Frequently Asked Questions

Our workshop itineraries are all about photography. We have an active, busy schedule, often waking early for sunrise and staying late for sunset. On days like these, we build in rest time in the middle of the day. Some of the best locations require long transit times, but the rewards are worth it. Nature photography often requires a flexible attitude, and we’ll make the most of bad weather or uncooperative wildlife, but of course, we can’t guarantee that nature will cooperate.

Our tours are appropriate for all skill levels. If you are a beginner, we’ll help you understand the best settings for your camera. If you are an experienced photographer, we’ll put you in the right place at the right time. You will get the most out of our workshops by learning how to operate your camera before your trip.

We offer trips that vary from easy to physically demanding. All trips require that you carry your camera gear and luggage and have reasonable balance and mobility. For your safety and enjoyment, your physical abilities must match the requirements of a trip. We have a description of our activity levels, and each trip page describes fitness requirements specific to that trip. Please contact us if you have questions about what trips suit your abilities.

We’ll take you to the best photo locations at the best time of day. While shooting, we will offer you personal, in-depth instruction and guidance to improve your photography. We’ll tune our instruction to your goals. If you want to be left on your own to photograph, that’s OK too. We always prioritize your images over our own. As our schedule allows, we’ll also host image reviews and post-processing sessions to help you learn how to get the most out of your photos.

We keep our group sizes small, typically 6-8 participants per trip so that you get individualized attention. Depending on the ship’s configuration, ship-based expeditions may have more or fewer people.

We welcome solo travelers. Most of our trips have private rooms available with payment of a single supplement fee. Some trips, particularly ship-based or extremely remote locations, have unique accommodations that may not have private rooms. If you travel alone, we’ll match you with a same-gender roommate.

We realize things change, and sometimes, you must cancel or reschedule your trip. If you need to make a change, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll try to accommodate your request, but remember that refunds are subject to our Cancellation Policy. You should also review the trip page for any trip-specific cancellation terms. We highly recommend travel insurance to protect against unforeseen cancellations. Our recommended travel insurance provider is Arch RoamRight.

Typically, our tours include accommodation costs, ground transportation, photography instruction, local guides, and permits. On some trips, meals are included. On other trips, meals are not included. Snacks and water between meals are always included. You are responsible for your airfare to and from your destination, alcohol, items of a personal nature, and travel insurance. Inclusions and exclusions vary, so you should always review the list of What’s Included and What’s Not Included as described on our tour web pages.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel cancellation, medical, and evacuation insurance to protect your travel deposits and pre-payments. While buying insurance is optional, specific trips will have mandatory insurance requirements for medical evacuation and repatriation. Read more about travel insurance here. For travel insurance, we recommend Arch RoamRight.

Spouses and friends are always welcome to join our trips. However, some trips are more appropriate than others for non-photographers. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss specific trips.

We’ll always keep you well-fed on our trips, often with tasty meals at local eateries. But remember that photography is our priority. Sometimes, that means we pack a bag lunch to stay out for photography opportunities. You should have a flexible attitude about meal times and be comfortable with limited meal choices when we are in remote locations.

We routinely accommodate special dietary needs. Be sure to inform us about your dietary restrictions well in advance of the trip so that we can prepare our tour operators. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, local customs or logistical constraints get in the way, and we cannot always guarantee that we’ll meet your specific needs.

We accept payment in US Dollars via credit card, personal check, cashier’s check, or wire transfer. If you need to make special payment arrangements, ask us.

We have a resource for packing and preparing for a photography trip that you should read before your trip. In the weeks leading up to your trip, we’ll schedule a group meeting to review trip-specific requirements and answer your questions.

In the weeks leading up to your workshop and during your trip, we use WhatsApp as a quick and easy way to share information with the group and get your questions answered.

We carry all required permits and insurance for the tours we operate. Our guides are current with their first aid training and certifications. We support and promote Leave No Trace principles on our tours.