Mt Rainier Wildflowers

August 4-8, 2025

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Mt Rainier National Park is truly a paradise with one of the most spectacular wildflower blooms in late summer. Wildflowers of all types fight for space in the sub-alpine meadows against the snowy backdrop of majestic Mt Rainier.  The scenery is punctuated by sparkling lakes, waterfalls, plentiful wildlife, and much more! Join your pro photographer instructors for an action-packed 5 days in the mountains. We'll be doing a lot of hiking into some of the most impressive alpine terrain! This workshop is rated Difficult for Physical Intensity, and may include 1-4 miles of hiking over mountainous terrain.

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Shane McDermott

Physical Intensity

Highlights

  • Photograph the wildflower eruption at Mt Rainier National Park. Dates are timed for best chances for peak wildflowers!
  • The workshop itinerary is kept flexible so we can make best use of the wildflower blooms and weather. Our goal is to maximize your photography!
  • Wildlife is plentiful at Mt Rainier with deer, marmots, pikas, and even the occasional black bear!
  • Learn many new photographic techniques from pro instructors. Expect plenty of individual attention with small groups.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will help make the most of your images.
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Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for weather and current conditions in the park. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1 (Aug 4):  Meet at 9AM at our conference room in the  Hilton Garden Inn  SEA-TAC Airport. For those flying in, we recommend staying the night before. After our orientation session, we head toward the park, grabbing lunch along the way. Being that there are no restaurants close by, we will stop at a grocery store for provisions. After checking into our rooms, we drive into the park and shoot the beautiful wildflowers and alpine views until sunset.
  • Day 2 (Aug 5):  We leave well before dawn for a short hike to some spectacular sub-alpine meadows carpeted with lupine, paintbrushes, asters, bistort, and alumroot!  Early morning fog adds to the mystery as first light hits Mt Rainier. After a lunch break, and midday post-processing session, we explore some flower-rimmed lakes, finishing with a sunset shoot at one of our favorite wildflower meadows. Since skies are clear, we decide to stay out late to capture the Milky Way!
  • Day 3 (Aug 6):  Despite the short night we are up early for sunrise.  We shoot a stunning vista and do a short hike.  We stop at a restaurant for lunch and then continue to the other side of the park where we'll spend the last two nights. We get quite the treat at sunset as clouds roll in to deliver colorful skies and warm light!
  • Day 4 (Aug 7):  We hit the road extra early and are ready for first light!  After a morning walk to stunning vistas, we head back to town for a much needed midday break and post-processing session. Late in the afternoon, we hit the trail again and have the opportunity to photograph wildlife in the flower-filled meadows.
  • Day 5 (Aug 8):  This is our last sunrise opportunity in the park and we make the most of it with a hike up to a spectacular valley lined with waterfalls and flowers! We return to the hotel for breakfast, check out of our rooms, and make our way back to SEA-TAC airport, arriving no later than 2PM.
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 Logistics

Plan to arrive at our conference room at Hilton Garden Inn  SEA-TAC Airport no later than 9AM on Aug 4th.  We will begin the workshop with a mandatory orientation session where we'll cover many techniques you will be using during our time together. If you are flying in, we recommend arriving the night before.

We will provide all transportation during the workshop so there is no need to rent your own car unless you want to. The hotel offers free 24-hr shuttle service to and from the airport. If you drive your own vehicle, you can either pay for parking near SEA-TAC or follow us into the park.

Lodging around Mt Rainier is limited and very expensive. We have pre-paid 4 nights of hotels for our group at Alta Crystal Resort and Alexander's Lodge.  When you check out, the cost of lodging will be added to the total.  See pricing section below for details.

This is a hiking intensive workshop where you can expect moderate to strenuous walks with 1-4 miles of daily distance. The hikes may include steep inclines over mountainous terrain. You should be comfortable hiking these sorts of distances while carrying your camera gear, drinking water, and food. Everyone on this trip must be in good physical condition due to the steep mountain terrain and high altitude.

Food is not included as part of the workshop and we will be stopping at restaurants when possible for meals. We will conclude no later than 2PM on Aug 8th and you can plan your return travel after that time. We recommend you stay one more night near SEA-TAC airport before flying out the next day in case of travel delays. Lodging is not included for the night of Aug 8th.

The weather in August is pretty temperate, but it can be quite cold in the morning especially at the higher elevations so bring plenty of warm clothes.  Rain is always a possibility, so pack a rain jacket and a cover for your backpack. Finally, where there are wildflowers, there are usually mosquitos. Don't forget bug spray!

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Mt Rainier Wildflowers Photo Workshop

Pricing

$2295/person + Tax

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Lodging:

  • Lodging is pre-paid for the group due to limited availability.
  • Double Occupancy adds $675/person and Single Occupancy adds $1350/person.

Trip Includes:

  • 5-Day Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors.
  • All ground transportation during the workshop
  • Park entrance fees
  • Post-processing and image critique
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to SEA-TAC Airport.
  • Meals, Snacks, and Beverages
  • Instructor Gratuities.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, we'll send you a payment link for the remaining balance when we're approx 120 days out. See the full Terms and Conditions.

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Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range. f/2.8 or faster is recommended for night photography.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses in the 100-600mm range will come in handy for wildlife encounters.
  • Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.  A 9 or 10-stop ND filter will be useful for creating very long exposures.
  • Backpack to carry your gear along with a rain cover for the pack.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers.
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, and Gloves
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
  • Bug Spray
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Mt Rainier Wildflowers Photo Workshop

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Ryan McGinty Profile Photo Olympics

Ryan McGinty

Photography Instructor

Ryan McGinty is a seasoned landscape photographer living in the Palouse area of southeastern Washington.  His first-hand experience in this unique agricultural area makes him the perfect instructor to lead people to out-of-the-way places for those once-in-a-lifetime rainbows, sunsets and sunrises in the beautiful rolling hills. He loves chasing the light and diligently checks weather apps to get the latest sun and rain predictions, cloud formations, wind and temperatures for the best locations and light.

His interest in photography started at an early age and continued in college with graduate work at Brooks Institute of Photography.  His experience in portrait, wedding, film, and medium and large format photography give him an extraordinary background for his award-winning landscape photography.

His passion for the Palouse is only exceeded by his passion for photography and his desire to show people his favorite places.  He takes a legitimate interest in his clients and strives hard to ensure they get the best shots. His photographs have been published in books, calendars and travel guides.

Shane McDermott

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.