Unleashing Creativity: How Outex Transformed Andrew Hancock’s Photography
As a professional photographer and Nikon Ambassador, Andrew Hancock (@HancockPhoto) is no stranger to pushing creative boundaries. Whether he’s capturing high-speed sports action, dramatic portraits, or other stunning imagery, his work is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a drive for pushing creative boundaries. But one thing that continuously presented a challenge was shooting in and around water. Outex was a game changer. "In contrast to heavy, bulky hard-case housings that often limit functionality, Outex offers universal compatibility with my multiple camera bodies and lenses. The optical glass ports are awesome. And the modular support for lights, triggers, tripods, mounts, and even underwater tethering without adding any weight or bulk to my gear allows me to execute my vision practically, and affordably."
@HancockPhoto. A powerful butterfly swimmer, Bethany Galat @galatbethany, in morning sunlight with a dark background. Using the @NikonUSA Z6II and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with the Outex system.
Like many photographers and content creators, Andrew had always admired underwater shots—the ones that make you feel like you’re floating in a dream, caught between two worlds. He experimented with different options in the past, but the bulk, impracticality, and cost of traditional underwater housings were barriers, even for a professional. That’s when Outex became a game-changer, allowing him to take his craft not just beneath the surface without the hassle, but into virtually any envinromental condition. As a traveling sports professional Andrew enjoys mounting his cameras into unusual places to capture unique, unexpected perspectives, which often means mounting outside, exposed to the weather, in the rain, or underwater.
@hancockphoto image of Olympic finalist Beryl Gastadello @gastaswim using Nikon D810.
"I have always been fascinated by the athleticism and grace of swimmers and when you watch them compete in person or on the television, you only see maybe half of what they do and the rest is underwater so naturally I want to see and show that."
Breaking Barriers to Creativity
Andrew loves the optical glass ports, full body & lens control thru the Outex covers, and the modularity of the system. "I love to mount cameras to get those unique, unexpected shots, and the Outex system enables me to trigger the cameras to capture unprecedented angles in any condition, even underwater." Outex’s lightweight, flexible design gave him the freedom to shoot angles that would have been impossible with traditional housings. For a photographer constantly innovating, this opened up new storytelling possibilities.
American Conference swimming championships photo using Nikon D5 and 14-24mm using the dome optical glass port.
Performance That Speaks for Itself
One of Andrew’s biggest concerns was whether Outex could truly protect his high-end Nikon gear. But after multiple rigorous sessions in saltwater, freshwater, and even rain-drenched landscapes, Outex exceeded expectations. The waterproof seal ensured complete protection, while the optical quality remained uncompromised. Whether capturing dynamic surfing shots, immersive sports photography, or intimate portraits in water, Outex delivered stunning results every time.
For Content Creators, The Possibilities Are Endless
For photographers and content creators alike, versatility is everything. Outex isn’t just for underwater - it’s ideal for capturing lifestyle content at the beach, sand, dirt, dust, and action-adventure vlogs in unpredictable weather. The ability to shoot in challenging conditions without worrying about equipment safety has enhanced the way Andrew approaches storytelling by allowing him to eliminate variables and limits.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a photographer or content creator looking to push the boundaries of what’s possible in photography, take it from Andrew Hancock—Outex is an essential tool. It’s affordable, portable, and most importantly, it works.
Andrew’s advice? Don’t let fear—or bulky gear—hold you back. Dive in, get creative, and watch your photography reach new depths.
Have you tried Outex? Share your experiences and favorite shots in the comments!
About Andrew
It doesn’t matter if you call him Andrew. Or Andy. Or simply Hancock. He answers to them all. The only thing that matters is that you call him. Based in Dallas, Andrew Hancock is constantly moving from coast to coast and around the world creating engaging content for a diverse roster of clients while pursuing personal projects with any available moment in between.
Known for his collaborative style, low-maintenance demeanor and relentless work ethic towards the creative process both client and subjects find themselves at ease. In working with Andrew, ego is checked at the door. Client, crew, and talent quickly realize that team success is valued before individual accolades.
With roots as a photojournalist, Andy proves that he is among the most elite storytellers with a vision and voice that allows him to communicate effectively whether the assignment is advertising or editorial based. Committed to the storytelling process across all mediums, he has also written stories that have appeared in the New York Times and ESPN to accompany projects that feature his photography.
Andrew and his clients have won an array of awards for their work together in national and international competitions such as American Photography, ADDY, POYi, and World Sports Photography Awards. In the past two WSPA global competitions he has won the gold for best basketball photo in the world, bronze for best gymnastics photo, and special merit for a horse racing photograph that was recognized as one of the 10 best sports photos produced by an independent photographer.
Armed with a creative vision that transcends genres, Hancock is among a extremely small group of photographers to have ever photographed covers of both Sports Illustrated and TIME magazine. His work has also been selected as being among the best sports photos of the decade for 2010-2019 by both ESPN and Sports Illustrated and his work is also no stranger to the Getty Images best of the year collections.
He received a BA in journalism from Texas A&M University and is an alum of the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop.
Andrew is recognized by Nikon as a Nikon Ambassador - United States and as a SanDisk Professional PRO-TEAM member. Visit his website https://andrewhancock.com
