Sam Gilliss
Adventure Photographer | Videographer
A lifetime behind the lens has taught me that art isn’t found in perfection - it’s discovered in the moments that move us.
My journey has never been about accolades or formal training. It’s been about people, purpose, and the quiet pursuit of the unknown.
I came to photography not through institutions, but through experience - through a love of service, a hunger for discovery, and an unshakable belief that every person met, every road, every river, and every storm holds a story worth capturing.
Each image is more than a destination - it’s a reflection of a lifetime in motion.
This is the art of getting there - and bringing it to life, one frame at a time.
When Sam’s not working, he’s chasing the wild.
You’ll find him gripping the cyclic of a helicopter, throttling down dusty backcountry on an adventure bike off the grid, with his kids, or deep in the field serving others where help is needed most.
📍 Pictured here tearing through Shafer Trail in Utah’s Canyonlands, Sam captured footage for a collection forged under ten days of desert heat, high-altitude wind, and wide-open wonder.
This upcoming series will showcase raw stills and video from the untamed corners of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming — a tribute to the grit of the journey and the beauty that demands to be documented.
The journey doesn’t stop here.
Scroll down for more stories carved from the road, the sky, and the spaces in between. If you're drawn to the raw, the real, and the rush of just getting there — drop Sam a line or sign up for his newsletter, Adventures with Sam.
Get the inside track on upcoming photo shoots, off-grid travels, mission work, and whatever wild turn the trail takes next.
Missions & Adventures
2024
Off the grid and deep in the red dust of Utah — this is where the real stories live.
Captured just after pushing through the rugged squeeze of Pucker Pass near Moab’s iconic Potash Road, this moment is one of nearly 10,000 stills and 160+ hours of 4K and 5K footage gathered from a relentless shoot across the unforgiving desert terrain.
2024 was anything but quiet. From the volcanic cliffs of Hawai'i to the turquoise shallows of The Bahamas, the icy wilds of Alaska, and countless remote, off-road corners of the American frontier — the camera rolled, and the adventure never let up.
More from the edge of nowhere — coming soon.
2023
This year’s journey spanned two continents, eight countries, and countless unforgettable cities.
Pictured here in the medieval town of Marksburg, Germany, Sam stands beneath the shadow of the legendary Marksburg Castle — a fortress perched above the Rhine, where stone walls echo with history and every narrow street tells a story. The sights, the people, and the culture are a full-sensory experience that stirs the soul and sharpens the eye behind the lens.
This adventure was just one stop among many. From the windswept coastlines of Canada to the timeless streets of Spain, the vineyards of France, the quiet charm of Luxembourg, and the architectural marvels of Czechia — the world opened up, frame by frame.
More images and stories from the road are coming soon — and they’re worth the wait.
2022
High in the Peruvian Andes, the real journey begins.
This shot was taken near Soraypampa, at the base of the legendary Salkantay Trek — a grueling 7-day, 30-mile cross-country push through raw, unforgiving terrain. Sam and a team of 15 climbed through razor-thin air to over 15,000 feet, crossing Salkantay Pass where the glacier loomed like a giant and Humantay Lake shimmered in near silence.
From there, the trail wound through jungle and ancient stone paths, finally delivering them to the cloud-veiled ruins of Machu Picchu — where time stands still, and every photo feels like a whisper from the Incan Empire.
This wasn’t a walk. It was a test — and it delivered images as powerful as the path itself.
🎥 Coming soon: the full, untamed story of the trek — captured in motion, premiering on YouTube.
2022
High above Juneau, Alaska, where the ice breathes and the earth creaks beneath your boots — Herbert Glacier comes alive.
What was planned as a weekend shoot turned into a raw encounter with the harsh beauty and brutal reality of Alaska’s melting wild. Crampons biting into ancient ice, camera in hand, Sam tracked the jagged edges of the glacier’s retreat — capturing not just its scale, but its slow collapse.
This wasn’t just about photos. It was about witnessing change in real time — cold, relentless, and impossible to ignore.
2019
“Helping others isn't just important — it’s life-changing. When you lean in, learn the language of the people, and embrace the culture, your service becomes more than a task — it becomes a gift.”
~ Sam Gilliss
In the raw aftermath of Hurricane Maria and the 2017 earthquakes, Sam deployed to the heart of Puerto Rico — not just with a camera, but with work boots, tools, and a mission to rebuild hope from the rubble.
The roads were broken. Power lines dangled like forgotten vines. Supplies were short. Spirits were stretched thin. But through the sweat, mud, and grit, something beautiful emerged — connection, community, and the quiet strength of people rising again.
This wasn't just a photoshoot. It was a battle cry to serve — and a reminder that in the wreckage, light still gets in.
2018
Spain is a land of soul-stirring beauty — golden skies, rugged terrain, and sunsets that stop you in your tracks.
Among its rolling hills and timeless villages, Sam captured some of his most breathtaking landscapes — but this journey went deeper than just the view.
📍 Pictured here in south-central Spain, Sam served on a mission of the heart — building a stone firepit and pergola in honor of a fallen missionary. It was a week of sweat, dust, and reflection, surrounded by a community bound by purpose, in a place where every sunset felt like a tribute.
The landscapes may take your breath — but it’s the stories beneath them that stay with you.
