.
Anni Graham
Elopement Photographer
Maddie Mae
Elopement Photographer
Adventure Instead
Gabi & Brandon Fox
Elopement Photographer,
The Foxes Photography
Ben Lawhon
Leave No Trace Expert
You’ll learn how to bake Leave No Trace into every aspect of your business—from branding & marketing to shoot day & beyond.
Here’s what’s inside
5 Hours of Video Covering
We’re not just teaching you how to reduce
your environmental impact
We’re giving you resources to implement directly into your business & tangible steps that you can take action on today.
“Leave No Trace Aware Photographer” Digital badge
Included for FREE when you pass the quiz!
$295 value
“How to Leave No Trace for Your Wedding/
Elopement Guide” Template – For Couples
$175 Included for FREE when you pass the quiz!
$175 value
Leave No Trace Contract Clause from
The Legal Paige
$47 Included for FREE when you pass the quiz!
$47 value
Okay, that’s great,
but how much is it?
100% of proceeds go directly
to Leave No Trace
And the best part is…
Every penny made from this course goes directly to Leave No Trace
So when you buy, you’re not only making a statement—you’re making an environmental investment
Let’s set an industry standard that all photographers operating in public lands should be aware of how the way we operate our businesses in these natural spaces impacts the world, and our industry.
Cause all of us could lose access if we don’t turn this ship around.
For less than the price of new hiking boots
you can show your commitment to the environment & help ensure our world is as awesome & beautiful tomorrow as it is today.
The world is our playground—let’s keep it awesome.
