Work With Me
Destination Photography, Stories & Practical Travel Guides
I’m Roland Bast, a Canadian destination storyteller and travel photographer. I work with tourism organizations, hotels, publications and travel brands to create original photography, firsthand destination stories and guides that help travellers plan a visit.
On location, I’m looking for more than the familiar view: the local guide with a story to tell, the kitchen preparing for the day or the harbour before sunrise. I bring those experiences together with the routes, timing and practical details that help readers follow through on their curiosity.
Request My Media Kit | Discuss a Partnership or Discovery Call
What We Can Create Together
Every destination has a story worth telling. The goal is to create work that is visually strong, useful to travellers, and valuable long after a campaign ends.
Tourism Campaigns
Destination photography and visual storytelling for tourism boards, destination marketing organizations, regional tourism partners, and travel brands.
Hospitality & Hotel Photography
Photography and storytelling that document the full experience of a stay — architecture, atmosphere, food, location, guest experience, and the details that give a property its identity.
Culinary Storytelling
Photography and editorial storytelling focused on local food culture, chefs, producers, restaurants, regional traditions, and the people behind them.
Editorial Travel Features
Story-driven photography and long-form travel content for publications, tourism platforms, and destination partners.
Destination Logistics & Travel Guides
Search-focused travel guides, itineraries, maps, and practical planning resources built around routes, transportation, timing, booking priorities, seasonal considerations, and first-hand experience.
Image Licensing
Access to an expanding library of Canadian and international destination photography for editorial, tourism, digital, print, and marketing use.
Every collaboration is shaped around the destination, audience, campaign goals, and the assets that will remain useful after the initial publication.
Typical Deliverables
Projects can include:
- High-resolution destination photography libraries
- Destination storytelling articles and evergreen travel guides
- Photography-led social storytelling, including photo carousels and destination coverage
- Travel logistics guides, itineraries, and planning resources
- Hospitality, culinary, architecture, and experience photography
- Image licensing for editorial, digital, print, and tourism campaigns
- Captions, storytelling angles, and supporting content for marketing teams
Image selections, deliverables, publication dates and licensing terms are agreed for each project. Photographs are delivered in organized folders for the uses covered by that agreement.
I typically respond to collaboration inquiries within 24–48 hours.
Who I Work With
I work with destinations and brands that value strong visual storytelling, local culture, practical travel information, and meaningful travel experiences.
Collaborations may include:
- Tourism boards and destination marketing organizations
- Boutique hotels, inns, resorts, and unique accommodations
- Restaurants, cafés, chefs, and culinary destinations
- Tour operators and transportation partners
- Travel publications and editorial teams
- Cultural attractions, museums, and regional organizations
- Outdoor, lifestyle, and travel brands
If your goal is to help travellers stay longer, explore more deeply, and better understand a destination before they arrive, we are already speaking the same language.
Recent Destinations Documented
Explore examples of my destination storytelling:
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France — regional stories, original photography and practical guides.
- Newfoundland & Labrador — destination guides, road trips and planning resources.
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- The Thousand Islands
- Montréal, Québec
- Central Mexico
Each destination is explored through firsthand travel, photography and practical planning. See how my destination stories and logistical guides support tourism partnerships, or read what my collaborators say about working with me.
Audience & Lasting Value
My photography and destination stories reach travellers through RolandBast.com, social platforms and photographs contributed to Google reviews. The website connects destination inspiration with guides, itineraries and practical planning resources.
For current audience figures, reporting periods and examples of destination coverage, request my media kit.
I create resources that readers can return to as they plan. Search visibility and campaign results vary; the focus is useful photography and editorial work that remains relevant beyond the initial coverage.
Recognition & Published Work
My photography and destination storytelling have been recognized across the travel media industry.
Highlights include:
- 2024 TMAC Gold Medal for Landscape Photography and Silver Medal for a four-image storytelling series
- TMAC member, 2022–2025
- Member of TravMedia
- Photography and stories published in The New York Times, Canadian Geographic, CAA Magazine, WestJet Magazine and Ottawa Magazine
Explore Media Features & Recognition →
Featured Collaboration: Fogo Island Inn & HOMME Magazine
One of the most memorable destination storytelling projects of my career took place at Fogo Island Inn, one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most distinctive hotels.
Photographing the landscape, architecture, atmosphere, and experience of the Inn allowed me to document the relationship between contemporary luxury hospitality and the rugged character of Fogo Island.
The work was later featured in HOMME Magazine, bringing together destination storytelling, hospitality photography, architecture, landscape, and editorial coverage.
The Slow Travel Process
Research & Strategy
Before arriving, I research the destination, transportation, routes, seasonal conditions, sunrise and sunset opportunities, cultural experiences, and the practical realities travellers will encounter.
Field Work
On location, I document landscapes, neighbourhoods, people, food, architecture, accommodations, attractions, and everyday moments that help define the destination.
Storytelling & Delivery
Depending on the project, the final work can combine original photography, editorial stories, destination guides, planning resources and photography-led social coverage.
Long-Term Value
Whenever possible, I create assets that continue working after the initial campaign — evergreen travel guides, searchable destination content, photography libraries, and practical resources travellers can discover months or years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you based?
I am based in the Ottawa–Gatineau region and regularly travel throughout Canada and internationally.
What is your ideal lead time?
For destination campaigns, 5–7 weeks is ideal when possible. This allows time for research, logistics, partner coordination, and a stronger storytelling plan.
Do you offer photography licensing?
Yes. Usage rights can be licensed for web, social media, editorial, print, tourism campaigns, and other agreed uses.
Do you work on photography-only assignments?
Yes. Projects can range from focused photography assignments to larger destination storytelling campaigns combining photography, editorial content, travel guides, logistics, and social coverage.
The Person Behind the Work
I changed careers in my fifties to build a life around photography and travel. The planning and problem-solving skills came with me. So did the curiosity that gets me up before sunrise and makes me ask one more question before leaving.
Plan a Destination Story
Tell me about your destination or project, proposed dates, audience, budget and the content you need. Use my Contact page to discuss a partnership, request a media kit or arrange a discovery call.
Media Kit
My media kit includes partnership information, campaign examples, audience insights, photography services and licensing options.