Utah Badlands Drone Workshop

Apr 23-27, 2026 - 2 Spots Left!!

Oct 31-Nov 4, 2026 - Sold Out

Are you ready to soar? Learn how to take amazing aerial shots on our Utah Badlands Drone Photography Workshop! We'll visit many of our favorite areas where you'll capture incredible shots from above. During our 5 days together you'll learn many advanced aerial photography and post-processing techniques. If the weather doesn't permit safe drone operation, we'll get out our regular cameras and tripods and shoot the best light. Expect plenty of individual attention with a small group of 8 participants and 2 pro instructors.

Tuition

$2250
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Max Group Size

8 Students Max
2 Pro Instructors

Instructor(s)

Ryan McGinty
Kevin Dobo*
David Swindler*

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Capture the beautiful Utah Badlands from above.
Master many advanced shooting methods with your drone.
Transportation provided in lifted 4x4 trucks.
Visit off-the-beaten path locations for aerial photography.
Expect individual attention with 4 students per instructor.
Learn aerial specific post-processing techniques.
In the event we cannot fly due to weather, we have lots of great locations for your regular camera and tripod.

Apr 23-27 Book Now

Itinerary

In order to give our clients the best possible photography experience, we keep the itinerary flexible to account for weather, conditions, and group interest. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

Day 1: We begin at 4PM in Hanksville UT with a short orientation session and classroom style instruction. When we're done, we grab a quick bite to eat and head out to shoot sunset from a location deep in the badlands.
Day 2: We wake up early to and capture sunrise shots of some colorful bentonite hills. We return for breakfast and hold a post-processing session where we'll cover our favorite techniques to enhance your aerial images. With overcast conditions, we venture out mid-afternoon and fly over several areas of badlands, culminating with a colorful sky at sunset!
Day 3: After driving some rough 4x4 roads, we drone at first light over some incredible formations with unbelievable textures, patterns, and colors. We return for breakfast and battery charging. After a midday break, we regroup for some image critiques and suggestions. For sunset we fly over some new areas of badlands coupled with layers of beautiful cliffs.
Days 4: With overcast skies this morning, we don't have to leave as early. We fly over some amazing colored badlands with intricate fractal patterns. At midday we hold another classroom session and then venture out to photograph a big viewpoint that looks even more amazing from the air!
Day 5: We venture out deep in the backcountry again for one of our favorite secret spots for drone aerials. You'll love the varied images you come away with. We return to Hanksville in time to check-out and we say our good-byes no later than 11AM.

Apr 23-27 Book Now

Drones

We will be watching the weather closely and go to locations with best chances for incredible aerial images. We'll also be monitoring the potential for strong winds and storms. If weather conditions are not suitable for flying a drone, we'll resort to ground level photography.

All participants are responsible for flying their own drones. Action Photo Tours is not responsible for any drone malfunctions, crashes, or accidental damage. If you crash or damage your drone, there are no backups for you to use unless you bring a second drone. If weather conditions are unsafe for flying, we will not have any drones in the air. None of the areas we visit require any sort of technical flying. All are wide-open landscapes with no obstacles.

We highly recommend that you learn the basics of flying BEFORE coming on the workshop. The instructors can help you with improving your image acquisition, but they cannot fly nor operate your drone.

All participants need to bring at least 3 batteries for their drones. We recommend the latest drone models for best image quality, battery life, and flight technology.

If you want to shoot any drone video, filters are highly recommended for your drone. We recommend the circular polarizer and ND combo filters sold by companies like Polar Pro.

You will need to be able to download your drone images after each outing onto something like a laptop or portable hard drive. If you lose your drone, you don't want to also lose the images you worked so hard to acquire! You can also bring multiple memory cards and swap those out between flights if that helps you feel more comfortable.

Apr 23-27 Book Now

Logistics

Please arrive in Hanksville, UT prior to 4PM on the first day of the workshop. When you checkout, a 4-night lodging package will be added to your booking based on either single or double occupancy. We will be staying at the luxury cabins at Duke's Slickrock in Hanksville, UT. Please see the pricing section below for more details.

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.

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 a max of 1-2 miles per day while carrying your gear. Most locations will not require any hiking.

We are keeping the itinerary flexible since we can't control the weather. Don't worry - we'll make the best possible use of our time. Our job is to get you the most stunning photos and help you learn as much as possible!

Please see the gear list below to ensure you come prepared. We'll also setup a zoom meeting with all participants when we're 1-2 months out. Weather in the desert Southwest can be highly variable, so you need to come prepared for both hot and cold temperatures.

*Ryan McGinty is instructing both workshops. Kevin Dobo is the 2nd instructor for Apr 23-27 and David Swindler is the 2nd instructor for Oct 31-Nov 4.

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

Apr 23-27 Book Now

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.
Specialized drone instruction
Post-processing instruction and image critique.
Park Entrance Fees
4-night lodging package in luxury cabins will be added to your booking. Cost is $450 for double occupancy or $900 for single occupancy.
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Hanksville, UT.
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.

Apr 23-27 Book Now

Recommended Camera Gear

Drone and controller. We recommend one of the newer models for best image quality and battery life.
At least 3 drone batteries, battery charger, and extra propellers.
ND and or Circular Polarizer Filters for the drone (Optional).
Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body and Lenses (in case we can't fly). We recommend a wide angle zoom in the 16-35mm range along with a mid-range zoom in the 24-70 or 24-105mm range.
Tripod (in case we can't fly).
Extra memory cards and cleaning supplies.
Comfortable backpack that can carry your drone, camera gear, snacks, and water.
Laptop or external hard drive to back up your photos.

Personal Gear List

Sturdy footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
A rain jacket and a warm layer since it can get cold at night.
Headlamp with fresh batteries.
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat, and Thin Gloves.
Water bottle
Trekking Poles - bring them if they help you for the short hikes.

Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

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.

David Swindler

Founder - Photography Instructor

David Swindler is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer. Among others, he has been recognized by the International Photography Awards, Siena International Photo Awards, International Aerial Photographer of the Year, Sony World Photography Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and National Geographic. He received a degree in chemical engineering and worked in the semiconductor industry specializing in optics and photolithography. In 2014, he left his day job to follow his true passion. He has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the world and has extensive experience photographing a wide variety of subjects and conditions. As the founder of Action Photo Tours, he finds great satisfaction in helping others learn photography, especially in the wild desert environment near his home in Kanab, UT. David is an expert in night photography and loves to get out and shoot the starry night skies.

Gallery Awards and Media Coverage

Having guided photo tours for years, David is very familiar with many different types of cameras. He is a master with light and composition. But most importantly, his dedication to his clients is what really sets him apart! But don't take our word for it - read what others are saying: Trip Advisor.

Kevin Dobo

Photography Instructor

Kevin’s first foray into landscape photography was on a week-long youth group bicycle tour of coastal Maine at the age of 16. When he returned home and developed dozens of rolls of film, his mother exclaimed, “There are no people in your photos!”. Such a thing never occurred to him. The coastline and forest foliage were what caught his eye.

Kevin has seen lots of changes in technology, from 35mm film cameras to pocket-sized digital compacts, then to full sized DSLRs and now mirrorless. From his native Ohio, the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, and the Front Range of Colorado, he never loses sight of the simple pleasure of capturing a magical moment in the great outdoors.

After a couple years nomading across the US in the wake of the Covid pandemic, Kevin along with his partner Monte, settled in Kanab, Utah and Tucson, Arizona. Two years later, the endlessly colorful southern Utah landscape won out over the distinctive but scorching Sonoran Desert, and Kanab is now home. Kevin loves the desert Southwest and enjoys sharing his photographic insights with photographers from all around the world.

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