Seabirds of Newfoundland Photo Workshop
- 7 Days
From $5,875 - Interests
- Birds, Wildlife
- Activity Level
- Easy
- Group Size
- 4–6
Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, Common Murres, and more along rocky coastlines
For over a decade, we’ve been guiding photographers in Newfoundland during one of the most exciting times of year on the coast. Breeding season fills the seabird colonies with energy, with Northern Gannets, Common Murres, and the clowns of the sea, Atlantic Puffins, all busy with courtship, nesting, and nonstop activity that makes for wonderful photographic opportunities. At the same time, migratory whales have returned to Newfoundland’s coastal waters for the summer, adding even more life and excitement to an already rich wildlife experience. By visiting these colonies multiple times and under changing light, we give you the best chance to come home with strong, memorable images of this wild and lively season.
Read more about why we love photographing in Newfoundland. For 2027, you can extend your experience in Newfound by combining this with our Western Newfoundland workshop.
Highlights
- Expert Guidance – Passionate photography instructors dedicated to helping you elevate your skills and capture Newfoundland’s remarkable wildlife.
- Prime Locations – Photograph dramatic cliffs, rugged coastlines, charismatic puffins, soaring gannets, and the whales that frequent these rich waters.
- Comfortable Accommodations – Stay in hand‑picked lodgings that offer both comfort and ideal access to top wildlife photography sites.
- Small Group Experience – Limited group size ensures more space, better shooting opportunities, and personalized attention during fast‑moving wildlife moments.
- Comprehensive Itinerary – A thoughtfully crafted schedule that brings you to Newfoundland’s best spots for puffins, gannets, and whales—maximizing your chances for extraordinary images.
What You'll Learn
- Photograph birds in flight with more confidence and consistency – Use autofocus, timing, and shutter speed choices more effectively for fast-moving seabirds.
- Create stronger images of groups of birds – Use angle, timing, and depth of field to keep more of the scene in focus without making the image feel cluttered.
- Control exposure in bright, fast-changing coastal light – Handle reflective water, white birds, dark backgrounds, and shifting weather with more confidence.
- Shoot from a moving boat with better stability and composition – React faster, stay steady, and make stronger images when both you and your subject are in motion.
- Process your images for a cleaner final result – Select stronger frames, sharpen effectively, refine detail, and finish your seabird images with more polish.
Your Guides
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James Begeman
Jun 27–Jul 3, 2027Jul 4–10, 2027Jun 24–30, 2028Jul 1–7, 2028 -
Mindy Huston
Jun 27–Jul 3, 2027Jun 24–30, 2028Jul 1–7, 2028
Activity Level
You must be able to walk distances of 1 mile on uneven terrain with your camera gear.
This tour has an activity level of Easy. Read more about the Activity Levels for our trips.
Itinerary
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This tour offers opportunities to photograph wildlife. We'll maximize our chances of encountering wildlife, but we want to remind you that we don't control wildlife and cannot guarantee encounters with particular species. Itineraries for wildlife trips are subject to change based on wildlife activity.
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Day 0: Arrive in St. John's
Arrive at St. John's International Airport (YYT) on this day. Airport transfer is included on arrival.
There are no activities scheduled this day, other than your arrival in St. John’s. Most flights will arrive later in the evening.
Accommodations in St. John’s are included this night.
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Day 1: Diving gannets and whales
We will depart from St. John’s at 11:00 AM this morning, heading to the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula for our first wildlife outing. We’ll have a welcome dinner, followed by a session where we plan to photograph gannets diving and whales feeding.
Overnight in Trepassey.
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Day 2–3: Northern Gannet colony
These two days are dedicated to photographing the most accessible Northern Gannet colony in North America. You will photograph Thick-billed Murres, Common Murres, and one of North America’s largest colonies of Northern Gannets.
Overnight in St. Bride’s.
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Day 4–5: Puffins, whales and icebergs
During these two days, we will visit an area called Elliston, home of a friendly and easily accessible colony of Atlantic Puffins. We’ll photograph the colony multiple times each day for different lighting conditions. Additionally, a local fox den sometimes yields photos of playful foxes.
We will also charter a private boat to take you to see whales and, hopefully, an iceberg or two that have floated down from Greenland.
Overnight in Trinity.
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Day 6: Return to St. John's
After a final morning photo session, we’ll return to St. John’s, stopping for lunch. This evening, we’ll have a farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate our Newfoundland adventure.
We’ll stay this night in St. John’s to best accommodate everyone’s return flight the next day.
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Day 7: Departure
Departure from St. John's International Airport (YYT). You can book your return flight for anytime this day. Airport transfer is included on departure.
Accommodations
Our hotels are hand-picked for their comfort and proximity to our shooting locations. At Cape St. Mary’s, we stay at a charming hotel situated 20 minutes from the seabird colony, maximizing our time there. Our comfortable boutique hotel, located near the Puffin colony, is approximately a 30-minute drive away. It is also situated in one of the best areas to photograph migratory whales. We’ll also spend a night at a comfortable inn close to a spot where gannets dive and humpback whales lunge to feed on capelin.
Why Travel With Us
Our small-group trips are designed for photographers, with guides who know the best locations and offer instruction to help improve your photography. Read more about why you should travel with us.
Testimonials
Akari Photo Tour was a great combination of getting to amazing photo locations , plenty of time and opportunities to get the photos, and learning.
This was my first trip with Akari and I wasn't sure what to expect. They met or exceeded my all expectations. The pre-trip planning and communications were useful, the guides were friendly and knowledgeable not only in photography but also in animal behavior. I came home with better photos than I would have taken on my own. Looking forward to future trips with Akari.
This is the most fun I have ever had on a trip.
This is an exceptional trip. You will gain access to the most interesting photo locations, stay at wonderful hotels and eat very well. Most importantly, you will receive excellent photo guidance and have fun doing all of this with knowledgeable guides. A great experience with enthusiastic people.
Dates & Prices
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Jun 27–Jul 3, 2027$5,875 USD Per PersonDouble Occupancy$995 USDSingle SupplementGuides: Mindy Huston, James BegemanGroup Size: 6Payment Terms: Deposit: $2,000 USDBalance Due: Feb 27, 2027
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Jul 4–10, 2027$5,875 USD Per PersonDouble Occupancy$995 USDSingle SupplementRegister1 Spot LeftGuides: James BegemanGroup Size: 4Payment Terms: Deposit: $2,000 USDBalance Due: Mar 6, 2027
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Jun 24–30, 2028$5,995 USD Per PersonDouble Occupancy$995 USDSingle SupplementGuides: James Begeman, Mindy HustonGroup Size: 6Payment Terms: Deposit: $2,000 USDBalance Due: Feb 25, 2028
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Jul 1–7, 2028$5,995 USD Per PersonDouble Occupancy$995 USDSingle SupplementGuides: James Begeman, Mindy HustonGroup Size: 6Payment Terms: Deposit: $2,000 USDBalance Due: Mar 3, 2028
All of our standard Terms & Conditions apply. Be sure to read our Cancellation Policy.
What's Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single lodging is available with payment of a single supplement fee.
- All transportation during the tour.
- Airport transfers at arrival/departure.
- Snacks and water between meals.
- Welcome dinner.
- Private zodiac charter
- All permits and entry fees.
- Instruction, guidance, and image reviews from our expert photography guides.
- Personal pre-trip phone consultation.
What's Not Included
- Airfare to and from destination, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees.
- Passport and visa fees, if applicable.
- Our group will dine together, but the cost of most meals is not included.
- Travel medical & evacuation insurance (optional but recommended).
- Trip cancellation insurance (optional but recommended).
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Any accommodations or meals before or after the tour dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
Prepare for Your Trip
Please review our photography travel resources, including know your camera and our camera gear list, to help you plan your trip. Before your trip, we’ll contact you with more detailed gear recommendations specific to your trip.
Also, get a head start on your workshop learning experience with our wildlife photography tutorials.