Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop

Oct 8-13, 2027 - Coming Soon

Yellowstone in October sits on the edge of two seasons. Crisp mornings send steam curling through colorful thermal basins, fall lingers in the valleys, and fresh snow can transform the landscape overnight. On this 6-day, landscape-focused workshop, our small group of just five guests will photograph Yellowstone’s signature landscapes—from hot springs and geysers to deep canyons, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes—while keeping our eyes open for wildlife along the way. We’ll stay flexible each day to chase the best combination of light, weather, steam, color, and wildlife.

Tuition

  • Coming Soon
  • All-Inclusive

Max Group Size

  • Max 5 Students

Instructor(s)

  • A.J. Rich

Highlights

  • Photograph Yellowstone’s hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, canyons, and sweeping fall landscapes.
  • Capture dramatic steam, frost, fall color, and the possibility of fresh snow.
  • Photograph the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its waterfalls.
  • Watch and listen for rutting elk bugling in the crisp morning air.
  • Look for bison, bears, wolves, and other wildlife as opportunities arise.
  • Explore Yellowstone’s major geyser basins and thermal areas.
  • Stay flexible to chase the best light, weather, and conditions each day.
  • Small group of just 5 students for plenty of individual attention.
Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop

Itinerary

Our itinerary will remain flexible throughout the workshop. October weather in Yellowstone can change quickly, and temporary road or trail closures are always possible. We'll adjust our schedule based on light, weather, thermal activity, wildlife sightings, and road conditions to put the group in the best photographic situations each day.

Day 1 – Arrival & Orientation

Arrive in West Yellowstone and get settled into our lodging. That evening we'll meet for our mandatory orientation, get acquainted, discuss camera gear and settings, and go over our plans for the days ahead.

Day 2 – Grand Canyon & Northern Yellowstone

We'll begin before sunrise and head toward the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, photographing the canyon and its spectacular waterfalls as morning light reaches the landscape. Depending on trail conditions, we'll work from several overlooks and may descend toward the brink of Lower Falls.

From there, we'll continue through Yellowstone's interior, keeping watch for wildlife in Hayden Valley and photographing along the way. Weather permitting, we'll explore portions of the northern park, with opportunities around the high country, Lamar Valley, and Mammoth Hot Springs before returning to West Yellowstone.

Day 3 – Thermal Basins & Yellowstone Lake

We'll start among Yellowstone's colorful thermal features, where cold morning air can create wonderfully atmospheric conditions around the steaming pools.

We'll continue toward Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb, photographing a completely different combination of water, thermal features, forests, and distant mountain scenery. After a midday break back in West Yellowstone, we'll return to the park for an afternoon of wildlife scouting and landscape photography along the Firehole River and surrounding geyser basins.

Day 4 – Upper & Midway Geyser Basins

We'll spend the morning exploring the Upper Geyser Basin, home to Old Faithful and an extraordinary concentration of geysers and hot springs. The extensive boardwalk system gives us countless opportunities for both grand landscapes and more intimate compositions.

After a midday break, we'll return to the thermal areas for more photography and wildlife opportunities before working around Grand Prismatic Spring, the Firehole River, and surrounding landscapes into the evening.

Day 5 – Norris, Waterfalls & the Firehole

We'll begin around Norris Geyser Basin, one of Yellowstone's most dynamic thermal areas. Cool fall conditions can make the park's steam vents particularly dramatic.

We'll photograph additional waterfalls and landscapes as conditions dictate, then take a midday break for rest and post-processing instruction. Our final evening session will bring us back into one of Yellowstone's geyser basins, giving us another chance to work with steam, water, fading light, and erupting geysers.

Day 6 – Final Sunrise

We'll return to one of our favorite thermal areas for a final sunrise session, choosing our location based on weather and the images we've captured during the week.  The workshop will conclude no later than 11AM in West Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop
As a photographer, sometimes I find myself more drawn to abstract scenes.  Sometimes it can be a fun guessing game as to what it might actually be.  Here is a shot I took on our Yellowstone Workshop this year.  The various patterns, colors, and shapes really caught my eye.

Lodging

We’ve reserved nearly the entire Adventure Inn Yellowstone, giving our small group a comfortable and intimate home base in West Yellowstone for all five nights of the workshop.

This boutique inn features spacious rooms with rustic Montana styling and modern conveniences. Depending on room assignment, accommodations include king or queen beds along with amenities such as a mini fridge/freezer, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, Wi-Fi, and private bathroom.

After cold mornings and full days in the park, it will be especially nice having a comfortable property almost entirely to ourselves.

Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop

Logistics

Plan to arrive in West Yellowstone by approximately 5PM on October 8 so you’ll have time to check in and eat dinner before our evening orientation.

Guests are responsible for transportation to and from West Yellowstone. Bozeman and Idaho Falls are both good regional airport options, while seasonal air service to West Yellowstone may also be available.

Once the workshop begins, transportation to our photography locations will be provided.

October is a transitional month in Yellowstone. Expect cold mornings, freezing temperatures overnight, and the possibility of rain or snow. Weather can change quickly, so warm layers, waterproof outerwear, gloves, and winter-ready footwear are essential.  See the gear list further down.

Some park facilities and dining options begin closing for the season by October, so we’ll discuss available meal options and daily plans during our pre-workshop Zoom.

We’ll schedule a Zoom meeting several months before departure to review logistics, recommended clothing and camera gear, answer questions, and help everyone prepare for the variable fall conditions.

Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop
Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop

Your Workshop Experience

Physical Activity & Terrain

This workshop is rated Active. Expect 3–5 miles of walking on full photography days, mostly on maintained trails, paved paths, and boardwalks. Most walking is broken into shorter segments throughout the day at a relaxed photography-focused pace. The Brink of Lower Falls is a notable exception, with a short but steep climb back out.

Elevation

Most of Yellowstone sits above 6,000 feet, so walking may feel more strenuous than the same distances at lower elevations. We’ll keep a comfortable pace and spread the day’s mileage across multiple photography stops.

Daily Schedule & Weather

Expect early departures for sunrise and evening photography through sunset. Some days will involve longer park loops, while others may include substantial midday breaks for rest, meals, downloading images, and instruction. October conditions can range from crisp fall weather and frost to rain or early snow, so we’ll stay flexible and adjust locations as needed.

Wildlife Opportunities

This is primarily a landscape workshop, but we’ll always be watching for rutting elk, bison, bears, wolves, and other wildlife. Early mornings may include the sound of bugling elk across the valleys. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but we’ll take advantage of good opportunities when they arise.

Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop
Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop
Yellowstone Fall Photo Workshop
Yellowstone and Tetons Winter Photo Workshop

Pricing - 6 Days

Coming Soon

Trip Includes:

  • 6-day Yellowstone photography workshop.
  • Maximum of 5 guests with 1 professional photography instructor.
  • Ground transportation during the workshop.
  • Professional photography instruction throughout the trip.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions.
  • Yellowstone National Park entrance fees and permits associated with workshop activities.
  • Pre-workshop Zoom meeting.
  • Five nights of lodging in West Yellowstone. Single rooms available for an additional XXX.

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation from your home to and from West Yellowstone.
  • Meals, beverages, and snacks.
  • Instructor gratuities.
  • Travel, medical, or evacuation insurance.

The Fine Print:

  • 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
  • Remaining balance is due June 8, 2027
  • If you need to cancel, a full refund less a $300 cancellation fee will be given once your spot is filled by another participant.
  • Travel Insurance is highly recommended for this workshop.
  • Loyalty discount is not offered due to 3rd Party Collaborations.
Yellowstone and Tetons Winter Photo Workshop
Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop Hot Springs

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Mirrorless or DSLR camera body.
  • Wide-angle lens in approximately the 14–35mm range.
  • Mid-range zoom such as a 24–70mm or 24–105mm.
  • Telephoto zoom such as a 70–200mm.
  • 100–500mm, 200–600mm, or similar wildlife lens if you own one.
  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead.
  • Circular polarizer.
  • Extra batteries.
  • Extra memory cards.
  • Lens cloths and cleaning supplies.
  • Rain protection for your camera and backpack.
  • Laptop if you’d like to back up or process images during the workshop.

Personal Gear List

  • Warm layered clothing.
  • Waterproof rain jacket.
  • Warm hat and gloves.
  • Sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen.
  • Headlamp
  • Refillable water bottleHiking poles if desired.

Action Photo Tours is an authorized permittee of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park.

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Susan Kuning
September 15, 2026
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This is for people who want to be better photographers and get great shots - it's not for the faint of heart. We were up well pre-dawn each day and late each night (with a break during the day) and hiking to great locations. This company is serious about finding the great places to be at the right time of day, and then working with each attendee to improve their shots. I learned a tremendous amount on this trip from how to use my camera better for focus bracketing plus exposure bracketing to new techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop (and I wasn't a novice in these apps.) Highly recommended.
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Steve P
August 31, 2026
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Go where few have gone. See what few have seen. David Swindler has built a reputation as an outstanding photographer but also runs small personalized photography workshops around the world. Recently I attended the 5 day Marble Canyon workshop in Arizona. We were able to capture spectacular sunrise, sunset and monsoon photos (still and drone) of Marble Canyon at different locations along its 65 mile path into the Grand Canyon. Base camp was Cliff Dwellers Hotel. We enjoyed clean comfortable rooms and excellent food at their restaurant. Our photography expert and guide, Shane McDermott -a professional photographer himself, was very easy going and willing to help us in anyway we needed. The workshop taught us new drone skills as well as better composition techniques for shooting stills. I am not an advanced photographer but was looking to advance my photography knowledge and experience and achieved this in spades. If you are looking for a new experience and willing to step into a place very few people have ever witnessed, then the Marble Canyon workshop with ActionPhotoTours.com is for you!
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S.R. Potts
August 26, 2026
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David Swindler has built a reputation as an outstanding photographer but also runs small personalized photography workshops around the world. Recently I attended the 5 day Marble Canyon workshop in Arizona. We were able to capture spectacular sunrise, sunset and monsoon photos (still and drone) of Marble Canyon at different locations along its 65 mile path into the Grand Canyon. Base camp was Cliff Dwellers Hotel. We enjoyed clean comfortable rooms and excellent food at their restaurant. Our photography expert and guide, Shane McDermott -a professional photographer himself, was very easy going and willing to help us in anyway we needed. The workshop taught us new drone skills as well as better composition techniques for shooting stills. I am not an advanced photographer but was looking to advance my photography knowledge and experience and achieved this in spades. If you are looking for a new experience and willing to step into a place very few people have ever witnessed, then the Marble Canyon workshop with ActionPhotoTours.com is for you!
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Marcus Simon
August 23, 2026
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I took a photo workshop at the Wave and Escalante near Kanab, Utah, Moab monsoon workshop, and a Marble Canyon drone workshop. They were awesome workshops! Great instructor, locations, and people. I highly recommend the Action Photo Tours Team!
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Lucia Souza
August 16, 2026
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I recently returned from the Mount Rainier workshop, and it was an incredible experience. From the beginning, A.J.Rich and Shane McDermott made sure everything was well organized and that we had the best opportunities to capture great images. They carefully scout locations before the workshop and are always available in the field to answer questions about cameras, tripods, drones, and other equipment, regardless of the brand. Their knowledge, patience, and professionalism truly make a difference. A.J.and Shane clearly love what they do, they represent Action Photo Tours exceptionally well, I highly recommend them for both private or group workshops. Thank you for another amazing trip, I’m proud to be part of the Action Photo Tours family and already looking forward to the next adventure!
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SouzaLu
August 16, 2026
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Great workshop with a reliable and professional company! I recently returned from the Mount Rainier workshop, and it was an incredible experience! From the beginning, A.J Rich and Shane McDermott made sure everything was well organized and that we had the best opportunities to capture great images. They carefully scout locations before the workshop and are always available in the field to answer questions about cameras, tripods, drones, and other equipment, regardless of the brand, their knowledge, patience, and professionalism truly make a difference, A.J. and Shane clearly love what they do and represent Action Photo Tours exceptionally well, I highly recommend them for a group or private workshops. I’m proud to be part of the Action Photo Tours family and already looking forward to the next adventure!
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Sherl Cayton
July 21, 2026
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I had a really outstanding photog workshop into Glacier National Park with AJ Rich and Kevin McNeal of Action Photo Tours. They both went above and beyond to ensure we all had a great experience. They were very helpful while in the field shooting and informative with processing procedures. Can't wait to join them on another adventure!
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Cindy Seavert
July 4, 2026
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This was my first photo tour, and I am just floored with how much fun we had, how much we learned, how much sleep we lost =]. We shot gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, Palouse Falls, barns, the Weber house, Steptoe Butte, everything was just so photogenic. Our guides, Wendy and Ryan, were excellent. I learned a lot in the afternoon classes as well as when we were out shooting. We had a wonderful group of ladies, it was so much fun. I signed up for another one, down south, for next year.
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Cindy S
July 3, 2026
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Fantastic Photography Tour! Ryan and Wendy, our guides, were fantastic, very knowledgeable, and very patient lol. We all had a really fun time. Ryan and Wendy both kept asking if anyone needed help with composition or anything. The places we went to were very cool, I felt like I was on another planet in Steptoe Butte. We packed a lot in while we were there. Everyone in our group was fantastic (we were the Chicks that Click group). I enjoyed it so much I signed up with another tour down south next year.
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Subrata Sen
June 8, 2026
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My 3rd trip with Action Photo Tours was along the southern Oregon /Northern California coast. They are the Swiss multi-tool of the photo-travel world. They go everywhere, all at the right times, with the most considerate, knowledgeable and organized tour leaders. I highly recommend them.
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Liltrave
May 17, 2026
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Great tour to white pockets My husband wanted to go to White pockets and it would have been a difficult drive for us. You must have a four-wheel-drive high clearance vehicle. The drive there is one hour on paved highway, but then another one hour on a very bumpy back road so be prepared. We met Kevin at the office in Kanab. It's out-of-the-way and hard to get to so it was nice to have someone who knows the area. Kevin was really good about pointing out areas to take pictures and advising my husband on photo opportunities in a different perspective. Kevin was knowledgeable about photography & very nice.
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Cindy P
May 2, 2026
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Beautiful Patagonia Patagonia is beautiful. One of my favorite trips.
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Roberto Morgenstern
April 16, 2026
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Incredible workshops. Excellent Company. Very profesionals. Strongly recomended.
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_rmu66
April 16, 2026
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Extremly recomended. Wild Horses in Utah, an incredible experience. Action Photo tours is highly recomended. Been in many workshops with them and always a great experience.
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Andree Thorpe
April 1, 2026
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I’m honestly not even sure where to begin, this photography trip completely exceeded every expectation I had. I’ve attended and assisted in many workshops over the years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to experience incredible places like South Georgia, Svalbard, Antarctica, Iceland, and Greenland. But this journey to the Maasai Mara was something else entirely. It moved me in a way I didn’t expect, there were moments when I literally had tears running down my cheeks. Everything was absolutely flawless. The organization was seamless from start to finish, which allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the experience without worrying about a single detail. The depth of knowledge shared about wildlife photography was exceptional, insightful, practical, and truly inspiring. And the team, just phenomenal. From the workshop leaders to the drivers, everyone played a part in making this experience unforgettable. The drivers, in particular, were outstanding, their skill, intuition, and ability to position us perfectly for incredible shots made all the difference. This wasn’t just a photography trip. It was an emotional, inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with me forever. I’m beyond grateful to have been part of it.
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R D
March 31, 2026
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A great Time! What a great time! Very well executed flexible schedule which brought us to the right location each day. Wendy and Sara are knowledgeable and top tier guides. The hardest decision is which trip to do next with Action Photo Tours.
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Lynn C
March 28, 2026
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Great Action Photo Tour to the Southern Plantations in Charleston, SC My husband and I just finished our first photography tour with Action Photo Tours. It was excellent! Each day's activities were timed so we were in the best location at the right time. Our guide, Shane did everything possible to make our experience the best it could be. He was always available and able to answer our questions, and the group used different brands of cameras with various plug-ins. He has an incredible depth of knowledge, and he clearly loves photography and helping people. We had two classroom sessions. The first session was very informative and really highlighted a global way of looking at processing pictures. It has changed the approach I will take going forward. Shane was very positive about the pictures we had taken and then worked with us to achieve the best outcome for each picture. We will definitely try other tours with Action Photo with the hope that all the guides share Shane's level of enthusiasm for photography and desire to make the tour the best experience it can be.
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Dean Fiergang
March 26, 2026
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Milky Way Photography with Wendy Casey and Sarah Shumaker was an excellent trip!!!!!! These two people hosted a perfectly executed photo tour with ample hands on assistance, and the most wonderful disposition ever! They are true professionals, in their own photographic skills, ability to teach and communicate effectively, plan and execute, adapt to changes in weather, and cater each trip to the abilities of the group. I hope to join them each on future trips!!! WILD HORSES NEXT?
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Dean F
March 26, 2026
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Milky Way photography Milky Way Photography with Wendy Casey and Sarah Shumaker was an excellent trip!!!!!! These two people hosted a perfectly executed photo tour with ample hands on assistance, and the most wonderful disposition ever! They are true professionals, in their own photographic skills, ability to teach and communicate effectively, plan and execute, adapt to changes in weather, and cater each trip to the abilities of the group. I hope to join them each on future trips!!! WILD HORSES NEXT?
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Robert Shely
March 25, 2026
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I've just returned from an OUTSTANDING ADVENTURE led by Wendy Casey and seconded by Sarah Shumaker in the MILKY WAY AND BEYOND WORKSHOP. At least three characteristics of this trip stood out and made it an excellent experience. First, the Milky Way itself. The skies cooperated and the Milky Way stood out prominently, inviting observers to consider themselves as citizens of the Galaxy for those few hours where we stood alone in peaceful night weather soaking it its lights. Second, the Utah foreground opportunities in this workshop are simply outstanding -- almost other-worldly. They are just made for this adventure. And third -- the instruction. Wendy had all participants -- even very experienced photographers -- bring their camera body, night time lens, tripod and cable release to a day-time pre-shoot session, to ensure that everyone could and did find the settings on their camera in the light, which made the participants much more efficient and effective at night, when we wanted to douse lights as quickly as possible. If you are a Milky Way fan, try this workshop. If you have no experience with the Milky Way, this is great way to work into it. Bob Shely
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Mark Jen Hunt
March 25, 2026
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If you are looking for an "obsessed" photography itinerary that pushes your skills and fills your heart, look no further. I just wrapped up the March 15–20, 2026 Death Valley workshop, and it was a masterclass in both curation and community. This wasn’t just a tour; it was a deep dive. We hit the icons like Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Badwater Basin but the real magic was in the "grind." The team’s dedication is unmatched; they coordinated a midnight departure for a 2.5-hour drive just so we could capture the Milky Way over Racetrack Playa. So cool!!! Between that and two other early-morning astro sessions, the "minimal sleep" was a small price to pay for the full heart and amazing photos I’m taking home. A massive thank you to Ryan McGinty. His technical expertise helped me master more of my camera settings and was so patient and kind. They don't just take you to a location; they ensure you walk away with the shot and the knowledge to recreate it. The best part of an Action Photo Tour is the kindred spirits you meet. From the endless laughs with fellow participants to the spontaneous connections made over sunrise excursions, this workshop attracts a fantastic group of creatives. Ryan and Kevin recommend additional areas for me to explore as I was stayed three extra nights. I’m heading back to work exhausted but with a very full heart (and numerous photos). If you want a workshop that values time, effort, and incredible locations, book with Action Photo Tours. I look forward to booking another workshop with them.
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Jen H
March 25, 2026
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Well Curated Itinerary and Fun! If you are looking for an "obsessed" photography itinerary that pushes your skills and fills your heart, look no further. I just wrapped up the March 15–20, 2026 Death Valley workshop, and it was a masterclass in both curation and community. This wasn’t just a tour; it was a deep dive. We hit the icons like Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Badwater Basin but the real magic was in the "grind." The team’s dedication is unmatched; they coordinated a midnight departure for a 2.5-hour drive just so we could capture the Milky Way over Racetrack Playa. So cool!!! Between that and two other early-morning astro sessions, the "minimal sleep" was a small price to pay for the full heart and amazing photos I’m taking home. A massive thank you to Ryan McGinty. His technical expertise helped me master more of my camera settings and was so patient and kind. They don't just take you to a location; they ensure you walk away with the shot and the knowledge to recreate it. The best part of an Action Photo Tour is the kindred spirits you meet. From the endless laughs with fellow participants to the spontaneous connections made over sunrise excursions, this workshop attracts a fantastic group of creatives. Ryan and Kevin recommend additional areas for me to explore as I was stayed three extra nights. I’m heading back to work exhausted but with a very full heart (and numerous photos). If you want a workshop that values time, effort, and incredible locations, book with Action Photo Tours. I look forward to booking another workshop with them.
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howard grodin
March 19, 2026
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Good afternoon, This is my second adventure with Action Photo Tours. My trip to India was an amazing experience. There are several steps before boarding an airplane and David provided me (and the group) with detailed instructions for filling out the eVisa so the process was smooth. Once we were in Delhi, we all met at the Pride Hotel and transportation was arranged so we felt safe with our bags when traveling to Delhi Airport. David and Nitish provided us with ticket information with Indiago airlines to our first jungle camp. They also provided us with a PDF checklist as security in India is much stricter than in the United States. I learned that all camera equipment is going to put into a bin for screening along with the camera case separately. Also, I already bring several 2.5-gallon clear ziplock bags that I used to place all cords, chargers, hard drives, so the scanner can see that these items are safe. At all three camps, the morning sessions were generally better for photography since the tigers and other wildlife usually were more active. However, with wildlife, anything is possible so the important thing to be prepared. We had several tiger sightings at Tadoba and Kanha national parks. We are restricted to staying on the dirt roads whereas the tigers are free to roam the wilderness. We all photographed a single male or female tiger walking in the woods and occasionally would choose to walk down the road which provided us with exciting opportunities while giving the tiger plenty of room so that it does turn away to head back into the jungle. My group with Nitish had 1 good leopard sighting at Pence but the other 2 vehicles did really did not. The overall experience of seeing these large animals up close is something that I will never forget. David and Nitish provided our group with plenty of individual instruction as requested/needed which improved our overall keeper rate. If you ever dreamed of going to India, make sure that you arrive a few days early (At your expense) so that you can go see the Taj Mahal and part of the golden triangle before starting your wildlife journey. David and Nitish are awesome to work with and made the entire experience worth the 17–20-hour flight from US to Delhi.
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Larry C
March 16, 2026
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Just completed a week in Moab, Utah on Actions Photo's "Level Up Moab" workshop. This workshop was billed as being designed to help "break through creative plateaus and take full control of your photography", so in addition to getting great shots I learned some new techniques and tricks even though I’m pretty comfortable with my camera in manual mode. The instructors are great and the scenery in and around Moab is unique and beautiful. Highly Recommend!
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Larry C
March 16, 2026
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Moab Photo Workshop - Great! Just completed a week in Moab, Utah on Actions Photo's "Level Up Moab" workshop. This workshop was billed as being designed to help "break through creative plateaus and take full control of your photography", so in addition to getting great shots I learned some new techniques and tricks even though I’m pretty comfortable with my camera in manual mode. The instructors are great and the scenery in and around Moab is unique and beautiful. Highly Recommend!
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Lloyd Stuart, M.D.
February 10, 2026
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Outstanding photo tours with experts. They take you to the best locations and help you with post processing. Most of their clients have been on numerous tours - me included.
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robert golub
February 10, 2026
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Just finished a winter workshop in Yosemite. Not as much snow as I hoped for, but nevertheless an outstanding workshop. The guides were incredible. Extremely knowledgeable and incredible teachers. I highly recommend Action Photo Tours.
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lstuartmd
February 10, 2026
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Action Photo Tours is the best in the industry These guys are excellent. Great photo tours from those doing it as a hobby to professionals. They take you to the best locations and help you with composition and post processing. I've been on several of their tours and can't wait to go on more.
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Mike S
November 29, 2025
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A fun year with Action Photo This has been a fun and busy year with four photo adventures with Action Photo Tours, with the most recent on the Cypress Swamp workshop. The year began with a fun N. Utah winter adventure, followed by two spectacular Milky Way workshops in the Bisti Badlands and White Pocket, and finally the Cypress Swamp. I enjoy the small group size workshop environment and look forward to exploring other APT adventures.
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snapngo
November 22, 2025
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Coyote Buttes South Sunset Tour While my husband had visited Coyote Buttes South, I had never been there. We chose Action Photo Tours because they are photography oriented and were the only guide service offering a sunset tour. Our guide Kevin is an accomplished photographer and we enjoyed talking with him about photography in this area and other locations in the US. While my husband recognized several formations from his previous trip, Kevin showed us new areas to explore. As a bonus, a group of big horn sheep appeared and almost seemed to pose for us. We stayed til dusk so that we could get great sunset photos.Before visiting Coyote Buttes South, you must obtain a permit from the Bureau of Land Management. There is a limited number of permits to be had, so you must obtain your permit several months in advance of your visit. The roads to Coyote Buttes South are covered with deep sand and are constantly changing. Do not try this route on your own in a typical rental SUV. Rather than risk getting stuck or breaking down (it does happen), working with a guide such as Action Photos is invaluable.
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Victor B
November 15, 2025
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Excellent experience I congratulate Action Photo Group for organizing these photography tours. Very well organized, excellent instructors, outstanding service, and above all, very professional.
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Rick D
October 12, 2025
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Great learning experience! Shane McDermott & A.J. Rich of Action Photo Tours were the instructors on two 5-day drone workshops I attended in Sept. & Oct in Utah. Their instruction, patience and professionalism shown in both drone workshops I attended in Hanksville and Kanab, Utah was terrific. I learned a lot about flying, capturing outstanding images & enjoying the comraderie of fellow drone enthusiasts! These workshops were very successful experiences. I look forward to my next Action Photo experience!!!Rick DavisonO’Fallon, IL
AJ Rich Profile

A.J. Rich

Photography Instructor

A.J. Rich is a southern Utah native with more than 25 years of experience as a photographer, senior graphic designer, and art director. His background gives him a powerful eye for composition, balance, light, and visual storytelling. His photography has been recognized by the International Aerial Photographer of the Year and the Epson International Pano Awards. His commercial work has also appeared in national publications, including Parents Magazine, Runner’s World, and Harvard Business Review.

A.J. earned a degree in graphic design with a minor in photography. His work has evolved from commercial photography and portraiture to landscape and aerial photography, where he finds his greatest challenge and fulfillment.

Whether exploring the remote deserts of the Colorado Plateau or hiking into alpine landscapes before sunrise, A.J. is continually searching for fresh perspectives and extraordinary light. In the field, he helps photographers slow down, look beyond the obvious, and make stronger visual decisions before pressing the shutter.

While A.J. enjoys teaching advanced techniques such as focus stacking, panoramas, and exposure blending, his greatest passion is helping photographers truly see the landscape. For him, the best photographs aren’t simply found; they are anticipated through patience, observation, and a deep understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition.

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