Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Erin Donahue

You’re probably here looking for information on the current year’s Sony Kando Trip. I’d love to tell you, but Sony hasn’t invited me back since 2023. I can’t decide what’s worse: never getting an invite, or getting one and then getting cut from their list. However, I’m grateful I got to experience it at least once, especially so early in my career pivot.

When Sony invited me on my first Kando Trip, it was up in the mountains of Utah, in Snowbird. For whatever reason, I always end up in Utah. I have never been so nervous to attend something in my adult life, mainly because I didn’t know anyone, and world-famous photographers and creators I’d followed for years were attending. My dream brand leveled the playing field and made me feel like a real peer to people I’d looked up to. It also made it sink in, for the first time, that the industry actually recognized me too.

Sony took care of every detail, from the logistics to the activities to the swag bag. In the midst of this dream brand trip, I got my first real taste of what “Kando” actually means.

How Do You Get Invited to Sony Kando?

Sony typically holds Kando Trip at the end of August. Every year, when the invited cohort starts posting about it, the rest of the internet voices their disappointment and sulks. Not going to lie, it stung the first year after realizing I got the ax before everyone else I’d met there. Now, after years of Sony not inviting me back, I’m over it. Courting a brand is like dating — I’ve continued to have partnerships with Sony in the interim, but I’m not desperate for an invite. What’s meant to be will be!

A lot of people wonder how to land an invite to Sony Kando in the first place. From what I see, many assume it only goes to the big creators. To an extent, that’s true, but Sony invites plenty of micro and even nano creators too.

What I Think Got Me Invited to Sony Kando Trip

When I first got the invite, I don’t even think I had 10K followers on Instagram yet, but what I do think was working in my favor was that I was producing photography education content that was digestible for short-form video, and my light painting self-portrait content was going mega viral on TikTok. With that success, Sony reached out to me directly for my first partnership with them, and Sony Alpha Universe featured me twice within six months. It was a good year!

From what I’ve observed, the photographers and content creators Sony selects usually have an existing relationship with the brand, or they’re masters in their field. Many of the older photographers don’t have high vanity metrics at all. What does seem to catch Sony’s attention, though, is when a creator fosters ‘community’ around their channel. Personally, I think that’s just a buzzword, but that engagement and distribution seem to be what they’re after.

Focus on Craft and Community

No one knows Sony’s actual formula for choosing who gets an invite to Kando Trip. From what I’ve heard, Sony actually cut several of their ambassadors who weren’t especially active on social media that same year they cut me. If Sony invites you, it’s because someone from the brand or their agency was watching you and liked what you were putting out. In the end, Sony Kando Trip is a brand PR trip, and the selection is purely a business decision.

What Does “Kando” Actually Mean?

“Kando” is a Japanese word that doesn’t have a clean English translation. The closest is something like the profound satisfaction and intense excitement you feel when you encounter something truly extraordinary. I certainly felt that when I received the confidential invite in my email inbox!

As a full-time creative, another Japanese concept, “ikigai,” has driven my path toward becoming a creative entrepreneur. It symbolizes a passion that infuses life with value and joy. This very sense of ikigai drove my decision to fully step into the world of photography and creativity. A leap of faith that has allowed me to explore the world, forge new connections, and embrace life’s risks.

Inside Sony Kando Trip: Snowbird’s Summit

After Sony flew me out to Salt Lake City and shuttled me to The Lodge at Snowbird, my adventure commenced with an intense burner sunset on Snowbird’s summit. The hotel itself sits at 8,000 feet, but that paled in comparison to the summit’s altitude of 11,000 feet. The summit offered a multitude of opportunities to capture stunning photographs of the view and models in various scenarios. While I didn’t focus much on portraits during this trip, I couldn’t help but realize the untapped potential in these surroundings. Looking back, I wish I’d spent more time on portrait work and shadowing the Sony Artisans who were there — an opportunity I didn’t fully appreciate until it was gone.

One of the most gratifying aspects of this experience was connecting with the Sony reps, fellow photographers and creators, many of whom are industry leaders in their respective fields, thriving as successful creative entrepreneurs. I’ll admit that I battled some intense imposter syndrome in the days leading up to the trip, as I didn’t have any personal acquaintances in the group. However, as an extrovert, I made it my mission to connect with as many remarkable individuals as possible throughout the week. Happy to say mission accomplished!

What a Day at Sony Kando Trip Actually Looks Like

The second and third days at Sony Kando Trip were mostly ours to plan. We had the freedom to choose our activities. There were stations where you could get customized branded hats, machine embroidery of the gifted duffle bags, camera gear cleaning, gaming competitions like “guess the camera body,” and sessions led by expert speakers in filmmaking, audio, and photography. Did I mention all of these were free? I even nabbed a Polar Pro Peter McKinnon VND filter because they were handing it out if you knew who to ask. Honestly, the only thing I’m still upset about is not getting the new Kando swag every year LOL.

One shared moment brought everyone together, though — the Sony keynote address, where they unveiled their latest product launch: the compact full-frame a7C II, a7C R, and the 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II lens.

Testing the New Sony a7C II at Sony Kando Trip

Being among some of the first to test out Sony’s latest products was fun — another perk of Sony inviting me to Kando Trip. I mainly stuck with the a7C II since the file sizes of the a7C R would’ve eaten up my hard drive space fast. On paper, the a7C II packs a 33-megapixel sensor, a Bionz XR processor, and a dedicated AI processing unit, with upgrades like advanced subject recognition, eye autofocus, subject tracking, and 10fps shooting on both mechanical and silent shutters.

The camera’s compact size and reduced weight compared to the a7C made it an easy travel companion for the days of hauling gear around a mountain. Video-wise, it was capable of 4K with full pixel readout, 7K oversampling, 4:2:2 10-bit color, and All-Intra recording — though video wasn’t really my focus that week. I haven’t touched the camera since that trip, so I can’t tell you how it holds up years later.

What I Didn’t Love About the Sony a7C II

While I couldn’t explore all of its functions during this trip, my initial feedback included dismay over the absence of dual slots and the removal of the joystick, which many find helpful for focusing. Personally, since I still use the a6400, it lacks a joystick, so I’m used to a camera without it.

Testing Out the $13,000 Sony 600mm GM Lens

Interestingly, it seemed that most attendees were particularly excited about the new 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II lens. My focus, however, lay in using the impressive 600mm f4 GM lens priced at $13,000. Even though it wasn’t one of the new releases, it’s a lens I wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to use. Coincidentally, there was a full moon, so the timing was perfect to try out this beast of a telephoto lens.

I thought I would have fun using it, but it turns out it’s too heavy a lens, and the shot is too tight, which omits any foreground. It’s a great lens for getting the moon itself or sports, but going with a 100-500mm lens is a better option for me. Lesson learned!

In the end, my first Sony Kando Trip was nothing short of amazing, and I’m grateful for the chance to have been part of it at all. I distinctly remember wishing for an invitation the year before, and when it finally came through, it was surreal. Only 10 months after I left corporate to become a full-time creator and photographer, my dream brand had noticed me. It felt like a signal I was on the right path, and proof that chasing what you love actually pays off, even if, in my case, it turned out to be a one-time thing. If you’re chasing an invite of your own, I hope this gave you some insight into what it’s actually like.