Beyond the Badlands

For Women Photographers

Oct 24-28, 2026

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Mission:

To promote participation of women in nature photography by building a community that fosters confidence, support, and meaningful connections.

Who Is It For:

Women photographers interested in building a sisterhood to learn new skills, share adventures, pursue passions, and venture beyond comfort zones, TOGETHER.

Chicks Who Click Special!  Join a dynamic group of women photographers to take in the incredible scenery of the Utah Badlands!  You'll venture into some remote and uniquely beautiful parts of the desert during our 5-day adventure.  Late Oct welcomes the advent of cooler temperatures, dramatic skies, and brilliant fall colors. Even better, our dates correspond to the full moon and we'll plan some great shot locations. And for those who have drones, this is one of the best places in the world for aerial photography!   Come witness one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth and experience the camaraderie of Chicks Who Click! 

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 2 Instructors
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Wendy Casey
  • Sarah Shumaker

Physical Intensity

Utah Badlands Photo Workshop

Highlights

  • Chicks Who Click Special! Join the fun camaraderie and energetic spirit of this group of Women Photographers.
  • Get off the beaten path and explore the spectacular Utah Badlands!
  • The workshop dates are optimized for the best fall colors and great weather.
  • Improve your skills with a small group of 2 pro instructors and 8 participants.
  • Capture the full moon over the incredible landscapes.
  • Transportation is provided so you don't have to worry about rough roads.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout the workshop to help make the most of your images.
  • The itinerary is kept flexible so we can chase the best conditions. Our job is to get you the best photos possible!
  • Fly your drone and capture amazing aerial images from above (optional).
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Itinerary

The itinerary is flexible to account for current conditions, weather, and group interest. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 4PM in Hanksville, UT for a mandatory introductory session.  Next, we head out to photograph the brilliant yellow cottonwood trees against the stark background of the badlands. Soft sunset light illuminates the subtle textures and ridges. We continue shooting through blue hour in this austere and otherwordly landscape.
  • Day 2:  We wake before sunrise to photograph some impressive hoodoos in golden light. After breakfast we photograph a beautiful slot canyon, looking for that soft reflected light. In the evening we hike out into the badlands and capture some impressive light and clouds!
  • Day 3:  It's another early morning departure to an amazing viewpoint of the badlands. This place is almost like being on a different planet!  We photograph more of the golden cottonwood trees and then return to Hanksville mid-morning for a rest break. In the afternoon we head up to Capitol Reef and photograph the fall colors up that way and stay out past sunset and blue hour.  If skies are clear, we'll have opportunities to capture the rising and setting full moon today!!
  • Day 4:  We're out again at dawn to capture first light on stunning sections of badlands. The angled light will make the landscape come alive!  During the day, we meet for post-processing and image critique.  At sunset, we'll get out our telephoto lenses and shoot abstract compositions of the blue hills.  Since it's cloudy tonight, we skip night photos and get to bed early for some much needed rest.
  • Day 5: We wake up early and drive to one of our favorite overlooks for sunrise. The sky lights up for an incredible show of colors.  We return to Hanksville and say our final goodbyes.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM and you can plan your return travel after that.
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Beyond the Badlands Photo Workshop Utah Hanksville Fall Autumn
Slot Canyon Photo Workshop
Beyond the Badlands Photo Workshop Utah Hanksville Capitol Reef
Beyond the Badlands Utah Photo Workshops

Logistics

Please arrive in Hanksville, UT prior to 4PM on the first day of the workshop for a mandatory orientation session.  We'll be going out to shoot shortly thereafter.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM on Day 5 and you can plan your return travel after that.

All transportation during the workshop is included in lifted 4x4 trucks. However, there is no public transportation to Hanksville so you'll need your own vehicle to get there. The nearest major airport is SLC International.

Lodging is in short supply so we have pre-paid for 4 nights of accommodations in luxury cabins for all workshop participants.  During checkout you will add your lodging package based on either single or double occupancy.  See the Pricing section for more details.

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes, but the uneven terrain, sand, and steep uphills can make short hikes seem much harder.  You should be comfortable walking around 1-3 miles per day while carrying your gear.

We timed this workshop for optimal fall colors. But fall colors can be a fickle thing and can always come earlier or later than expected.  But not to worry - no matter what the conditions are, we'll find amazing places to shoot and help you learn as much as possible!

This time of year the temps are mild during the day with cooler nights.  There is always a chance rain and cold temps may move in. You'll need to bring warm layers to ensure you don't get cold photographing early in the morning.  Please see the gear list further down.

Food options are limited in Hanksville.  If you have specific dietary needs, it might be best to pick-up food in a larger town before arriving in Hanksville.  The cabins all have microwaves and fridges.

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Drones

Many of the areas we visit are perfect for using a drone camera.  It's up to you if you want to bring a drone on this trip and we will let you know where it's possible to fly.  We are more than happy to help teach and instruct you on your drone photography.  However, for liability reasons, we cannot take-off, fly, or land your drone for you.  You must become proficient flying your own drone BEFORE the workshop.

The workshop is capped at 8 participants so that we can give you adequate individual attention.  We are licensed commercial guides for the areas that we'll take you too. We carry a satellite communication device and safety equipment in case we run into any emergencies in the backcountry.

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Utah Badlands Photo Workshop
Action Photo Tours Team Action Photogs Loyalty Program
Utah Badlands Fall Colors Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2250/Person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day Intensive Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors.
  • All Ground Transportation in Lifted 4x4 Trucks.
  • Post-processing instruction and image critique.
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting
  • 4-night lodging package in luxury cabins will be added to your booking. Cost is $450 for double occupancy or $900 for single occupancy.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Hanksville, UT.
  • Meals, Beverages, and Snacks.
  • Instructor Gratuities.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due June 24, 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.
  • See the full Terms and Conditions.
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Utah Badlands Photography Workshop Southern Utah Fall Colors Hanksville Utah
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop
Utah Badlands Photo Workshop Autumn

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide Angle Zoom Lens.  Anything in the 14-24mm range will work well.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses will come in handy for creating abstract images and for shooting the full moon. We really like long zoom lenses like the 100-400mm, 150-600mm, etc.
  • Circular polarizer filters are useful.  Bring any ND filters if you have them.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera. An intervalometer will be especially useful for doing long exposures at night.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.
  • We may be able to rent you gear if you don't have everything you need.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • A rain jacket and a warm layer since it can get cold at night.
  • Headlamp for night hiking
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
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The Utah Badlands offer a stunning variety of shooting opportunities. And autumn is one of my favorite seasons to visit! Our group really enjoyed shooting this lone tree at peak fall color. It's really unique how it stands alone in such an unforgiving landscape. Want to join us this fall? Spots are available but filling fast: https://actionphototours.com/workshops/beyond-the-badlands-fall-2022/
Beyond the Badlands Full Moon Photo Workshop

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Wendy Casey

Wendy Casey

Photography Instructor

Wendy is proud to be a Utah Native and began hiking and camping with her parents at a very young age. She has many fond memories hiking to amazing viewpoints and taking in the grandeur that is Utah. Her interest in photography began in the 80’s where she made her film images come to life in a darkroom.

She now enjoys the creativity of the digital world by photographing a wide range of interests, from Landscape, Wildlife, Portraits, to Sports. Her favorite is capturing epic scenery with a human interest.

When Wendy and her husband Randy are not at home on their farm, they are out on a trail somewhere, exploring, photographing and creating videos of their adventures.  Wendy has a lot of experience with horses on their ranch and will be an instructor on some of our wild horse and ranch workshops.

Over the years, she has participated in many art shows. Her local favorites are the Kimball Arts, Park City Art Festival and Midway Swiss Days. She has shipped her art around the world  and has her work hanging throughout the state in hospitals, clinics and many large and small businesses. Her images have also been featured in and on the covers of local magazines.

Wendy loves to help others develop their passion for photography and capture through the viewfinder, winning scenes to last forever and an epic story to go with it.

Gallery  Facebook  Instagram

Sarah Shoemaker

Sarah Shumaker

Photography Instructor

My passion for photography began many years ago when the incredible places I started exploring blew my mind to such an extreme that I knew I needed to capture it forever. Not only to share it with loved ones, but also with others that may never have the opportunity to experience it themselves.

I spent years hiking and canyoneering many of the lesser traveled peaks and canyons of Zion National Park. I have also discovered off roading as a means to get me where I need to go and spent countless hours exploring dirt roads in the back country of the southwest with every turn dictated by what could provide the next unique photo, something that is not printed on every wall, yet is still mind blowing and captivating. In my free time I love scouring through maps in search for the next hard to get to location that hasn't been photographed. I enjoy finding scarcely visited places and epic photo locations where the majority of people wouldn't think to go.

I truly love shooting the night sky and enjoy teaching others how to experience such an incredible otherworldly sight.

The feeling when I get to introduce someone to one of the spectacular locations I love to photograph, and watching their faces light up with awe has further ignited my passion for outdoor photography.