Ascend.
Create.
Know you’re safe.
Rock Climbing Photography Clinics
Who is This For?
You don't need to be a seasoned climber, but you are ready to take your photography a step farther and start taking photos from the top down.
-Any camera works: phone to professional, if you know how to use it, bring it
-No climbing experience required, Irene will get you safely up the rope
-Already have some rope ascending experience? She'll help dial in your system
-All the gear is provided, no need to own your own
What You'll Learn
In this 1.5 day course we'll cover climbing photography, equipment, set-up, safety, efficiency, gear management, and the nuances of shooting from a fixed line.
Day 1 - Half day of Ground School
-The foundations of climbing photography
-How to frame and compose in the vertical world
-How to rig and set your line
-Essential knots for fixed line photography
-How to move safely and efficiently around your climber
Day 2 - Full day of Getting on Ropes
-Gear deep dive: the different types of equipment and how they work
-How to ascend a fixed line
-How to move up and down efficiently
-How to stay physically comfortable on the rope
-Putting it all together: get up on lines and photograph real climbing models
What You’ll Get
Irene is a professional climbing photographer who has spent 10 years developing a curriculum built specifically for this — not a guided day out, but a real clinic designed to get you up on ropes and making images.
-30 clinics of experience behind every lesson
-Purpose-built curriculum developed specifically for climbing photography
-Thoughtful, well-paced material designed to build your skills progressively
-Patient, thorough instruction, no question goes unanswered
-All gear provided, no need to stress about equipment
-Personalized teaching in a small group setting
“Irene's course on climbing photography was so important and good for my photography. She not only covered the basic basics, like for composition, style, and lighting, I love that she detailed what distinguishes climbing photography from portraiture.
Then to the technical pieces- ascending a line and practicing on real climbers. She taught us about systems, about safety (of course), and about comfort for those long periods on a static. Being out there with her real-time feedback was such a valuable experience, and it helped me grow as a photographer.”
-Ria
“From the key elements of a great climbing photo, to the climbing photography setup, and the risk & comfort assessment on the wall. After the clinic, I have participated in major climbing festivals in the Gunks and nearby as a photographer volunteer. I learned a lot, thanks Irene!”
-Yueran
“I had a fantastic experience at the rock climbing photography workshop with Irene. She is an excellent instructor, knowledgeable, patient, and great at explaining both the technical and creative sides of shooting in a real climbing environment. I especially found the gear list and print out extremely helpful. The workshop was well organized and provided hands on experience with skilled climbers. I left feeling more confident, inspired, and with images I’m truly proud of. Highly recommend this workshop.”
-Amy
1.5 Day Clinic
A hands-on clinic for photographers ready to start photographing climbing from above. You'll cover everything from the creative foundations to getting up on the rope and making images, all the skills you need to do it safely and confidently
Max number of clients 8
$450
Refresh & Progress Clinic
A four hour hands-on session for those ready to take the next step. Whether you've completed the 1.5 day clinic, have some ascending experience, or just want to refine your system and rigging — this is your chance to dial it in.
Max number of clients 4
$275
2026 Clinic Schedule
1.5 Day Clinic
April 25th-26th 2026
Red Rock, Las Vegas NV
1.5 Day Clinic
August 8th-9th 2026
Seattle, WA
Refresh & Progress Clinic
May 2nd 2026
Red Rock, Las Vegas NV
Email Me to Sign-Up for Updates
1.5 Day Clinic
October 17th-18th 2026
Red Rock, Las Vegas NV
Apply for a Scholarship Spot