Alaska Aurora Borealis Photo Workshop

Mar 3-10, 2027 - 8 Days - 3 Spots Left!!

Experience Alaska's winter beauty as the mysterious Northern Lights dance across the skies and golden light illuminates the snowy landscapes. Our journey will take us far above the Arctic Circle in pursuit of the aurora borealis, stunning scenery, dramatic mountains, and arctic wildlife. And there's more - you will gaze in awe at a stunning ice cave and spend time with dog mushers! With a max group size of 6 participants and 2 instructors, you'll get tons of individual attention and the numerous benefits of having your own vehicle door.

Tuition

$6800
Includes all Lodging & Transportation

Max Group Size

3 Students per Instructor
Max 6 Students

Instructor(s)

Shane McDermott
A.J. Rich

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Journey well above the Arctic Circle where we'll be directly under the auroral band for best Northern Lights viewing! Workshop dates are timed for dark skies with little to no moon interference.
Experience the dramatic snow-covered landscapes of North Central Alaska. Low sun angles will produce rich colors and warm light.
Gaze in awe inside a spectacular ice cave, shimmering with the most amazing ice crystals!
Small group of only 6 students with 2 pro instructors will ensure plenty of individual attention and comfort.
Improve your photography skills with both in-field instruction and digital darkroom training.
Workshop includes all transportation and lodging along with a dog-mushing experience.

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Itinerary

The itinerary is subject to change due to the unpredictability of Arctic weather. We will make every effort to optimize our shooting conditions no matter what the weather throws at us. On clear nights we will be out looking for the aurora.

Day 1: We begin with 11AM pickups at the Fairbanks International Airport. After loading the luggage, we start our drive to the far North, stopping along the way for landscape and wildlife photos. After checking into our hotel, we hold our orientation session and then prepare to shoot sunset and aurora at a place well known for frost-covered trees!
Day 2: The Aurora put on quite a show the night before and so we catch up on some much needed sleep this morning. Then we hit the road and journey well north of the Arctic Circle. We photograph a number of spectacular mountains and rugged landscapes. After a warm dinner, we venture out for Aurora photography at some of our favorite locations.
Day 3: Today we explore many areas to the North and experience the mighty Brooks Range! We even find some great wildlife shooting opportunities with the caribou, dall sheep, and more! A fresh coat of snow makes the landscape sparkle and come to life in the beautiful low-angle light. The forecast looks promising, so after dinner we chase the Northern Lights.
Day 4: We sleep in again today before heading back to the Brooks Range for wildlife viewing and sunset. With a promising aurora forecast, we bring our dinner with us and wait for it to get dark. Once the aurora is out, we start photographing it with the impressive mountains.
Day 5: It's time to start heading south again. After checking out, we stay one more night at the place known for frost-covered trees. We shoot sunset in the trees and the sky lights up with flaming colors. With cloudy skies this evening, we eat dinner and hold a post-processing session.
Day 6: We wake up early and catch sunrise on our way back. Midday we enjoy a couple hours with the dog mushers. We'll see some beautiful scenery and have a blast playing with the puppies! We continue our journey towards the Alaska Range and get settled into our new accommodations. We photograph sunset that evening with some amazing broken ice foregrounds. If skies are clear, we'll chase the aurora!
Day 7: We are up early this morning for our ice cave adventure! Equipped with snow shoes, we hike to the foot of the glacier and gaze in awe at the incredible ice formations inside. We spend several hours photographing inside. On the way back, we make several stops to photograph ice formations and the impressive Alaska Range. After dinner and a short rest break, we take advantage of clear skies and head out for our final night of the aurora borealis.
Day 8: This is our last day together. After an optional sunrise shoot, we enjoy breakfast before making our way back to Fairbanks. The workshop will conclude by 1:00PM, allowing you the option of either staying one more night in Fairbanks or catching a late evening flight back home.

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Dalton Highway Brooks Range Alaska Photo Workshop

Logistics

Arrive in Fairbanks no later than 11AM on the first day with pickups at the Fairbanks International Airport. We'll drive for 2-3 hrs, get settled into our accommodations, and then hold our orientation session.
Mild to moderate hiking is required to reach some locations. For the ice cave, snow shoes will be provided with a 2-mile round trip hike.
Winter weather is unpredictable in Alaska and temperatures can be very cold. We will email you a list of personal items and recommended clothing a few months before the trip.
Lodging in the Arctic is very expensive and in short supply. When we are outside of Fairbanks, two hotel nights will not have en-suite bathrooms. There will be shared mens/women's restrooms with showers in the hallway. All other nights will have private en-suite bathrooms.
Food is not included in the workshop fee. We will be stopping for meals at either grocery stores or restaurants.
There is no need for you to rent a car. All transportation is provided.
Due to the high costs of operating in the Arctic, we are unable to offer the 10% Loyalty Program Discount.
We highly recommend Travel Insurance to cover any non-refundable fees or medical coverage during the workshop.

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The Northern Lights

Over the past few couple years, our success rate for photographing the aurora has been about 20%, as clear skies and strong solar activity both need to align for a good display. Cloud cover is one of the bigest challenges.

That said, when conditions do come together, we prioritize chasing and capturing the Northern Lights. And when they don’t, Alaska still delivers in extraordinary ways, offering breathtaking winter landscapes and abundant wildlife to photograph during the day.

Statistically, Alaska provides some of the best odds in the world for viewing the aurora — better overall than Norway, Finland, Iceland, or Greenland. Only Yellowknife tends to offer slightly higher clear-sky probabilities, but without the dramatic mountain scenery, forests, and compelling foregrounds that make photographing the aurora in Alaska so uniquely rewarding.

Pricing - 8 Days

$6800/Person + Tax

Trip Includes:

7 Nights Double Occupancy Lodging. Single Occupancy is available for an additional $950.
Small group photography guiding and instruction with max 6 clients and 2 pro instructors.
Dog Mushing Experience
Ground Transportation in two 4x4 winter-equipped SUV's with 3 clients per vehicle.
Snowshoes for the Ice Cave Day.
Post-processing and image critique sessions.
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Flights to/from Alaska.
Meals, beverages, and snacks.
Instructor Gratuities

The Fine Print:

50% deposit required to hold your spot.
Remaining balance is due Nov 3, 2026.
If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
Loyalty discounts are not available for this workshop.
See the full Terms and Conditions.

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Recommended Camera Gear

Sturdy tripod and ballhead
Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
Fast wide angle lens in the 14-35mm range. We recommend a lens that is f/2.8 or faster for night photography.
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
Telephoto lenses will come in handy for landscape compression and wildlife encounters.
Circular polarizer filters (optional).
Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Remote cord for your camera.
Camera backpack you can use to transport your gear.
Drone camera for aerial photography (optional).
Laptop if you wish to backup or edit your photos.

Personal Gear List

Lots of warm clothes! We will email a recommended packing list with many more details. We will also hold a pre-workshop zoom meeting with all participants.
Microspikes are recommended for walking on slick surfaces.
Warm, waterproof winter boots.
Sunglasses, Sunscreen
Thermos for hot beverages

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Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

Shane McDermott

Photography Instructor

Artist's Statement: Through all of my wanderings, photography has remained a constant, providing the creative link between my passion for adventure and the outdoors. I will never get enough of that “Wow!” feeling when I see a stunning image rendered on my camera’s LCD and helping guide others to that same experience is the bacon in the beans for me. I am excited to start working with Action Photo Tours. Everything about their instructors, locations, deep research, proficiency and stop-at-nothing vibe shows me that I have found the company where we can all grow and have countless “wow” moments together.

From the inseparable experience of unity, the camera is not something I “look at” the world through it is an opportunity to see something in myself. Photographs are no longer lost extractions of time; they become holographic reflections of the precious whole in every part. I love to guide those passionate about photography and those wanting to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of nature. If you seek a deeper connection with yourself and the astonishing beauty of our planet, I invite you to embark on this journey of creative discovery. I seamlessly weave together the technical and artistic dimensions of photography and help students learn to cultivate a greater level of presence, perception, and perspective. I have endless patience for those who genuinely seek to unlock their unique creative brilliance and transform their passion into pixels.

Photography has been a transformative experience of Self-discovery more than it has been about great image-making. The interior landscapes of my Soul have been the primary territory of my exploration. From a place within, the landscapes and creatures of our great planet have provided amazing opportunities to learn about myself and my connection to the world.

A.J. Rich

Photography Instructor

Ever since he was young, A.J. Rich has had a passion for all things visual. Growing up on the edge of St. George, Utah, he often sketched his favorite sports players and designed logos for his youth sports teams. A.J. also spent countless hours around his childhood home climbing rock mesas and exploring the unknown, including at nearby Zion National Park.

Since graduating with a degree in graphic design and a minor in photography from Brigham Young University in 2001, A.J. has worked in graphic design for over 20 years. He is currently a senior graphic designer and has earned multiple national awards. In 2006, A.J. grew his photography portfolio as a contributor to Getty Images. In recent years, he continues to focus on his award-winning landscape photography—where his true passion lies.

Today the quest for the “timeless story” drives A.J. on all his outdoor adventures. While out in nature he seeks the ethereal and spiritual planes, and if he can capture them in a photograph, even better.

Currently A.J. works by day as a graphic designer and art director for BYU Brand & Creative, always dreaming of and planning for his next photography adventure.