CHAD SAYERS
CHAD SAYERS
Overexposure
In photography, overexposure occurs when too much light floods a moment; in skiing, where “exposure” suggests great risk, overexposure can be fatal. In each case, the remedy is clear. Released in 2021 by Rocky Mountain Books, Overexposure is a volume like no other. Part intoxication, part expurgation, this visual two-decade journey of self-discovery is a story you’re unsure of in a package you can’t put down.
Out of talent, courage and kindness, Chad Sayers forged a life of adventure. By pairing his ski ability with the best photographers in the game, he inspired countless skiers along the way. Overexposure capture's the very best of that inspiration.
— David Reddick, Director of Photography, Powder
Mesmerizing. Chad's account of a life pursuing his dreams in the mountains is two parts wonder and one part harsh reality. Overexposure is the perfect antidote for the wanderlust we are full feeling. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.
— Mike Douglas, the 'Godfather' of freeskiing
Film
The only thing more grinding than photo work for an athlete is film work—a dawn-to-dusk enterprise of repetition and waiting, or, when it’s on an expedition, sharing the load of equipment in unforgiving environments. Yet, for all its commitment and challenges, having your professional life committed to film is still deeply rewarding.
Sayers’ film work began when he turned pro, and culminated with the award-winning 12-episode series A Skier’s Journey, shot and directed by photo wunderkind Jordan Manley for Arc’teryx. In addition, Sayers posted a turn in Sherpas Cinema’s visual groundbreaker All I Can, was featured in Saipal, a ColabCreative piece on a fraught Himalayan expedition, and in a film about Patagonia for the Discovery Channel. Other mountain film work has taken him to western Canada, Columbia, B.C., Europe and Norway, and he has been the subject of in-house media episodes for companies like Stellar Equipment, Blizzard, Hestra, Adidas, Arc’teryx, Salomon and Whistler Blackcomb.
Covers
Whether you’re an athlete model or the photographer who snaps the shot, bagging the cover of a magazine has always been the nec plus ultra in action sports. If you’re good enough and stay in the game long enough, you end up with a genuine “cover shot” wall of fame. Sayers’ wall is considerable.
A cover of Powder magazine helped launch Sayers’s career, and, as the ultimate ski model, he’s graced dozens more over the years, his image circling the globe. These are some of his favourites:
Profiles
Whatever the milieu, you know you’ve arrived when someone wants to know more about you. But how much are you willing to put out there? With his heart on his sleeve and a respectful approach, Chad Sayers has never been the type to hold back.
Editorial
Photo shoots are fun, and ads can look great, but every action-sport athlete lives for the reward of travel and being part of a story, whether print or digital. The following are some examples of Sayers’s work in the editorial realm:
Sponsors
Representing brands as an athlete or ambassador is a job Chad Sayers takes seriously, one that always starts with cultivating a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
