Photojournalist Emily Sullivan in her happy place. Turnagain Pass, AK Photo: Pavel Boiko

Editor’s Note: Core Creators shines a light on the writers, photographers and artists who contribute to The Ski Journal. While we love to go deep with household names and athletes, this series is an opportunity to flip the script and quiz the storytellers themselves.

For Emily Sullivan, telling stories is all about trust. The Anchorage, AK-based photojournalist has focused much of her career on seeking out untold, often-overlooked stories. She grew up as an east coast city kid, but was soon drawn to the wild country up north, working as a guide in Denali National Park in her 20s, which ultimately led to full time residence up in Alaska. 

Whether it’s a feature profile on Lingít skier Ellen Bradley in 18.1 or a deep dive into a quiet ski community in Greenland for 17.3, collaboration is always at the forefront of Sullivan’s approach. 

The Ski Journal: How did you get into photojournalism? 

Emily Sullivan: I have been a photographer my whole life, but in my 20s I started to dive into visual storytelling. I began writing pieces to accompany my photos from documenting trips, and I soon realized that this could be a vehicle for sharing important stories. My first story for The Ski Journal was a collaborative one about the need for affinity spaces in skiing [TSKJ 15.1]. It highlighted the Canadian organization Colour the Trails, and I worked closely with the founder, Judy Kasiama, to write the piece. 

What creatives do you look up to?

In terms of skiing, I’m a big fan of Fred Marmsater‘s photography and style. I’m not big on shooting one-turn wonders or staged images—I like to go out in the field and make images as a part of an expedition rather than centering the expedition around media. I’ve been super impressed by the quality of images he makes working in that same style.

I also love Sofia Jaramillo and Stephen Shelesky’s style—both of them carry a lot of joy in their work and it shines through in their images. Sofia is an incredible storyteller, and Stephen’s ski and bike images never miss! 

How would you describe your approach to storytelling?

First and foremost, it is collaborative. I’m always looking to disrupt the status quo in outdoor media and highlight communities and individuals that have historically been left behind. But due to the nature of the stories that I pitch and pursue, it’s super important to me to ensure that storytelling is a community effort—I look to the communities I work with for guidance, trust, and ask them to hold me accountable to representing their stories in an accurate way. I try to ask the questions that will get me to deep understandings of experiences and perspectives, and I use people’s own words rather than paraphrasing whenever I can.

On assignment for TSKJ 18.1, Sullivan joined Lingít skier Ellen Bradley at the Tlingit and Haida Youth Snowsports Camp in Juneau, AK.

Is there a story you’ve that stands out most to you?

In TSKJ 17.3, I wrote a feature about the Greenlandic ski community, focusing on the importance of Indigenous guides in the face of extractive tourism. This one was super important to me because I really took a leap of faith to research and develop the story. I really went to Greenland just to ski with Greenlandic skiers and learn about their community. I hoped that there might be an opportunity for storytelling, but I really wanted to make sure that the community wanted that. So I went without an assignment, knowing that I might not create anything. But the community was stoked to get their story out into the world. I chased leads as they came to me to try to understand the community and culture as well as possible, traveling around small communities in West Greenland for a month. I made lifelong friends, questioned myself and my presence a healthy amount, skied incredible terrain and ate amazing food. 

One thing you can’t go without on a ski trip?

My Hyperlite Camera Pod. The best way to carry my camera and keep it accessible, especially if I already have a loaded pack!

Tell us why you love print media!

Photos are meant to be viewed in large format. This is a hill I will die on. When you see a tiny skier in a landscape printed in a magazine, it hits differently than on an iPhone screen. I also appreciate the joy of looking to the mailbox for the next issue, wondering what will be inside. Magazines are curated thoughtfully, and the curation and design of print media makes enjoying a magazine from start to finish such an incredible experience. 

Check out Sullivan’s Zoya Lynch Gallerie in 18.2, live now. 

Backyard laps on Turnagain Pass. Photo: Pavel Boiko