CHARLESTON, S.C. – January 16, 2025 – The Murray Road Agency, a leading agency in the outdoor industry and related verticals, is proud to release the first installment of Pathfinders. This original series is non-sequential and highlights true pioneers in the outdoor space. It is not funded by clients/brands or otherwise sponsored. It solely focuses on people and their stories because they need to be told.
Pathfinders starts off featuring renowned photographer, videographer, outdoorsman and content pioneer Mitch Kezar. Anyone who has followed the outdoor industry for the last 40 plus years probably knows his name and may have even met him. If they don’t know him by name, they’ve seen his work. Kezar’s talent is one-of-a-generation and his portfolio spans countless brands, publications, mediums, industries and verticals. Murray Road is honored to release the first Pathfinders piece featuring this true titan of his craft.
Kezar was born and raised in the farm country of northwestern Minnesota. He hunted, fished, farmed and did anything and everything outdoors. He also took to photography at a very young age. After high school he served in the military as a United States Air Force photojournalist before his entry into mainstream photojournalism that would lead him to work for major newspapers and media outlets across the United States. His experiences and accomplishments in the field are too infinite to begin to cover. He quickly ascended to leadership positions and built an amazing body of work along the way.
Kezar was then able to combine his passion and skill for photography and storytelling with his other passions and skills—hunting, fishing and the great outdoors as he began working in the outdoor industry as a photographer and writer. Over the next several decades he established himself as a true leader and his work has graced covers and brought life to words, brands, products, campaigns, headlines, news events and more. He has completely wowed audiences and readers across the world each time.
“To see Mitch’s photography and videography is to see true artwork that is unparalleled,” said Murray Road President and CEO Tim Brandt. “But to be lucky enough to work alongside Mitch is just different. Mitch is the most polished professional and is as talented as anyone to ever hold a camera to their eye. But his grit, determination, humility, vision and personality shine as bright and as prominent as even his best work. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s as accomplished as any outdoorsman, loves a good glass of scotch and is up for any challenge.”
“Professionally, Mitch is so much more than a photographer. He is truly one of the great storytellers of our generation. To see him work and deliver the final product can only be described as witnessing greatness. We are honored and humbled to try and capture even a fraction of this essence and his impact in our short piece.”
This episode of Pathfinders takes on the tough task of trying to frame Kezar as a man and as a professional — his work, his legacy, his family and his current projects — for the average viewer. The finished piece will never do justice to his past and present accomplishments and bodies of work, but it does give the audience a personal view into the man who has done so much.
Despite all of his professional success, Kezar is also one of the finest examples of a father, grandfather, brother, son, teammate, military veteran and general advocate as one can ever come across. Kezar raised two sons who have each put together military special forces careers of over 20 years. Kezar is also a proud grandfather. His impact on the industry has been and continues to be revolutionary, but his impact on his family, friends, co-workers and colleagues surpasses that as well.
The full episode featuring Kezar is available now at the Murray Road Agency YouTube channel. Future Pathfinders releases will also be seen here. Clips, teasers, behind-the-scenes and other content from the Kezar piece and other Pathfinders efforts will also be available on Murray Road social media channels and website.
