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About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
We've built an amazing team of experienced guides, and dedicated office staff that elevate your travel experience. Get to know their backgrounds, and hear their stories.Gift Certificates
Give the gift of photo adventure! We offer gift certificates that can be applied to any of our upcoming tours.Loyalty Program
We reward our frequent photo adventurers with exclusive discounts on amazing photography tours.Contact Us
If you need to get in touch with our office staff, or have additional business inquiries, you can find our information here.Stay Up To Date On All Things
Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
Our Photography Community
Our Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Our Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.Community Testimonials
We're proud to foster an amazing group of photo travelers, and here you can find their stories from their past adventures.Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Welcoming New Team Members!
Published August 28, 2023
I consider myself incredibly lucky to work with so many talented, kind, driven, and downright awesome people here at Backcountry Journeys. I’ve worked for many different companies and organizations throughout my life, and I’ve never felt more at home than with the team I currently find myself a part of. Ask around, and I think that many of our employees will tell you the same story.
There’s just something in the water here at BCJ. We’ve somehow managed to create a healthy and thriving company culture and have found a way to get just the right people into their respective positions.
Whether it’s our knowledgeable and talented guides leading a trip out in the field, our incredible office staff working diligently behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly and take care of our guests, or our driven and charismatic leadership team steering the ship and making sure we’re an efficient and well-oiled machine where each individual part perfectly complements the whole operation, this team is awesome!
Backcountry Journeys is growing fast as we bring on new customers, launch exciting new trips, and expand our business and operations. Today, I’d like to introduce you to four awesome individuals who have joined the BCJ team over the last several months.
Welcome to the team Becca, Christian, Amy, and Sydney! We’re beyond excited to have you on the team!
There’s just something in the water here at BCJ. We’ve somehow managed to create a healthy and thriving company culture and have found a way to get just the right people into their respective positions.
Whether it’s our knowledgeable and talented guides leading a trip out in the field, our incredible office staff working diligently behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly and take care of our guests, or our driven and charismatic leadership team steering the ship and making sure we’re an efficient and well-oiled machine where each individual part perfectly complements the whole operation, this team is awesome!
Backcountry Journeys is growing fast as we bring on new customers, launch exciting new trips, and expand our business and operations. Today, I’d like to introduce you to four awesome individuals who have joined the BCJ team over the last several months.
Welcome to the team Becca, Christian, Amy, and Sydney! We’re beyond excited to have you on the team!
Rebecca (Becca) Cooper
Photo Adventure Specialist
Born and raised in southwest Ohio, Becca has spent most of her childhood traveling and exploring National Parks. She was introduced to photography at a young age and quickly developed a passion for wildlife and landscape photography. She has been active in local art guilds since high school and has received awards for her photography with the National Park Foundation and local art shows.
She has previously worked in Denali National Park and Yellowstone National Park and has visited 19 National Parks to date. She has extended her travels to international destinations, such as Ecuador, Iceland, and Canada.
She is an avid lover of the outdoors and has tried her hand at caving, hang gliding, and rock climbing. Now residing in Indiana, Becca spends her time hiking and camping in local forests and parks with her family and four dogs.
Becca has actually been here for a couple of months at this point and has already proven to be an essential team player. She has fully taken on her role as a Photo Adventure Specialist by taking ownership of the trips she manages in Alaska and has been an absolute joy to work with.
Welcome, Becca!
Photo Adventure Specialist
Born and raised in southwest Ohio, Becca has spent most of her childhood traveling and exploring National Parks. She was introduced to photography at a young age and quickly developed a passion for wildlife and landscape photography. She has been active in local art guilds since high school and has received awards for her photography with the National Park Foundation and local art shows.
She has previously worked in Denali National Park and Yellowstone National Park and has visited 19 National Parks to date. She has extended her travels to international destinations, such as Ecuador, Iceland, and Canada.
She is an avid lover of the outdoors and has tried her hand at caving, hang gliding, and rock climbing. Now residing in Indiana, Becca spends her time hiking and camping in local forests and parks with her family and four dogs.
Becca has actually been here for a couple of months at this point and has already proven to be an essential team player. She has fully taken on her role as a Photo Adventure Specialist by taking ownership of the trips she manages in Alaska and has been an absolute joy to work with.
Welcome, Becca!
Christian Scanlon-Corona
Photo Adventure Specialist
Christian grew up in Colorado with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Throughout his life he has constantly found himself in these mountains, doing everything from Skiing to 4-wheeling. He has a deep respect for the land and is committed to helping preserve it.
After graduating with a degree in Film Studies from the University of Colorado he has lived around the Southwest US and abroad, gaining experiences in travel, photography/video, and long walks along the way.
As an avid, biker, hiker, and occasional runner, the outdoors is where he finds his balance in this age of technology. In addition, he is a passionate bicultural storyteller and loves capturing images of people living in the moment.
Find him watching movies, on the local trails/bike lanes, or planning his next solo adventure.
Christian has also been on the team for a couple of months and was actually hired at the same time as Becca. Since then he has also become an absolutely essential member of the team and has quickly picked up all responsibilities in his new role as a photo adventure specialist managing trips in the Rocky Mountain region. Christian pays attention to all the details, has proven to be incredibly helpful with guests, and we’re very lucky to have him on the BCJ team.
Welcome, Christian!
Photo Adventure Specialist
Christian grew up in Colorado with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Throughout his life he has constantly found himself in these mountains, doing everything from Skiing to 4-wheeling. He has a deep respect for the land and is committed to helping preserve it.
After graduating with a degree in Film Studies from the University of Colorado he has lived around the Southwest US and abroad, gaining experiences in travel, photography/video, and long walks along the way.
As an avid, biker, hiker, and occasional runner, the outdoors is where he finds his balance in this age of technology. In addition, he is a passionate bicultural storyteller and loves capturing images of people living in the moment.
Find him watching movies, on the local trails/bike lanes, or planning his next solo adventure.
Christian has also been on the team for a couple of months and was actually hired at the same time as Becca. Since then he has also become an absolutely essential member of the team and has quickly picked up all responsibilities in his new role as a photo adventure specialist managing trips in the Rocky Mountain region. Christian pays attention to all the details, has proven to be incredibly helpful with guests, and we’re very lucky to have him on the BCJ team.
Welcome, Christian!
Amy Stevens
Bookkeeper
A lifelong Michigander, Amy McCormick Stevens grew up in a small farming community in the southeast corner of the planet’s favorite mitten. Spare time was spent outside exploring or participating in sports. Those days led her to a love of the outdoors and a career as a Division 1 college athlete. Despite being the youngest, she was always the family photographer and traded chores for film, flashbulbs, and processing.
Her mom’s fear of flying meant family vacations were spent camping within a (long) day’s drive from home. When Amy married her husband, Mark, they shared a wanderlust and made a pact to never take the same vacation twice. That pact still stands 31 years later. Parents to two adult sons, Nick and Brody, the passion to travel has been passed on to them. One favorite parenting memory was getting a phone call from college where housemates were comparing family vacations and their son realized he had been to none of the same places and had seen more of the world than the rest.
Backcountry Journeys allows Amy to merge her love of travel and photography with her love of numbers and finance. Amy comes to BCJ with 3 decades of experience in business finance. While running two successful manufacturing companies in Michigan alongside her husband she wore every business hat from bookkeeper to CFO. They sold both businesses in 2021 and then spent 2022 traveling North America in a camper van with their dog, Dany, seeing 28 states, 22 National Parks, and 4 provinces. She firmly believes there are no wrong turns, just new adventures. Wanderlust is holding strong.
Amy has been with the company for well over a month now and is already a key member of the BCJ team. She has filled a vitally important role and hit the ground running by quickly learning the ins and outs of BCJ finances and all the nitty gritty details. Amy has some great stories to share, always brings a smile to your face, and we’re very lucky to have her on the team.
Welcome, Amy!
Bookkeeper
A lifelong Michigander, Amy McCormick Stevens grew up in a small farming community in the southeast corner of the planet’s favorite mitten. Spare time was spent outside exploring or participating in sports. Those days led her to a love of the outdoors and a career as a Division 1 college athlete. Despite being the youngest, she was always the family photographer and traded chores for film, flashbulbs, and processing.
Her mom’s fear of flying meant family vacations were spent camping within a (long) day’s drive from home. When Amy married her husband, Mark, they shared a wanderlust and made a pact to never take the same vacation twice. That pact still stands 31 years later. Parents to two adult sons, Nick and Brody, the passion to travel has been passed on to them. One favorite parenting memory was getting a phone call from college where housemates were comparing family vacations and their son realized he had been to none of the same places and had seen more of the world than the rest.
Backcountry Journeys allows Amy to merge her love of travel and photography with her love of numbers and finance. Amy comes to BCJ with 3 decades of experience in business finance. While running two successful manufacturing companies in Michigan alongside her husband she wore every business hat from bookkeeper to CFO. They sold both businesses in 2021 and then spent 2022 traveling North America in a camper van with their dog, Dany, seeing 28 states, 22 National Parks, and 4 provinces. She firmly believes there are no wrong turns, just new adventures. Wanderlust is holding strong.
Amy has been with the company for well over a month now and is already a key member of the BCJ team. She has filled a vitally important role and hit the ground running by quickly learning the ins and outs of BCJ finances and all the nitty gritty details. Amy has some great stories to share, always brings a smile to your face, and we’re very lucky to have her on the team.
Welcome, Amy!
Sydney Huseby
Founders Assistant
Sydney Huseby is an animal-loving traveler who cannot say no to an adventure. She was born in the city of Atlanta and grew up in the suburbs where she played barefoot outside all day, every day - climbing big trees, building elaborate forts, and endless hours of tag with the neighborhood kids.
Sydney found her love for the crisp mountain air at a very young age - her family still takes annual trips out to Park City and she has been skiing and snowboarding since she was two years old. She began to feel a deep-rooted connection to the snowy hills in high school and plans to move out west one day.
Finding beauty in unexpected places has brought Sydney joy since she was a child. Her family bought her a camera when she turned 23, giving her a chance to bring her serendipitous inspirations to life. She loves taking unexpected pictures of her friends and family, her animals, her city, and she is always searching for new inspiration.
Outside of work, Sydney loves to hike with her dogs, read with her cats, try new restaurants with her friends, go to concerts with her partner, and do yoga on her porch. She believes deeply that it is up to us to protect our Earth, and advocates for a greener future.
Sydney is the newest addition to the BCJ team having been hired within the last month and she’s already fully embracing her new role as Founders Assistant and making an impact. She always has a great attitude, a smile on her face, and is eager to learn all there is to know about how things work at BCJ. We’re very excited to have her on the team and I know she’ll help things run efficiently and smoothly moving forward!
Welcome Sydney!
Founders Assistant
Sydney Huseby is an animal-loving traveler who cannot say no to an adventure. She was born in the city of Atlanta and grew up in the suburbs where she played barefoot outside all day, every day - climbing big trees, building elaborate forts, and endless hours of tag with the neighborhood kids.
Sydney found her love for the crisp mountain air at a very young age - her family still takes annual trips out to Park City and she has been skiing and snowboarding since she was two years old. She began to feel a deep-rooted connection to the snowy hills in high school and plans to move out west one day.
Finding beauty in unexpected places has brought Sydney joy since she was a child. Her family bought her a camera when she turned 23, giving her a chance to bring her serendipitous inspirations to life. She loves taking unexpected pictures of her friends and family, her animals, her city, and she is always searching for new inspiration.
Outside of work, Sydney loves to hike with her dogs, read with her cats, try new restaurants with her friends, go to concerts with her partner, and do yoga on her porch. She believes deeply that it is up to us to protect our Earth, and advocates for a greener future.
Sydney is the newest addition to the BCJ team having been hired within the last month and she’s already fully embracing her new role as Founders Assistant and making an impact. She always has a great attitude, a smile on her face, and is eager to learn all there is to know about how things work at BCJ. We’re very excited to have her on the team and I know she’ll help things run efficiently and smoothly moving forward!
Welcome Sydney!
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Landscape Guide
Receive a FREE Landscape Cheat Sheet Written By a Pro Photographer.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.