South Dakota Badlands Photo Workshop

Yes—you’re welcome to bring a non-photographer companion, and many of our guests do. However, we do not offer non-photographer discounts, as each participant receives the same access and vantage opportunities. The primary cost savings would come from sharing a room with double occupancy.

For most workshops, a 50% deposit is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance is typically due approximately 120 days prior to the workshop. We will contact you in advance to coordinate and process your final payment.

For workshops priced over $10,000, the payment schedule is structured differently. A 25% deposit is due at registration, with additional payments scheduled at 9 months, 6 months, and 4 months prior to departure. Specific payment terms for each trip are outlined on the individual workshop page and in your registration details.

We encourage everyone to become a Loyalty Member—there’s no requirement to have traveled with us before.

Simply visit our Loyalty Program page and purchase the $99 annual membership. Once enrolled, you’ll receive a personalized 10% discount code valid for most domestic workshops and day trips booked during your one-year membership period.

Exceptions: International workshops and select domestic workshops are not eligible for the loyalty discount.

For most members, the savings from just one booking more than pays for the membership.

But the biggest perk? Early access. Loyalty Members receive first notification of new workshops. If you’ve been part of our community for any length of time, you know many of our trips sell out quickly. Early access often means the difference between securing your spot and missing out.

It’s one of the best ways to stay ahead—and save money while doing it.

For many domestic workshops, lodging is offered as a separate add-on during checkout, with both single and double occupancy options available.

We separate lodging for several reasons:

• Transparency: You can clearly see the actual cost of accommodations.

• Flexibility: Some participants don’t require lodging (locals, RV travelers, or those staying with friends or family).

• Fair Discounts: Loyalty discounts apply to workshop tuition only—not lodging. Keeping lodging separate ensures discounts remain simple and equitable.

When adding lodging, you’ll choose your preferred occupancy (single or double) during the booking process.

All experience levels are welcome—from beginners to working professionals. Our mission is to help you capture your best images, no matter where you’re starting from.

At the beginning of each workshop, we’ll ask about your experience level and your goals. This allows us to tailor instruction specifically to you—whether that’s camera fundamentals, composition, night photography, or refining your editing workflow.

To get the most out of your experience, we strongly recommend reading our Ebook ahead of time. Familiarity with the basics (exposure, focus, and common camera settings) makes in-field learning more enjoyable and less stressful. We also encourage you to explore our Education page for additional resources.

Drones: If you plan to bring a drone, you must already be comfortable launching, landing, and flying safely before the workshop. Our instructors can teach photography techniques, but they cannot pilot your aircraft for you.

A great way to get a feel for the experience is to hear directly from past guests.

We have 900+ five-star reviews—you can browse testimonials on both Google and Trip Advisor to see what participants consistently say about their time with us.

You can also visit our Client Images page to see the quality of photographs our participants create while on an adventure with us. Each year, we host the Action Photogs Photo Contest, where guests submit their favorite images from our trips. Viewing past contest videos is another excellent way to see the real results our clients achieve.

At some point, though, you simply have to take the leap. Many guests start with a day tour, overnight adventure, or short workshop to get to know us. Once they do, they tend to keep coming back—90% of our participants are repeat clients.

We’re confident that after your first trip, you’ll understand why.

Each trip is labeled with a physical intensity rating so you can choose the right fit.

• Easy
• Moderate
• Active
• Strenuous

Visit our Physical Intensity page for the difficulty scale and examples.

Even on “easy” trips, expect early mornings, late nights, and some walking with camera gear.

Yes—Travel Insurance is strongly recommended to cover non-refundable fees and travel expenses if something unexpected happens.

We also recommend emergency medical and evacuation coverage, especially for international workshops.