The perks of dedicated photo trips

Going on a photo trip is something to celebrate!

Over Thanksgiving, I put down a deposit on what will be my fifth dedicated photo trip. If you haven’t done something like this before, these are trips led by other photographers in areas they are familiar with.

While many of us, especially landscape and wildlife shooters, like photographing on our own, there are a lot of benefits to a well-run photo trip.

It removes guesswork

If, like me, you’ve only got a limited amount of vacation time from your day job, then having a focused photo trip is a great way to see a lot of highlights.

For example, my first photo trip was to northern Arizona and southern Utah. I had never been to either state, and didn’t know about any of the complications we might face (such as photographing on tribal property).

Thanks to a knowledgeable guide, we rolled through Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, Hunts Mesa, and Gunsight Butte, and I came home with pictures I’m still happy with today.

You get to learn

Joining a group of photographers can induce a little nervousness. It’s easy to get caught up in gear and skill envy. Remember to use the opportunity to learn from experienced photographers, both in your group and your guide.

Not only can they help you with technical things, but having people with you to break down particular shots and brainstorm ideas is priceless.  That can continue long after you’ve gotten home and unpacked, too.

The shots

Some people might grump that you come back with the same shots as everyone else. This just isn’t true. That’s up to the vision of the photographer. 10 people can go to the same spot and come back with 10 different shots.  

Are there places where everyone is going to line up and get the shot? Sure. There are only so many spots on the edge of Horseshoe Bend, for example. The important thing is to get that shot in your bag, then start looking for different viewpoints. That’s on you, the photographer.

I’ll write more about specific tips when it comes to choosing a trip and how to go about it, but for now, I’m going to start planning that next trip – going to see brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park.