Jean Louis de Heeckeren — Action sports photographer and filmmaker
ACTION SPORTS & LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM BY JEAN LOUIS DE HEECKEREN — CHILE
I am Jean Louis de Heeckeren, a Chilean photographer and filmmaker. I was born in Santiago in 1987 and have been photographing action sports and outdoor life between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific coast for over fifteen years.
I run De Heeckeren Studio, a photography and audiovisual production studio based in Santiago, Chile, that works with sports, adventure, and lifestyle brands. I work in the field: snow, rock, cold water, dunes, high altitudes. Most of my projects require reaching locations that can be accessed by skiing, paddling, cycling, or motorcycling, and staying there as long as necessary until something worthwhile happens.
I'm not interested in sports photography that looks pretty but says nothing. A good sports photograph has to show what the rider experienced in that moment: the cold, the risk, the exhaustion, the decision to jump. That's what I strive for in every shoot.
What I shoot
I work as an action sports photographer and filmmaker across these disciplines:
Surf and big wave — big swells at Punta de Lobos, Pichilemu and the central coast of Chile.
Ski, snowboard and freeride — La Parva, Valle Nevado, Cerro Pintor, Corralco and Andean backcountry.
Mountain bike, enduro and downhill — trails in the Cajón del Maipo, southern Chile and the Andean foothills.
BMX and skate — street sessions in Santiago and studio productions.
Motorsports and enduro — rally, hard enduro and electric motorcycles in the mountains and the desert.
Mountaineering, climbing and expeditions — Andean summits, climbing in Las Melosas, crossings in the Atacama and Patagonia.
Outdoor lifestyle and brand campaigns — content for technical apparel, gear and beverage brands.
Where I work
I am based in Santiago, Chile, and shoot all over the country: the Andes, the Atacama Desert, Ojos del Salado, the O'Higgins coast, the forests and volcanoes of the south, and Patagonia. I regularly travel for international productions.
Brands I have worked with
Patagonia, The North Face, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Merrell, Lippi, Sur-Ron, CCU, Corona, Kaya Unite and Mall Sport, along with independent outdoor brands from Chile.
Recognition
My work was selected for Red Bull Illume, the world's leading action sports photography competition, where I have a photographer profile and a featured image in the Spirit category.
In 2026 I rode an electric Sur-Ron Ultra Bee up Ojos del Salado —the highest volcano on Earth— and set the world altitude record on an electric motorcycle, reaching 6,751 meters. The whole expedition was documented in a film. I am preparing a new attempt for January 2027, aiming for the 6,893-meter summit.
Personal projects
Beyond brand work, I run my own projects:
Revelaciones — a film and photo series portraying Chilean athletes in their own terrain: surf, wingsuit, skate, rally, climbing and breakdance.
Reto a la Cima — the electric motorcycle altitude project on Ojos del Salado, documented from start to finish.
De Heeckeren Expeditions — guided motorcycle, ski and surf expeditions in Chile for international travelers.
De Heeckeren Prints — fine art and limited editions from my photo archive.
How I work
Every production starts with a conversation about what the brand needs and ends with finished, ready-to-publish material. I handle creative direction, photography, drone operation, field production and editing. On film, I prefer a single-voice narrative: the athlete tells their own story, with no outside narrator.
I work solo or with a crew depending on the project, and I am used to logistically complex productions: high altitude, harsh weather, permits and hard-to-reach locations.
Contact
Looking for an action sports photographer or filmmaker in Chile or South America? Email me at jdeheeckeren@gmail.com or message me on Instagram at @deheeckerenstudio.