Vancouver Island Photo Workshop

May 17-22, 2027

Join our Vancouver Island Photo Workshop for a 6-day journey into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most atmospheric and creatively rewarding landscapes. This is not a workshop built around the usual postcard viewpoints. Instead, Vancouver Island invites a slower, more exploratory approach, where mist, forest, tide, texture, and changing light create endless opportunities for original compositions. We’ll photograph wild beaches, moss-draped old-growth forests, lush slot canyons, dramatic sea stacks, rugged coastlines, and powerful Pacific waves, while also taking advantage of aerial drone photography to soar above the rugged landscape. With expert instruction, a small group, and a flexible itinerary, this workshop is ideal for photographers who want to move beyond the standard circuit and develop a more personal, creative way of seeing.

Tuition

$3050
Includes Lodging

Max Group Size

4 Students per Instructor
Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

Kevin McNeal
Shane McDermott

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Capture the dramatic seascapes, tidepools, and sea stacks of Vancouver Island’s wild west coast
Wander through ancient, moss-covered rainforests filled with towering cedars and vibrant green ferns
Capture stunning golden light on remote beaches and rugged coastal cliffs.
Take advantage of early May’s peak conditions for flowing waterfalls, vibrant vegetation, and atmospheric weather.
Photograph the charming harbor city of Victoria, known for its beautiful architecture, gardens, and vibrant waterfront
Learn advanced landscape photography techniques with hands-on instruction in a small group setting
Enjoy a flexible itinerary designed to adapt to weather and conditions.

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Itinerary

Days 1–2 – Victoria

We’ll meet at 2PM at the Doubletree by Hilton in downtown Victoria for a mandatory orientation session where we’ll go over safety, gear, shooting tips, and workshop logistics. After settling into our rooms, we’ll head out to photograph the vibrant gardens, historic architecture, and scenic waterfront that make Victoria one of Canada’s most picturesque cities.

The next morning, we’ll continue photographing in Victoria, taking advantage of soft morning light around the harbor, parklands, and nearby viewpoints. After breakfast, we’ll visit Hatley Castle and the Japanese Gardens, where elegant architecture and photogenic gardens await.

Days 2–4 – Port Renfrew

After lunch we continue west toward Port Renfrew, our base for the next two nights. Once we check into our lodging, we’ll head out for sunset along the coast, photographing dramatic shoreline scenery, waves, rock formations, and the wild character of Vancouver Island’s west coast.

Over the next days we’ll photograph delicate waterfalls framed by emerald rainforests, windswept beaches scattered with driftwood, sea stacks rising from the surf, inland lakes, narrow canyons, and tidepools. Expect early mornings, golden-hour shoots, and moody forest light throughout the day. Our itinerary will remain flexible so we can respond to the best weather and tides.

Days 4–6 – Bamfield

After sunrise on Day 4, we’ll leave Port Renfrew and begin our journey toward Bamfield, stopping to photograph a beautiful waterfall en route. Once we arrive near Bamfield, we’ll park the vehicles and take a small ferry across to our island lodging. This unique setting gives us access to a more remote stretch of coastline with excellent opportunities for seascape photography.

Bamfield offers some of the most dramatic coastal photography of the workshop, with sea stacks, rocky beaches, crashing waves, tidepools, and forest-lined shorelines. We’ll work on composition, shutter speed choices, wave timing, filters, and adapting to fast-changing light.

On our final morning, we’ll enjoy one last sunrise shoot before returning by ferry to our vehicles. From there, we’ll drive back to Victoria, stopping along the way for panoramic views and another waterfall photography opportunity as time allows. Airport drop-offs in Victoria will be no later than 1PM, so participants should schedule departing flights for mid-afternoon or later.

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Logistics

Plan to fly into Victoria International Airport (YYJ) or take a ferry from the mainland, arriving before our 2PM orientation at the the Doubletree by Hilton in downtown Victoria. Lodging is included in the workshop fee. Single rooms are available for an extra fee - see Pricing Section below. You may wish to spend an extra day or two before or after the workshop to explore Victoria.

At the conclusion of the workshop, we will drop-off no later than 1PM at the Victoria International Airport. Taxi and rideshare options are available at the airport if you need to go elsewhere.

Food is not included as part of the workshop. If we eat meals as a group, everyone will pay their own tab. We will make food stops when we are driving between photo stops.

Our goal is to maximize your photography while you are here. This can mean long days and not a lot of sleep. Depending on the weather, we may utilize the middle of the day for rest breaks and or post-processing sessions. Make sure you bring ear plugs and eye covers to sleep better during midday hours.

Since we are photographing so much along the coast and inland streams, we highly recommend each participant bring a pair of waders (hip or chest). If you don't want to bring waders, knee-high muck boots are second best. A sturdy tripod is a must for photographing the coast!

Spring temperatures are usually pretty mild, but it can be chilly on the coast, so make sure you bring a warm layer. Rain is always a possibility, so have a rain jacket and rain cover for your backpack. An umbrella can come in handy, especially if we are shooting in light rain. Please see the gear list further down.

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Physical Difficulty

This workshop is rated Moderate on our physical intensity scale. No long hikes are planned, but participants should be comfortable walking over uneven coastal terrain while carrying camera gear, snacks, and water. The terrain on Vancouver Island can feel more challenging than the mileage suggests, with rocky, rooty, wet, muddy, and slippery surfaces common in rainforest and coastal environments.

In Bamfield, we will need to walk approximately 1.5 miles round trip to access the beach locations, primarily along a dirt road with modest elevation gain of roughly 100–200 feet. Beach walking may also be challenging, with sand, rocks, driftwood, logs, slick surfaces, and uneven footing to navigate. Participants should have good balance, sturdy footwear, and the ability to move carefully across variable terrain.

Because this workshop is designed around the best light, expect early mornings and late evenings. Field sessions may begin as early as 4:45 AM and return as late as 10:15 PM. We plan midday downtime whenever possible, so you can rest and recharge.

Drones

We highly recommend that all participants bring a drone for this workshop. Several of the locations we visit offer excellent opportunities for both ground-level and aerial photography, and having a drone will allow you to capture a wider variety of compositions of the rugged landscape.

Participants who bring a drone must be comfortable and proficient flying their own aircraft. Our instructors can help you identify strong compositions and offer shooting guidance while you are in the air, but they cannot pilot your drone for you. Please make sure you are confident with the basics of launching, landing, and flying your drone before the workshop begins.

Smaller drones like the Mini-5 (sub 250 grams) are recommended. If you bring a larger drone, it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the registration and licensing requirements as dictated by current Canadian laws.

Pricing - 6 Days

$3,050/person + Tax

Trip Includes:

6-Day Photo Workshop with 2 Pro Instructors
5 nights double occupancy lodging. Single rooms are available for an additional $450.
Round trip transportation to/from Victoria, BC.
Park entrance fees
Post-processing sessions and image critiques
Pre-workshop zoom meeting.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Victoria, BC.
Meals, snacks, and beverages.
Instructor Gratuities.

The Fine Print:

50% deposit required to hold your spot
The final balance is due Jan 15, 2027. We will contact you ahead of the deadline to make payment arrangements.
Loyalty discounts do not apply to this international workshop.
You can cancel your spot at any time. If we fill your spot with another participant, you will receive a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee. If we do not fill your spot, no refunds can be given.
We highly recommend Travel Insurance to protect your investment.
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.
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
Long telephoto lenses 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.
Drone (optional). We will let you know where you can and cannot fly.
Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Remote cord for your camera.
Laptop (optional) 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.
Chest Waders, Hip Waders, or knee-high muck boots.
Umbrella
Headlamp
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, and Gloves
Water bottle or hydration bladder.
Hiking poles if you like having them.

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Can I Bring a Non-Photographer Companion?

How Do Deposits and Final Payments Work?

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.

What Level of Photographer Do I Need To Be?

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.

How Will I Know If I'll Like Your Trips?

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.

What Level of Physical Fitness Is Required?

Should I Have Trip Insurance?

What Kind of Pre-Workshop Prep Do You Provide?

All workshops include a pre-workshop Zoom meeting held a few months before departure to review logistics, answer questions, and help you feel fully prepared.

Some workshops—especially international or logistically complex trips—also include a detailed PDF trip packet with itinerary information, travel logistics, packing lists, and other planning details.

How Does Double Occupancy Work?

Double occupancy cannot be guaranteed for solo travelers.

If you request double occupancy, we will do our best to match you with a same-gender roommate. However, if we’re unable to find a match—or if your assigned roommate later cancels—you may be required to upgrade to single occupancy.

If you register and book two spots together, double occupancy is guaranteed.

Please note: Upgrading to single occupancy does not create an exception to our cancellation policy.

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Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States. He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C.. He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.

Shane McDermott

Photography Instructor

Shane is a seasoned photography instructor with more than 25 years behind the camera and over ten years of experience leading photo workshops. His work is rooted in presence, patience, and a deep relationship with light, shaped by a lifetime spent exploring both creative expression and the natural world.

For more than 30 years, Shane’s practice of yoga and meditation has helped him see beyond surface appearances, and he brings that same awareness into the field. He doesn’t just teach people how to photograph beautiful places; he helps them slow down, truly see, and develop their own creative vision.

Many photographers arrive at iconic locations chasing “the shot” they’ve seen before. Shane gently guides them away from imitation and into genuine discovery, helping them understand how light, form, color, and texture can speak directly to their own sensibility. His passion is helping participants move from simply capturing a scene to creating something that feels alive and deeply personal.

That creative process continues after the cameras are packed away. Shane also guides photographers through RAW processing, adjustment layers, and thoughtful image development, helping them translate the emotion and magic they felt in the field into finished photographs that reflect their own vision and passion.