You don’t need a huge crew, massive budget, or years of formal training to tell make a career as a filmmaker. You need a clear blueprint and know where to begin.

In this practical, 35-page field-tested guide to get started as an outdoor filmmaker,

Emmy-nominated filmmaker and outdoor storyteller Roo Smith breaks down exactly how to structure your shoots, interviews, gear choices, and creative process - even when you’re filming solo, chasing light, and capturing people at their most vulnerable.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• The minimal gear kit that works anywhere

• The 3 core shot types every scene needs

• How to use natural light to shape emotion

• How to guide real interviews that feel honest, not forced

• A shoot day structure you can repeat on any project

• How to build long-term momentum as a documentary filmmaker

Whether you're filming trail runners at sunrise, climbers on granite faces, or brand stories in the backcountry - this book gives you the tools to capture real human stories with clarity, confidence, and creative control.

This isn’t theory. This is the blueprint I’ve used across dozens of outdoor films for brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Netflix, HBO, and more.

Simple. Actionable. Repeatable.

And built for the way outdoor stories actually unfold.