Who photographed the Mon Forest Towns asset library?
Kurt Schachner of Wildhare Media photographed the Mon Forest Towns regional asset library, working with the Mon Forest Towns Partnership across dozens of locations in eight West Virginia counties. The project brought together photography from communities throughout the region for use in destination marketing.
A regional library for a regional partnership
The Mon Forest Towns Partnership connects communities around the Monongahela National Forest. Its work spans multiple towns, each with its own businesses, recreation, and sense of place.
The asset library gave the partnership and its communities a collection of images they could draw from for print and digital marketing. Rather than cover one location in a single session, the project involved several months of shoots across the region.
Project detail | Mon Forest Towns asset library |
|---|---|
Photographer | Kurt Schachner, Wildhare Media |
Client | Mon Forest Towns Partnership |
Coverage | Dozens of locations across eight counties |
Schedule | Multiple shoots over several months |
Purpose | A regional photo library for community and destination marketing |
Photographing across communities
A project like this calls for more than a list of scenic overlooks. Each town has its own places and people to coordinate, and travel between locations is part of the schedule.
The Mon Forest Towns project included work with local communities and models across the region. It also meant keeping the coverage consistent enough to function as one library while giving each place room to look like itself.
Sam Kniery, Community Outreach Manager for the Mon Forest Towns Tourism Partnership, described the work this way:
“While the project spanned several months across dozens of locations throughout our 8 counties, Wildhare brought the same level of dedication and experience to each photoshoot, helping our communities put their best foot forward.”
Kniery also noted the care Kurt took with models, including younger participants. You can read the full testimonial on the Wildhare Media homepage.
How the images are used
A regional asset library is useful when a partnership and its member communities need images for different projects over time. A wide scene might fit a destination page, while a photo of people or a local business could support a town’s social post or visitor guide.
Josh Nease, Executive Director of the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, said the towns and the organization regularly use the library for print and digital marketing.
Wildhare Media has also received a photo credit alongside Mon Forest Towns in Outside’s coverage of outdoor tourism in West Virginia. The article credits a photo of Marlinton and the Greenbrier River Trail to Wildhare Media and Mon Forest Towns.
About the photographer
I’m Kurt Schachner, a photographer and videographer based in Pocahontas County. I’ve lived and worked in the West Virginia mountains for over a decade, and I work with tourism organizations, communities, and businesses on photography and video projects.
I’m a Certified Professional Photographer through Professional Photographers of America and an FAA Part 107 certified commercial drone pilot. My work has appeared on the covers of Highland Outdoors and Blue Ridge Outdoors, in Freehub Magazine’s West Virginia Trails edition, and in the official West Virginia State Travel Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who photographed the Mon Forest Towns asset library?
Kurt Schachner of Wildhare Media photographed the regional asset library for the Mon Forest Towns Partnership, with coverage across eight counties.
What is the Mon Forest Towns asset library?
It’s a collection of regional photography created for the Mon Forest Towns Partnership and its communities to use in print and digital marketing.
Can Wildhare Media create a photo library for other tourism organizations?
Yes. I work with CVBs, tourism commissions, and destination partners on projects built around their locations, audiences, and intended uses. Scope and licensing are discussed before the project is booked.
Does Wildhare Media offer video and aerial coverage too?
Yes. I offer commercial video and drone photography alongside ground photography when those services fit the project. Aerial work depends on weather, airspace, and site access.
Explore commercial and tourism services or tell me about your project.