Attending a photography tour is a great way to develop your photography by learning from a professional photographer in a destination you’ve dreamed of visiting. Not only that, it’s also a great opportunity to connect with other like-minded people and perhaps even make friends for life.
But in order for it to be a positive (maybe even life-changing) experience, you need to investigate a little before booking. With the influx of photographers and tour operators offering photography-related tours, the line between a good and bad experience can be thin.
While most leave with positive memories, I’ve heard several horror stories of photographers who’ve attended workshops both by big operators as well as famous photographers.
#1. Workshop vs Photo Tours
The very first thing you should know is whether you’re booking a workshop or a photography tour. You might think that they are the same, and some operators might treat them similarly, but the difference can be significant.
A photography workshop is a more hands-on experience where the guide is primarily there to teach you how to capture better images. Workshops typically include both in-field and post-processing lessons.
A photography tour is often less hands-on and the guide’s main task is to make sure you’re at the right place at the right time. While you’ll still get photography instructions, you’re more on your own when it comes to capturing the images and you’re more likely to see the guide using their own camera as well.
Many operators run a mix of the two but I recommend asking how they run the tours before booking. If you want more photographic instructions along with a more hands-on experience, make sure that you’re booking a photography workshop.
#2. Does the Operator Have Local Knowledge?
There’s no doubt that booking with a local operator, or one who uses local guiding services, comes with big benefits.
Local operators have local knowledge and often know about secret spots where few others come. They’re also better prepared in case something unexpected happens and they’re more likely to arrange a unique and authentic experience.
This usually leads to a smoother, better-organized experience for you and the other participants.
#3. Watch the Price
With photography tours, the price isn’t an indicator of how good the tour is. As expected when there’s a huge influx of providers, you can find tours in all price ranges. But what are the differences? Are the most expensive the best?
Not always…
I recommend looking at several providers and comparing what’s included in the price. What lodging will you use and is it part of the package? Are meals included? Transportation? Entrance fees?
Don’t be surprised when you see providers with similar itineraries and inclusions have a price difference of $1000 or even more. Paying more doesn’t mean you’ll get a better experience.
#4. How Big is the Group?
Another important factor to keep in mind before booking a photography tour is the group size.
Bigger groups typically mean more generic experiences. Even if there are several guides and a good guide-to-participant ratio, a large group size might be problematic in certain locations.
Just imagine standing on a small Arctic beach with 25 other photographers? It goes without saying that it can be quite chaotic and you’re more than likely to have a tripod or two in your frame.
In my opinion, the ideal group size is up to 6 or 8 participants. More than this and it starts getting crowded in certain places.