DOCUMENTARY TRUTH + CAMPAIGN-LEVEL CRAFT.
Riley Russill — Director / Photographer
Organizations hire me when they need more than content — they need trust, context, and stories people can actually connect with.
ABOUT:
Based in New Mexico. Available throughout the Southwest and beyond.
I’ve spent the last decade helping tourism boards, sports organizations, cultural institutions, infrastructure projects, and founder-led brands tell stories that move people.
My work has been licensed, published, and deployed across statewide tourism campaigns, airport & transit advertising, visitor guides, editorial publications, commercial marketing initiatives, digital rollouts, e-commerce and long-term content libraries throughout North America.
SELECT CLIENTS & COLLABORATORS INCLUDE:
Mountain Dew • Snapchat • Allbirds • Sonoma County Tourism • New Mexico True • Visit Mexico • Outside Magazine • Associated Press • Oakland Roots SC • New Mexico United • HB Construction • Idea Peddler
CLIENTS HIRE ME TO:
• Create tourism and destination campaigns that feel lived-in and authentic
• Document sports, culture, and community initiatives with emotional depth
• Build long-term photo and video libraries that continue generating value long after production wraps
• Translate complex industries — including infrastructure, energy, and construction into human stories
• Capture founders, executives, and organizations at pivotal moments of growth
WHY TEAMS KEEP COMING BACK:
• Calm and adaptable under changing conditions
• Documentary instincts paired with commercial standards
• Building trust quickly with subjects and communities
• Creating asset libraries that remain valuable for years
• Consistent execution across tourism, sports, culture, and infrastructure
If you’re building something meaningful and need a trusted creative partner to document it with clarity, depth, and purpose, let’s talk.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & FEATURES:
2026 - Official State Travel Guide, New Mexico [Magazine Cover] [Supporting images]
2026 Sonoma County Visitor’s Guide
New Mexico True Adventure Guide 2025
Ad Age, The Best of Experiential 2024 - The Borderlands Motel for Motive
Visit Albuquerque 2024 Visitor’s Guide
New Mexico Magazine, Editorial Feature - November 2023
GuestLife New Mexico Issue 2020 - [Magazine Cover]
Condé Nast Traveler: “12 Best Things to Do in Santa Fe”
“Turns: Where Business Is Won and Lost” by Columnist, Author, Steve McKee [Inside Cover]
Stargazer: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by American Journalist, NY Times Bestselling Author, Anne Hillerman [Inside Cover]
Trusted by teams who move fast and care about craft.
“Riley, I wanted to take a minute and send you a personal note of thanks for yesterday’s shoot. I (and probably every other human on the planet) hate photos of myself because I never feel like I come across as myself. Looking at your work, I can see that you made me feel comfortable… but more than that, you made me feel seen. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for sharing your talent and your gifts.”
“Can’t say thanks enough, the work is incredible!!!”
“Since Organ Mountain Outfitters started working with Riley, we’ve seen our brand grow throughout the region. It’s our goal to expand throughout New Mexico and the Southwest. We’ve seen an increase in revenue from online orders since working with him. His ability to tell a story with our products has increased our audience engagement overall.”
“Yo what up Riley! Great work last night man appreciate all the hard work. The event went great and think we got some dope stuff can’t wait to look at all the photos.”
“Thank you for your images – they look gorgeous.”