Made of detours
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Made of detours +
Hello, I’m Elsie.
I’m Australian.
I build brands, tell stories and occasionally make life unnecessarily complicated.
What was meant to be one ski season in Japan turned into fourteen years, a couple of businesses, two kids and a life built around mountains, snow, adventure and some very good people.
Then came Europe, where I lived and worked for the better part of the last few years.
Now I’m finally back in Australia.
Home base, anyway.
The work still takes me to Europe, Japan and wherever else there’s a good story, a wild idea or a mountain worth chasing.
Along the way I’ve worked across photography, design, marketing, tourism, and storytelling.
Eventually I stopped trying to decide what I was.
Why choose?
So I built The Untamed.
Part creative collective. Part adventure. Part community.
A bunch of photographers, filmmakers, designers, strategists, writers, guides and generally interesting humans helping brands, destinations and adventurous people tell better stories and create work that gets people outside.
Take the scenic route.
Stay curious.
Leave it a little wilder than you found it.
That’s The Untamed.
MEET THE MAVERICKS
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Elsie Sauer
Creative all-rounder. Strategic thinker. Photographer. Designer. Marketer. Storyteller. After twenty years building brands, destinations and businesses across Australia, Japan and Europe, Elsie has learnt that the best ideas rarely fit neatly into one job title—and neither does she. Fortunately, neither does The Untamed.
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![Tomek Ustupski wearing a gray t-shirt with fish graphic, looking up at the camera, on a paved street.]()
Tomek Ustupski
Tom Ustupski. Tom doesn’t just take photos—he’ll happily hang off a cliff, wait three hours for the light, or disappear into the mountains chasing one perfect frame. A mountain guide and photographer with an eye for the extraordinary, he’s worked with brands like Red Bull, Prada and Oyuki, but he’s happiest somewhere well off the beaten track.
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![Jack O'grady smiling and standing barefoot in an art gallery among framed photographs on the floor, with a black bag on the floor nearby.]()
Jack Ogrady
Jack has spent years chasing swell, storms and stories around Australia. Photographer, writer and founder of Walls Magazine, he’s documented everyone from surfers and musicians to remote communities, always with the same goal: create work that feels honest, human and impossible to scroll past.
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![Ben Howells with a skateboard and a camera stabilizer stands in a pedestrian shopping street, smiling at the camera. He's wearing a sleeveless shirt, shorts, and a backpack, with colorful tattoos on his legs.]()
Ben Howells
Ben has a knack for turning ordinary moments into films that make you want to quit your job and buy a one-way ticket somewhere. From destination campaigns to documentaries and branded content, he combines cinematic storytelling with an instinct for finding the moments most people walk straight past.
UNTAMED TEAM
UNTAMED TEAM
OUR VISION:
lead the wild way
At The Untamed, we envision a world where businesses and communities thrive in harmony with nature. We’re here to disrupt the ordinary and carve bold new paths—combining creativity, strategy, and grit to fuel innovation and growth.
Whether scaling the rugged peaks of adventure tourism or navigating the intricate ecosystems of environmental management, we aim to transform challenges into opportunities, inspiring those who dare to dream big.
Our team brings together a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and perspectives, reflecting the global nature of the industries we serve. From Austria to Japan, from English to German, Polish, Norwegian, and beyond, our diversity isn’t just a strength—it’s our superpower, allowing us to connect with clients and stakeholders on a deeper level, no matter where they’re from.
We’re not just building strategies and solutions; we’re shaping a future that values the untamed, celebrates individuality, and achieves greatness through bold, fearless action. Let’s break boundaries together and lead the wild way.
our values
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We don’t just follow the trail, we forge it. Whether it’s a fresh marketing strategy or a game-changing sustainability plan, we push boundaries and deliver solutions that leave a mark.
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The mountains, rivers, oceans and forests aren’t just backdrops to our work, they’re integral to who we are. Every decision we make balances environmental stewardship with progress, ensuring we honour the landscapes that inspire us.
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We believe in the power of diverse perspectives. Like the best mountain guides, we work shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients and partners, navigating the terrain together to achieve shared success.
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From the unpredictable conditions of mountain weather to the shifting landscapes of business, we embrace change and thrive under pressure. We’re here to handle the hard stuff with determination and finesse.
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We live for the rush of solving problems and creating impact. Every project we take on is fueled by a commitment to aligning purpose with results and we have a lot of fun while doing it.
