Mathis Dumas - SUNLIGHT Adventure Crew (INT-EN)

Mathis Dumas has over 700,000 Instagram followers. He’s an award-winning photographer and filmmaker. He’s the mountain guide who led France’s biggest YouTube star to Everest. And he’s someone who’s always on the move.

The thing about Mathis is that you have to wonder why he’s behind the camera. He’s a top athlete and could easily make it as a model. But the Frenchman prefers the other side of the lense, photographing and filming the big outdoor stars and outdoor scenery for the biggest magazines and brands.

Why do we find you behind the camera, Mathis?

Mathis: Initially, it was simply about documenting what I do. For my parents, too. I live near Chamonix now, but I’m originally from Provence. I wanted to show them what I was up to. So, I was the one climbing with an extra two kilos of gear.

While everyone else was obsessed over each and every gram?!

Mathis: Exactly! In a sport where weight reduction is everything… Beyond just documenting, I was in the most incredible environments, so the aesthetic was inherently there; mountains just cannot help it – they are simply beautiful.

But you still need an eye for the scenery, right?

Mathis: Yes, I think I have always had that somehow. But I struggled to call myself a professional photographer for a long time.

What else does it take to be a good photographer and filmmaker?

Mathis: Experience. And you need a passion for telling stories. It’s always about the stories, always about the emotions. It’s not just the beauty; it’s the inspiration. And for that, you have to keep moving, always searching for new things, always open to surprises. That’s why van life fits so well.

In 2024, you guided one of France's biggest YouTube stars, Inoxtag, with over 9 million followers, up Mount Everest. Not exactly an uncontroversial project...

Mathis: I had serious doubts at the beginning, too. I know the core alpinist community, and I didn’t want the ascent to be seen as a ‘game.’ Inox comes from e-gaming, but he also wants to get kids off screens and encourage them to go outside. It was a fine line to walk.

Quite literally. How did it work out?

Mathis: It was hard, serious training for 365 days. Coaching, building him up, getting accustomed to gear, mountain, challenges. I structured it like a project with levels: Level 1: climbing in the Alps. Level 2: 6,000-meter peaks in the Himalayas. Level 3: the highest mountain in the world. It wasn’t a game. It was ambitious and professional.

It certainly made waves. The Mont Blanc ascent (including a paragliding descent) for preparation had over 9 million views. Your film, 'Kaizen,' has around 37 million views...

Mathis: It’s crazy. I didn’t have much to do with Inoxtag’s world before that. It’s incredible what he can achieve and how he moves people. It was a huge challenge. I had to guide and also manage the camera crews. And most importantly, it was crucial to both convey the seriousness of the undertaking to alpinists and entertain a broad audience at the same time.

How entertaining is it to travel with the CLIFF 4x4?

Mathis: Very! It’s versatile, just the way I like it. There’s enough space for all my toys, yet it’s still super agile. And four-wheel drive is always a plus – nothing is stopping me. For me, it’s also important to have a proper camper because you can organize your equipment. That’s super important for climbing or paragliding.