Meet Our Ambassadors
Meet our esteemed Overlai Ambassadors: a group of creators, artists, photographers who embody the essence of dedication, craftsmanship, and advocacy.
These individuals are more than just experts in their field—they're pioneers who have mastered their craft through countless hours of trial and triumph. As advocates for a creator-forward world, they stand at the forefront of innovation, shaping the digital landscape with their talent and vision.
With their unwavering commitment to excellence and their passion for empowering fellow creators, our ambassadors inspire us all to reach new heights of creativity and success.
Overlai is building an Ambassador community of the top tier talent in the photography, art, acting, musician and podcast space as we protect all forms of media from photos to art to video to audio.
Overlai Ambassador & Co-Founder
Paul Nicklen | Canada
Paul Nicklen is a Canadian photographer, filmmaker, and marine biologist who has documented the beauty and the plight of our planet for over twenty years.In addition to being one of the world’s most acclaimed nature photographers, Nicklen is a sought-after speaker, author, and National Geographic Fellow, who has shared stories from his adventures in several TED Talks.
In the past two decades, Paul has collaborated with scientists, filmmakers, conservationists and explorers to create awareness and inspire action for global issues like climate change.As a co-founder of the non-profit, SeaLegacy, Paul Nicklen is opening a fresh, progressive chapter in the story of ocean conservation through visual storytelling.
7.3M+ Followers
Overlai Ambassador & Co-Founder
Cristina Mittermeier | Mexico
Cristina Goettsch Mittermeier, "Mitty", is hailed as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time, she has dedicated her entire life to protecting the World's oceans - inspiring millions of people to do the same.In 2005 Mittermeier founded the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues and coined the phrase "conservation photography"
.In 2014 she co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization using strategic communications at the intersection of art, science, and conservation to protect and rewild the ocean for the benefit of biodiversity, humanity, and climate within our lifetimes.
1.6M+ Followers
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Shaaz Jung | India
Raised in the jungles of South India, Shaaz Jung is a professional wildlife photographer and an ambassador for Nikon and Manfrotto. Shaaz’s work in the world of wildlife and conservation has gained international recognition and his photographs have been widely published.
He specialises in documenting big cats, primarily melanistic leopards and was the 'Director of Photography' for a National Geographic feature film called The Real Black Panther.Shaaz’s artistic vision creates a unique blend of photography interwoven with art, a style he calls ‘Environmental Surrealism’.
A conservationist at heart, Shaaz runs eco-friendly wildlife lodges in India and utilises eco-tourism as a tool for conservation. He’s also the founder of a non-profit Trust that aims to provide vocational training and education to indigenous people that live in and around forested areas in South India.
2.3M+ Followers
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Daisy Gilardini | Canada
Daisy Gilardini is a conservation photographer who specializes in the Polar Regions, with a particular emphasis on Antarctic wildlife and North American bears. She is from Switzerland originally, and is now based in Vancouver, Canada. She has devoted most of her time to photographing the Polar Regions. She has joined more than 90 expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, and she has skied the final degree to the North Pole. She is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and the SeaLegacy Collective, a fellow of the New York-based Explorers Club, and member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Daisy’s images have been published internationally in leading magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Canadian Geographic, Nature’s Best and Outdoor Photography. Her images have also been used by high-profile NGOs such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, among others.Since 2018, she has been a photographer in residence with Canadian Geographic and she is has been nominated Greenpeace Antarctic Ambassador.Her childhood passion for the natural world has evolved into a lifelong commitment to spread the message of conservation and the need to preserve what's left of the world’s remaining wild places.
Followers 650K
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Pie Aerts | The Netherlands
Pie Aerts is a Dutch documentary and wildlife photographer with a sincere interest in human/wildlife coexistence stories. Through his lens, he examines the intricate relationship between animals, humans and nature and, as we become increasingly distant from each other and ourselves, he uses photography as a medium to search for the cause of this disconnect.
Pie is an official Canon EMEA Ambassador and Founder of Prints for Wildlife, a fundraising platform that supports African wildlife & communities badly hit by Covid-19. Since its inception in 2020 more than $2.1 million dollars has been raised by uniting 230+ wildlife photographers from around the world.
Pie’s first best-selling book 'Tales from the Roads less Traveled' was published by teNeues in 2019 and sold 8,000 copies worldwide.After more than 10 years of fieldwork all across the African continent and beyond, as a photographer as well as an activist, Pie has developed an intricate understanding of, connection with and passion for documenting the last wild corners of our planet.
Followers 200K
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Daniel Kordan | Southeast Asia
Daniel Kordan lives in the world today and is currently based in Bali, Indonesia. However, there are places on Earth he feels deeply connected to. Villa Gaia in Tuscany is one such place where he resided for a few years. He holds a special affection for the Lofoten Islands, with their remarkable atmosphere of fishing villages, sailing adventures, incredible hikes, and the mesmerizing dances of the northern lights during winter.
In the realm of photography, Daniel Kordan's work has garnered recognition and acclaim. His publications span prestigious magazines such as Digital SLR Magazine, UK, Photography Week, Photography Master Class, National Geographic, Discovery, Photoworld China, and Digital Photo (Bauer Media). His clientele includes prominent names like Apple, Gazprom Neft, S7 Airlines, RedBull, and HSBC.
Daniel dedicates a significant portion of his time to guiding groups in Norway at the Lofoten Islands and in Tuscany at Villa Gaia. He serves as an official ambassador for Nikon, Gitzo, and Lucroit, enriching his photography journey with their esteemed support.
Followers 2.5M+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Emmett Sparling | Canada
Emmett Sparling is a photographer and director based out of Vancouver Canada. His photography work covers a wide range of subjects from Landscapes, Wildlife, Underwater, Portraits, and the travel adventure content he shares every day on instagram.
Emmett has been travelling full time around the globe since 2016, capturing the beauty of our planet and telling the stories within the landscapes he explores.
With an audience of 1 million people on social media, Emmett uses his influence for positive impact storytelling as well as teaching photography.
Followers 1M+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Chris Fallows | South Africa
Chris Fallows is a Emmy nominated and multi award winning Fine Art Wildlife photographer whose work has appeared in over 500 global publications. Since being the first person to discover and document breaching Great white sharks at Seal Island in South Africa in 1996 Chris’s images have brought this spectacular and unique behavior to the world’s attention. Chris has also hosted or appeared in over 80 major wildlife documentaries such as The BBC’s Planet Earth, Life, Africa and was the primary host of Discovery Channel's iconic 20 year long Shark Week Franchise, Air Jaws. This series showcases the famous and magnificent breaching Great White Sharks that have captivated the world.
Chris’s intimate photography is best known for showcasing the world’s most iconic wildlife species both on land and in the ocean. His style of getting extremely close to predators and other mega fauna lends a very personal and intimate feeling to his imagery Chris and his wife Monique are heavily involved in conservation and research projects in Africa and funds raised through the sale of Chris’s fine art works go directly towards buying land for habitat and biodiversity preservation.
Followers 25K
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Steve Woods | Canada
Steve Woods is a world-renowned adventure and wildlife photographer who has travelled the globe capturing the beauty of the natural environment and underwater world.
Steve does not just visually capture the animal. He reveals their movements, stillness, strength, and their vulnerability. He connects us to their experience.
He helps us relate to the natural world by making visible the awe-inspiring beauty of the ecosystem, and the creatures within.
“When you see them, you understand them. When you understand them, you are more compelled to protect them.”
“I am an enthusiastic advocate for the preservation of life within the oceans. Photos are how I give these creatures a voice.”
Steve also works on land with endangered species and indigenous communities photographing them and contributing to conservation and research efforts globally
He has since taught many photography workshops and led expeditions in numerous continents above and underwater from the equator to the arctic.
Steve now calls Vancouver, Canada home. He recently became a father. Raising his son has intensified his commitment to awakening others to the human impact on our environment.
Steve’s experience behind the lens within remote and challenging environments has made him an asset to several companies in the outdoor and adventure market. Whether shooting for a marketing campaign or leading wildlife photography trips, Steve’s work remains true to his vision: to expose the beauty of our ecosystem and propel more people toward its preservation.
Followers 150K+
Overlai Artist Ambassador
Sarah McKendry | Canada
Sarah Mckendry is an internationally recognized oil painter, art educator, and published author who has spent the last 15 years pouring her heart and soul into her craft, while also being a stay at home mom to her two young boys.
Sarah is passionate about conservation, advocacy, and capturing the endless beauty of the natural world with her paintbrushes. She has been featured in multiple International publications, teaches thousands of students around the globe, and her paintings can be found in the homes and private collections of wonderful clients both near and far.
Sarah currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her young family where she paints out of her cozy little home-based studio.
Followers 400K+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Ruth Elwell Steck | United States
Ruth Elwell Steck specializes in photographing bears and other wildlife of the North. Although based in the Pacific Northwest, she spends much of her time in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. With over 25 years of experience as a photographer, she is passionate about capturing moments and creating images that tell a story.
Her objective is to help people connect with the environment by understanding the stories and history behind her work. Ruth believes that through knowledge and awareness, we can collectively protect and save our world and the incredible wildlife we share it with.
Followers 200K+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Chris Byrne | United States
Chris Byrne is a photographer, educator, writer and adventurer living in Portland, Oregon. Since 2015 he has been working as a full time nature photographer selling his work, teaching the craft of photography and providing clients with memorable experiences all over the globe through his company.
Growing up in Florida, Chris has a profound love for our oceans and how integral they are in our daily lives. Known for creating crisp, clean and colorful images, his portfolio includes landscapes, seascapes, aerial and wildlife images. His work from Iceland has been recognized by the International Landscape Photographer of the Year Competition as a 2-time winner of the Aerial Photograph of the Year.
Followers 150K+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Michelle Valberg | Canada
Michelle is an award-winning photographer whose quest to capture the beautiful and unique on camera has taken her to all corners of the world. She is particularly celebrated for her passion and work in Canada’s Arctic.
Michelle was honoured to be appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022. She is a Nikon Ambassador and her images appear on magazine covers, in numerous publications, exhibitions and embassies worldwide. Her iconic images appear on a Royal Canadian Mint coin and Canada Post stamps. Michelle received the Louise Kamookak Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographic Society in 2019, she won the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers in 2021 and was the wildlife category gold medalist at the World Photographic Cup in Rome 2022.
Besides her achievements as a photographer and entrepreneur, Valberg is a tireless philanthropist and community leader and has published four books. Michelle is a Canadian Geographic Photographer-in-Residence and an International Fellow of the Explorer's Club in New York City.
Followers 70K+
Overlai Photographer Ambassador
Nathan Clark | United States
Nathan Clark is a dedicated wildlife photographer and video creator with a deep passion for observing and capturing the stories of animals. From a young age, Nathan has been fascinated by creatures big and small, and after a successful career as an engineer and technology entrepreneur, he chose to follow his true calling: documenting the natural world. His primary focus is on the wildlife of North America and the polar regions, where he immerses himself in the study of a single species for weeks or even months.
By learning and understanding their behaviors and personalities, Nathan strives to bring their unique characters to life through his photography. His ultimate goal is to inspire others to appreciate the incredible beauty, extraordinary behaviors, and intricate designs found in the animal kingdom, fostering a deeper understanding and a commitment to preserving the natural world.
Followers 375K+
Our Story
At Overlai, we are more than just a team of co-founders – we are a collective of passionate photographers, filmmakers, and artists driven by a shared mission: to safeguard the integrity of visual content in an age of advancing AI technology.
Our co-founding team consists of Luke Neumann, Alex Dolgov, Chase Teron, Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier. With years of experience in the creative arts, we understand the profound value of a photographer's work, style, and brand identity.
It's this understanding that fuels our dedication to protecting digital media assets.
As photographers, film makers and creators ourselves, we recognize the importance of choice. Overlai was born out of our desire to empower photographers with the freedom to decide whether their photos, unique style, and brand should be sourced by AI algorithms.
If photographers, film makers, musicians or artists choose to share their work, they deserve fair compensation for their creative contributions. If they prefer to maintain control and privacy, they should be shielded from AI scraping.
Overlai represents a groundbreaking milestone in the realm of photography asset protection. Our innovative application offers a one-step process to safeguard your photographic masterpieces from AI sourcing.
With Overlai, you can trust that your creative vision remains under your control, ensuring the preservation of your artistic integrity.
Join us on this journey to empower photographers, protect their media assets, and reshape the future of visual content in the digital age. Overlai – your partner in defending human generated digital media.
Our Founding Team
Luke Neumann
CEO & Co-Founder of Overlai
Alex Dolgov
CTO & Co-Founder of Overlai
Chase Teron
CMO & Co-Founder of Overlai
Paul Nicklen
Co-Founder of Overlai
Cristina Mittermeier
Co-Founder of Overlai