Unaffiliated Photographer Traveling to US to Shoot?

I am a Canadian freelance photographer working on a book project which will require travel to the US to photograph portrait subjects over a number of trips due to their scheduling, logistics, etc.

As I am not affiliated with any media outlets for this project, how is it possible for me to obtain an appropriate (I assume an I) visa in order to work in the US on this project?

I'd rather not play the 'don't tell them and hope for the best' game. I want to do this all above-board as it is an entirely legitimate project and I don't want to enter the country under false pretences.

As far as I'm aware there isn't, I'm afraid. You have to get an I visa which requires you to work for a foreign office of a media outlet.

Had this thread on here several times in the past, never had a particularly good answer for it. There are heaps of travel books in your local bookstore no doubt with endless pictures of the US in them. Were they all taken by US citizens and LPRs? No idea.

Working in any kind of self-employed profession in the US is very awkward, the only straightforward method is to get an E visa but a photographer or a writer etc. don't fit the criteria for it. A dentist or a plumber might.

Bear in mind if you're engaged in a business in the US technically you are also subject to US tax laws, this alone is a good reason to be employed by a US office of a business because they can do the payroll taxes. Technically it doesn't hit you until you earn over $10,000 in the US though (as a directly employed individual of a Canadian business - otherwise there is no exemption).