WHO WE ARE

We are storytellers, adventurers, lovers of the land, community conduits, family members, colleagues and friends.

Sean O'Connor
Founder
Creative Director
Director of Photography
Teaching Artist

Sean O’Connor is the founder of Story Gorge and an internationally award-winning visual storyteller. Since 2001, he has dedicated his creative work to crafting socially responsible stories and teaching visual storytelling. His extensive experience includes co-founding the Gorge Impact Film Festival and working with nonprofits and industry brands globally. His latest film KUMARI: A Father’s Dream earned 10 awards in 7 countries and screened in over 45 countries. Sean's credits include contributions to a regional EMMY® award, PBS broadcast, and global film festivals. His photography has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Outside, British VOGUE, and many more. Sean has also served on the jury for The James Beard Media Awards and the Pacific Northwest Chapter student EMMY® awards.

Katie O'Connor

Project Manager

Story Producer

Jeff Snyder

Assistant Editor

Photographer

Kyle is a filmmaker, photographer, and musician, and through all of these, a storyteller. He believes in the unequivocal power of story to connect people to themselves, each other and the planet we all call home. Since receiving his BFA in Digital Media Production from The Art Institute of Portland in 2008, Kyle has spent countless hours on productions ranging from run-and-gun reality shows to full-scale hollywood films in a variety of rolls. He has worked on the productions ‘Grimm,’ ‘Portlandia,’ ‘Leverage,’ ‘Little People Big World,’ and ‘Gone,’ among others. This experience gives him the ability to see the 10,000-foot view of any story, and the technical know-how to dive in and get it done. He was co-founder and Head of Production for the boutique production company Quarter Orange, producing videos for OMSI, Lewis and Clark College and Stand for Children - Oregon. Kyle has recently returned to his childhood stomping grounds after a five year stint freelancing in San Francisco, CA. When not building community through story, Kyle likes to spend his time in nature, cooking with friends, and creating moments of mindfulness in pursuit of a slow culture.

Kyle J. Glenn

Story Producer

Teaching Artist

Whit Hassett is a filmmaker, educator, and aerial videographer based in the Pacific Northwest. With a love for wild places and a passion for environmental advocacy and social consciousness, she has contributed her unique aerial and on-the-ground perspectives to a variety of brands and organizations including Patagonia, Yeti, Earthjustice, Nature Conservancy, and Ocean Conservancy. After pursuing an M.S. in ecology and working for conservation organizations, she has shifted focus to film and science communication, focusing on the human stories that tie us to our landscapes. She recently directed and produced the short film, ‘This Land’, which has gone to screen at major outdoor and environmental film festivals worldwide and was awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick and a nomination for Best of the Year. Whit has landed in the gorge after years in Hawaii, New Zealand, Colorado, and the Oregon Coast, where she is looking forward to laying some roots, building community, and working on her sailboat. She loves to surf, kiteboard, ride bikes, and explore the west coast with friends and community.

Whit Hassett

Story Producer

Teaching Artist

Drone Operator

Darren Lund is an award-winning independent filmmaker based in Seattle, Washington. He has worked in the industry for over a decade and his credits include editing, story, color grading, motion graphics, and cinematography. He has experience on many types of projects including feature documentaries, short films, music videos, live events, marketing, and corporate video. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, he enjoys traveling to new places and experiencing live music.

Darren Lund
Editor

Sean Corwin is an accomplished filmmaker with a passion for pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. Sean has elevated the art of cinematography through his mastery of next-level drone imaging techniques and fine art motion timelapse sequences.

As an FAA-licensed drone pilot, Sean possesses an unparalleled ability to navigate drones with precision and creativity, capturing breathtaking aerial perspectives in a variety of environments. His keen eye for artistic composition, paired with advanced flying skills, allows him to craft visually stunning narratives that transport audiences to new heights.

When he's not behind the lens, Sean can be found tending to his garden, nurturing both food and trees with care and dedication.

Sean Corwin

Story Producer

Drone Operator

By: Katie O'Connor

The Origin Story

Story Gorge LLC is based in the Columbia River Gorge and focuses on amplifying worthy stories through video production, still photography and media education. We collaborate to tell compelling stories that evoke empathy and action and empower others to do the same.

Story Gorge seeks to serve the "Triple Bottom Line" This means that in everything we do, there are multiple benefits worked into the job for the client, the community, and the sustainability of our social enterprise. The client receives a high quality finished product while we work to serve worthy causes. Social, environmental and educational responsibility is at the heart of our work. Both our clients and our team can rest assured that the art we collectively create will do more than tell a good story, it will inevitably make the world a better place.

The company was founded by Sean O’Connor, who started his career as a professional photographer in 2001. The first couple of years were spent as a nomadic rock climber, traveling the country to have epic adventures and document them. Sean’s formal education included The National Outdoor Leadership School, Prescott College Adventure Education Program, and The Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Along the way, he began selling adventure-based images to magazines such as Climbing Magazine, Outside Magazine, and High Country News as well as providing services for non profit and commercial clients.

Sean established a studio in Portland, Oregon in 2005, and continued growing his company, then called “Freesolo Photography - Conservation Through Adventure Expeditions”. His publications grew to include Smithsonian and his awards included placing in a National Geographic Adventure photo contest. By 2009 Sean expanded his offerings into video and immediately began filming for clients. Sean’s film accomplishments include honored contributor to a Northwest Regional Emmy Award for his work with Oregon Public Broadcasting and credits in international adventure film festivals.

From 2013-2015 Sean served as the Outreach and Strategic Coordinator for the community programs of The ReBuilding Center in Portland,OR. In that time, Sean developed a community impact film program that worked to secure over $100,000 in grants, and in kind support to build a focus on impact storytelling within the organization. The program hosted over 20 volunteer filmmakers, photographers and other creatives all working together to build community from the neighborhood level.

In Fall 2016, Sean established a new business located in the Columbia River Gorge called “Story Gorge”. Story Gorge exists to strategically tell impact stories and provide extensive media education to youth and adults in the Columbia River Gorge. Story Gorge has grown to include a highly qualified team of Story Producers and Teaching Artists dedicated Impact Storytelling and Media Education.