Lens Behind The Hunt

Great shooters do not just show up and hope it works out. They control the process before the trip ever starts. In this episode, Nick breaks down why pre-production is the difference between coming home with a strong film or getting blamed for a failed shoot, especially when the client, host, or company is not fully aligned on what the final deliverable is supposed to be. https://www.lensbehindthe...

Most hunting filmmakers are trying to force one camera setup into every situation, and that is exactly why they miss shots, fight their gear, and make filming harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Nick breaks down the setups he actually uses for run-and-gun hunts, tree stand hunts, and ground blind hunts, including why he prefers a shoulder rig, when he trusts a tree arm, and the only time...

There is a list behind the scenes, and if your name is not on it, you are missing opportunities. In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on how TV show hosts, production companies, and established shooters actually hire freelance cameramen, why relationships matter so much, and what it takes to move up from being a random name to being one of the first calls when a trip opens up. https://www....

What if the piece of work that gets you hired has nothing to do with hunting? In this episode, Nick shares the unexpected story of how a hip hop music video helped him land his first job in the hunting filmmaking world, and why waiting until your portfolio feels perfect is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. This episode is all about imperfect action, building momentum, creating a demo reel...

These mistakes will cost you footage, confidence, and paid work if you do not catch them early. In this episode, Nick walks through the top 15 mistakes he has made while filming hunts, from being too timid in the field and separating from the hunter to bad camera settings, focus issues, weak audio habits, and the small mistakes that can ruin a story when the pressure is on. https://www.lensbehindt...

I got invited onto the PH Journals Podcast down in South Africa and figured I'd share it here too. I wasn't the one asking questions. Dylan flipped the mic and we talked about what it actually takes to film hunts for a living. What my day looks like. How I got here. What most guys get wrong when they try to break in. And where the industry is headed as a whole. Big thanks to Dylan and the...

Most hunting filmmakers are buying the wrong gear, building the wrong setup, and making filming way harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Nick breaks down what actually makes a strong hunting camera setup, including what matters most in your camera body, lens selection, audio chain, low-light performance, and why versatility beats flashy gear in real run-and-gun hunting situations. https://...

Jason Helgeson joins the podcast to talk about what it really looks like to break into hunting media, learn through mistakes, and start building momentum behind the camera. In this conversation, Jason shares his path from self-filming to shooting for others, what started clicking after getting serious about the craft, and how training, feedback, and repetition helped him level up faster. If you ar...

What if you had the exact coaching, community, job leads, and business support most hunting filmmakers wish they had when they were starting out? In this episode, Nick pulls back the curtain on Producers Camp, his high-level coaching program for hunting filmmakers who want to sharpen their skills, build better films, price their work correctly, and turn a camera into a real career. https://www.len...

What does it take to spend nearly two decades behind one of the biggest names in outdoor television and then step into your own next chapter? In this episode, Jesse Reardon shares his journey from an outsider with no hunting background to becoming a longtime cameraman and editor behind Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures, filming across continents, learning under pressure, and building a career at th...

What would it look like to start over from scratch in the hunting media industry? In this episode, Nick breaks down exactly what he would do if he had no connections, no clients, and no experience, but still wanted to build a real career behind the camera. From learning your gear and studying composition to filming for free and building momentum, this is a practical roadmap for anyone trying to ma...

Nick breaks down the different income streams that helped him build a full-time career in hunting media. From filming-only jobs and editing contracts to conservation projects, sponsor content, social media retainers, brand work, and oddball commercial projects, this episode gives hunting filmmakers a real look at how to make more consistent money with a camera. If you want to turn your camera into...

Cody Dowdy went from no experience, no support, and no idea where to start to filming full time in less than two years. Cody was one of the first people in the room when we started this thing, and watching him chase it down has been one of the most fun parts of building Producers Camp. If you want to be in those conversations, learning this stuff in real time and getting in the rooms where careers...

In this episode of Lens Behind the Hunt, Nick breaks down one of the most important concepts in hunting filmmaking: shooting for the edit. He explains why great storytellers do not just capture random clips in the field. They film with the final edit in mind. From morning lodge shots and transition sequences to in-field scenics, hunter reactions, and real-time storytelling, Nick walks through the...

Nick walks through the most common career options in hunting media, including full-time in-house roles, independent contracting, retainer work, and commercial opportunities. If you are trying to figure out how to turn your camera skills into a real business, this episode offers clear, honest advice on where to start and how to grow. https://www.lensbehindthehunt.com/

Host Nick Stelloh sits down in the shed with famous photographer (even if you don’t know his name) Justin Moore. A longtime industry pro whose images you’ve definitely seen across the hunting world. They unpack Justin’s break-in story from the film days to major brand roles at Nosler and Weatherby, what it looked like hiring creatives from the inside, and why hunting knowledge matters as much as c...

Host Nick Stelloh catches up with long time friend and industry veteran Sam Pyke of Hill Shadow Pictures. Nick has worked with Sam for about a decade—to unpack the part of hunting filmmaking nobody explains: how you actually get your first real opportunities and keep them. We get into Sam’s break-in story, why most paid work comes from a small circle of relationships and referrals, and the mindset...

Host Nick Stelloh kicks off the very first episode of the Lens Behind the Hunt podcast by sharing why he built this community — and the break-in story that started everything. Nick walks through how he went from a 14-year-old kid in Wisconsin obsessed with whitetails and watching Outdoor Channel… to landing his first paid TV show job at 19 with one decent hunting film and (believe it or not) a cou...