"Working as a commercial photographer has its share of unique challenges, but it's the balance between client demands and personal projects that keeps me passionate about the craft. Whether I’m shooting for a major brand or documenting life on a remote expedition, the process always pushes my skills to new levels. Over the years, my work has taken me from the remote frozen expanses of the Canadian Yukon, through dense jungles of Papua New Guinea, and onto the rolling plains of the Mongolian Steppe—each environment demanding a different approach."
Nick Fraser - Photographing on an underwater shoot for Sony Australia
Managing Commercial Work vs. Passion Projects
As a photographer, the expectations in commercial projects differ drastically from personal work. For client-driven shoots, the focus is often on executing a vision that aligns with the brand’s identity or objectives. Creativity is certainly involved, but it’s more about adapting to a specific brief, understanding the target audience, and working within set parameters.
On the other hand, my personal projects allow for more freedom and authenticity. In documentary-style shoots, the goal is to capture raw, real-life moments without interference. There’s a beauty in letting the story unfold naturally, and that’s where my passion for photography truly lies.
When shooting commercially, I’m often bound by guidelines - logistics, managing client expectations, working to a shot list. This has its own challenging reward, keeping you on your toes and pushing you’re skill set with every new job. Sometimes it’s more about how you handle stress, make good decisions under pressure, and deliver consistently impressive work than it is about the actual images. For personal work, it’s about being in the moment and letting the environment dictate the shot, getting lost in the process, and often allowing for a more immersive, holistic approach to image making. I often find that the story behind the image is just as important. These experiences have shaped not just my work, but my worldviews
Shooting in Extreme Conditions: Practical Lessons Learned
““Anyone can take a nice photo in optimum conditions. It’s when the hail starts flying, the wind is up, and it’s all gone to s**t that your true talent begins to show”
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From the -50°C temperatures of northern Canada to the tropical humidity of Papua New Guinea, my photography journey has taught me more than just how to handle a camera—but also many lessons in preparation, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Working in sub-zero temperatures isn’t just about endurance; it’s about maintaining gear and ensuring nothing malfunctions. Camera batteries drain fast, and even simple tasks like changing lenses can become extremely challenging when you are trying to keep things clean and you can’t feel your fingers. I always carry extra batteries, but even then, you need to keep them close to your body to avoid them freezing. Tucking them into your armpits or the groin usually works, and picking your lenses beforehand helps to reduce the potential for damage to the sensor when changing lenses in a poor environment. But the biggest lesson of all is to ensure that your camera always stays in the temperature environment you will be shooting in. If you bring that camera into your nice warm cosy tent, your going to be in a world of pain when you go outside to shoot that amazing moment and find the camera and lens are full of condensation for the next hour.
Papua New Guinea
"When shooting in humid, jungle environments the same rules apply for different reasons. Equipment fogs up easily, and high moisture levels can wreak havoc on electronics. In those cases, it’s all about maintaining airflow and keeping gear dry. I always try to travel with silica packs and zip-lock bags, keep camera bags or pelican cases sealed at all times when not in use, and always clean the kit before I put it away”
These environments push my technical knowledge and creativity to the limit. Sometimes, it’s not about having the best camera or gear, but about understanding the limitations of both yourself and your equipment and seeing how far you can push those limits. It’s one thing to take those shots when your full of energy and feeling inspired, another thing entirely when you’ve done a 10hr day of trekking, have blisters, are soaked in sweat, you haven't eaten, and your camera is at the bottom of the bag. Sometimes the best images are taken in the hardest of moments, and it’s usually pushing through that pain barrier and making it happen that yields the greatest rewards.
Mongolia
When we decided to do a 3 month horse trek across Mongolia, we had to think big picture and be on top of our planning and logistics. From building pack saddles, to sourcing horses, and packing enough supplies to sustain ourselves, nothing in the day to day was easy. Photographing with two feet on the ground is one thing, but doing so whilst at a canter on horseback, with a near wild packhorse horse in tow, 50kgs of kit clanking around, pissing rain and howling wind, and sick to your stomach with hunger - this really pushes your boundaries. But if you want to walk away with the shots you are proud of, you have to ignore those other minor hiccups and focus on having the discipline to make those images.
Lessons in Adaptability from Commercial Shoots
While extreme conditions can be challenging, commercial shoots often present an entirely different set of hurdles—managing time, dealing with client expectations, and ensuring the final product meets specific brand requirements.
“For commercial projects, my work is much more structured. I’ll have shot lists, mood boards, and a clear idea of the brand’s voice before stepping onto the set. Unlike personal projects, where spontaneity is key, commercial shoots often rely on pre-production. You might have had a 100 email thread before you even begun the shoot. Lighting has to be perfect, compositions need to match the brief, and every image must serve a purpose. It’s not to say that things don’t go wrong though, and this is where those moments of dealing with adversity on my personal projects have really shaped my ability to work well under pressure and problem solve with a smile. The client is placing a great deal of trust in your competency as the professional. If things go wrong it’s your job to set them right and to act as a calming anchor to keep things on track”
That’s not to say commercial work is less creative—far from it. In fact, there’s a unique challenge in finding ways to push the boundaries within those constraints. It requires understanding the client’s vision while still infusing it with my own style.
Balancing the Two Worlds
The key to maintaining passion in this industry is in finding a balance between commercial work and personal projects. For me, the latter serves as a creative reset. It’s where I can experiment, test out new ideas, and push my own boundaries as a photographer.
“When I’m not shooting for a client, I immerse myself in personal projects—whether it’s documenting life in remote communities or trying something I’ve never done before. These experiences not only fuel my creativity but also improve my commercial work. Having that balance keeps the job exciting, and it ensures that no matter how structured a commercial project may be, there’s always room to bring a fresh perspective.”
Balancing commercial demands with personal passion is not always easy, but it’s what keeps me growing as a photographer. Both worlds have their challenges and rewards, and the lessons I learn in one often help me succeed in the other. As I continue on this journey, I look forward to the new experiences and projects that lie ahead—whether it’s a commercial shoot or another adventure into the unknown.
"At the end of the day, it’s about loving what you do and constantly striving to improve. The day you stop learning is the day you stop moving forwards. I’m always looking to find new challenges whether commercial or personal, to push my comfort zones and force me to improve my outlook and hone my skills”
Follow my journey as I continue to document life through photography, both in the commercial realm and beyond. Check out my latest work on instagram at www.instagram.com/nickjamesfraser or explore my commercial portfolio on www.fraserproductions.com.au