Hi everyone,
As you may or may not know I’ve been running photography workshops / tours professionally for well over ten years now & have decades of experience as a landscape photographer, over 700 repeat clients & feel I’m well enough qualified to offer you some advice & I wanted to give you some info from my experience on what to look out for if you’re booking a photography workshop.
There’s many different tours & workshops out there & some seem really well priced & some seem really over priced, so what are the key points you need to be aware of & look out for when you’re spending your hard earned money on a photography workshop.
1./ Accommodation-
twin share versus single supplement, (are you happy to share a room with another participant or would you like your own room) What is the level of comfort on offer & are you comfortable with that? Our workshops always include your own room.
2./ Ensure the operator is a professional business & has all the relevant insurances (public liability insurance is a must), certifications, first aid trained (another must) & most importantly permits to legally operate in the region. (More about this further on)
3./ Look at their online reviews, you want to hear multiple positive reviews from other participants that have attended the operators tours. (Google reviews is always a good place to start & if you feel a little unsure ask to speak to a couple of previous clients)
4./ Experience-
Are they a good photographer that genuinely knows what they’re talking about & has many years experience in the field so that they can really teach you more skills & improve your photography, AND how much experience do they have photographing the region where they’re taking you. I like to refer to this as “social proof” you need to see their photos they’ve taken in the area & be genuinely inspired by their work & their knowledge of both photography & the region & its seasonal conditions. Do they have a strong understanding of the LIGHT in that region & the compositions on offer to you? Are you shooting the location in the best light ? Some places are definitely better for say sunrise as opposed to sunset etc.
As I always say, “you can’t buy a can of experience”
5./ Transport-
often during photography tours you’ll cover many miles in a vehicle between locations, is the vehicle modern, safe & comfortable for you ?
6./ This one for me is by far the most important & simply should be NOT NEGOTIABLE , I have a quote on my website that says - “The Difference” -
The difference lies in experience, expert knowledge, honesty, ethics, professionalism, attention to detail and proficient planning.”
these things really matter. Does the operator have a good reputation & do they do things “by the book” do they have “old fashioned ethics? Do they have business licenses & permits for national parks etc to operate in the region where they’re taking you ? Ask them this, it definitely should be on their website or be easily accessible for you to see, if they don’t have permits to operate in a region (generally national parks) then in the event of an accident all their insurances will be voided & you’d have to question if they’ve cut a corner there, where else have they cut corners.
7./ Client to professional ratio & how many guides-
I would recommend a client to guide ratio of no more than 5 or 6 clients per guide/professional. Otherwise you may miss out on mentoring when you most need it to nail the shot. (For example there is a minimum of two pros on my workshops & never more than 8 clients).
8./ Food / meals -
as an absolute foodie this one is super important to me. For example I never take clients to eat at a cafe or restaurant I haven’t been before & rate the food highly, for me the photography tour is about more than just photography, it’s ensuring the clients eat healthy & well, don’t go hungry & remember the dining as a great experience & immerse themselves in the local culture. (Also because we’re up early for sunrises top quality coffee is a must)
9./ Comradery-
I think it’s important that you get on well with the tour leader/s & other participants & they’re your kind of people, you like & get their style. If you feel uncomfortable about the operators style then you probably won’t enjoy the experience as much as you should. (I’ve seen many clients on our workshops become good friends & even come back on workshops together).
10./ Book early-
quality operators are often busy & their tours regularly book out as they have many repeat clientele. Get in early to book & if you really like a photographer subscribe to their email list so you don’t miss out on dates.
11./ Seasons - look into the season the tour is conducted, is that the best time to photograph that location? (Many regions are favourable in only one or two seasons) Will I be comfortable with the cold or hot weather in that season? Take note of the sunrise & sunset times & that you’re ok with it.
12./ Expectation-
As I always say “we can pick the week but we can’t pick the weather”. Don’t get hung up on perfect weather conditions because the reality is this doesn’t happen all the time, a good operator will have many options to suit varying weather conditions & you CAN shoot great photos in all conditions. (Again the sign of a true pro is to get good photos & change plans in challenging weather)
13./ Itineraries-
For me, a rigid, fixed itinerary doesn’t work. You need an operator that is open-minded, flexible & knowledgeable of the region so they can make the best decisions based on local weather & conditions at the time to maximise your photography opportunities. We’ll always start with a fairly solid itinerary but often make changes along the way to maximise the best possible photography experience based on weather & conditions. (We genuinely want the best photos for our clients & will push hard to make this happen if it means changing the plan).
14./ Hand on heart -
I can honestly say that myself & Lisa tick all the boxes above & take immense pride in being professionals in what we do & we’d love to have you on a workshop in the future, having two professionals with different eyes, skills & experiences is to you’re advantage.
I hope this info helps you to select the right photography tour / workshop experience for you & you have a memorable experience & get some great photos. and don’t be afraid to ask the operator questions if you’re unsure about something, as I always say “there’s no such thing as a dumb question if you don’t know the answer”.
Happy shooting & please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Brett. “