Palouse Photo Workshop

June 15-18, 2026

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Spring is the perfect time to photograph the rolling hills of the Palouse in Eastern Washington! The landscape is bathed in a palette of vibrant colors, canola is blooming, wildflowers are abundant, and waterfalls are flowing.  The Palouse is a vast region and local photographer/instructor Ryan McGinty will get you to the best locations based on current conditions.  You can also extend your trip with our Palouse Barns Workshop June 19-22.

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 5 Students per Instructor
  • Max 10 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Ryan McGinty
  • Wendy Casey

Physical Intensity

Palouse Photography Tour Double Rainbow

Highlights

  • The Palouse in Eastern Washington turns into a palette of vibrant colors in the spring! Wildflowers and canola are blooming and the fields are a tapestry of greens.
  • Get off the beaten path with expert instructors. Resident photographer Ryan McGinty knows the Palouse intimately.
  • Learn many new techniques on this workshop from abstract telephoto compositions to grandiose wide angle shots!
  • All ground transportation is included.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions scheduled throughout the workshop to make the most of your images.
  • Extend your trip with our Palouse Barns Workshop June 19-22, or join our Women's Palouse Workshop June 23-26, 2026!
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Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect. If we shoot the night skies, we may skip sunrise the following morning.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 3PM in Pullman, WA for a mandatory orientation session. We will cover many techniques you will be using during the workshop and discuss the itinerary in detail.  For sunset, we'll go out to a nearby location.
  • Day 2:  We are out the door well before dawn and make our way up to Steptoe Butte. This high vantage point affords 360-views of the surrounding countryside and you can shoot everything from wide angle to telephoto as the morning light accents the vibrant green fields below. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then spend a few hours doing a post-processing session. After an afternoon break, we venture into some very scenic areas to photograph barns and rolling hills.
  • Day 3:  We are up early again for sunrise at an iconic lone tree. After that we find some old houses, barns, and wildflowers to shoot.  We return to the hotel for breakfast and another post-processing session. We go out again mid-afternoon since big puffy white clouds are coming in. They complement the yellow canola fields perfectly! After a quick dinner, we go to Palouse Falls to photograph the sunset over the deep canyon and the raging waterfall.
  • Day 4:  Even though we are tired, we are rewarded with a brilliant sunrise at one of our favorite overlooks.  We explore a few other nearby areas before returning to the hotel.  The workshop will conclude by 11AM.
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Palouse Photo Workshop
Palouse Spring Photo Workshop
Palouse Falls
Palouse Spring Photo Workshop

Pricing

$1850/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • All Ground Transportation
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • In-Field Photography Instruction
  • Post-processing and Image Critique
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Pullman, WA.
  • Lodging
  • Meals, beverages, and snacks
  • 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, the remaining amount will be charged 120-days prior to arrival to the credit card we have on file. See the full Terms & 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.  We recommend a lens f/2.8 or faster for night photography.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses in the 100-600mm range.  You will want a lens that is longer than 200mm for many of the locations we visit! A 100-400mm or 150-600mm will be perfect.
  • 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.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • Warm jacket, hat, and gloves for cool mornings
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.
  • Bug Spray
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Palouse Photo Workshop Spring Rainbow
Palouse Spring Photo Workshop
Palouse Barn
Palouse Lone Tree

Logistics

 

If you are flying in, we recommend going through Spokane (GEG) or Pullman WA (PUW). From Spokane, it is a 90 minute drive to Pullman.  If you don't want to rent a car, fly to Pullman and take Uber or Lyft to the hotel.  If you decide to drive from the Seattle area, expect a 4.5 hr drive. Please be in Pullman, WA no later than 3PM on June 15th and meet us at the Coast Hilltop Inn.

Lodging is not included in the workshop fee so you have the option of staying wherever you like.  The group will be based at Coast Hilltop Inn. We will notify participants once the hotel is ready to start accepting bookings. Please note that meals, beverages, and snacks are not included in the workshop fee.

Our goal is to maximize your photography while you are here. This can mean long days and not a lot of sleep. We will utilize the middle of the day for rest breaks and post-processing sessions.

Transportation will be provided during the workshop for all participants. This workshop is rated Easy for activity level. All photo shoots will be close to the vehicles with not much walking required.

Check out our Palouse Barns Workshop June 19-22.  You can book both to really round out your Palouse experience.  If you are a female photographer, join our engaging Chicks Who Click community on a special Women's Only Palouse Workshop June 23-26, 2025!

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Palouse Photo Workshop
Palouse Spring Photo Workshop
Palouse Photo Workshop
Palouse Photo Workshop Spring Old Truck
Palouse 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.

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.

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