Zion Fall Colors Workshop
Nov 14-18, 2027
Experience Zion National Park at one of its most beautiful times of year! As golden cottonwoods illuminate the canyon floor and the towering sandstone cliffs glow in the autumn light, we'll explore a wonderful variety of photographic opportunities. Our adventures include photographing the world-famous Zion Narrows, intimate scenes along the Virgin River, colorful waterfalls, and breathtaking canyon overlooks. With a flexible itinerary, small group, personalized instruction, and post-processing sessions, we'll help you capture the best of Zion's autumn beauty. This is an Active workshop that includes hiking and river wading, with plenty of time to photograph along the way.
Tuition
- $2,350
- $2,115 with
Loyalty Discount
Max Group Size
- Max 8 Students
- 2 Instructors
Instructor(s)
- A.J. Rich
- Wendy Casey


Highlights
- Photograph the spectacular contrast of golden autumn foliage against Zion's towering red sandstone cliffs.
- Explore the world-famous Zion Narrows, capturing incredible canyon scenery, flowing water, and fall colors.
- Improve your landscape photography with personalized instruction from two professional photographers.
- Learn new post-processing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop, with helpful image critiques throughout the workshop.
- Enjoy a small-group experience with flexible outings designed around the best light, autumn colors, and weather conditions.
- All transportation and park entrance fees are provided.
Itinerary
In order to give our clients the best possible photography experience, we keep the itinerary flexible to account for autumn color, weather conditions, and group interest. The workshop dates coincide with historical peak fall color in Zion. However, fall color can be a fickle thing and it sometimes comes earlier or later than predicted. The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect. We will optimize your time for the best possible photography.
- Day 1: The Workshop begins at 1PM in Springdale, UT where we'll meet for a short orientation session where you'll learn some of the photo techniques you'll be using during our time together. After that, we head into the canyon and do a short hike with dramatic canyon views graced with autumn foliage. We return to town for dinner and get fitted for any wading gear you may need.
- Day 2: Today will be dedicated to photographing the spectacular Zion Narrows, one of the Southwest's most remarkable canyon landscapes. We'll work our way upstream at a comfortable pace, photographing sculpted canyon walls, flowing water, colorful reflections, and autumn foliage along the way. With frequent photography stops, this outing may occupy most of the day. After returning to Springdale, we'll enjoy a well-earned dinner and some time to rest.
- Day 3: We are up early to photograph a waterfall rimmed by gorgeous autumnal trees set deep in a jagged amphitheater. We photograph several other areas before heading back to town for lunch. After lunch, we have an image critique session before heading out for our sunset shoot along the Virgin River.
- Day 4: It's another early morning sunrise shoot followed by breakfast in town. We do a post-processing session before lunch and then decide to do a hike over easy terrain to a spectacular sunset location.


Itinerary Cont.
- Day 5: We wake well before dawn for our final sunrise shoot. It's just a short 1-hr hike in and we enjoy colorful clouds and dramatic light. We hit several other locations before the good light dissipates. We return to town for breakfast and check out of the hotel. The workshop will conclude no later than 11AM.
Logistics
The trip will begin and end in Springdale, UT. Transportation will be provided for all workshop outings. Most people will fly into either Las Vegas or St George, UT and rent a car to arrive in Springdale. Make sure you arrive by 1PM on Nov 14th. You can plan your return travel for anytime in the afternoon of Nov 18th.
At checkout, a 4 night lodging package at the Hyatt Place in Springdale, UT will be added to your booking. You can select between double or single occupancy. See the pricing section for more details.
Temps can start getting cold in November, so make sure you bring some warm layers, a waterproof rain jacket, sturdy hiking boots, wool socks, and warm hat and gloves. Trekking poles are highly recommended for better balance.
Proper cold-water wading equipment is essential for photographing the Narrows comfortably in November. We recommend renting a cold-water wading package from a local outfitter in Springdale. These packages typically include dry pants, neoprene socks, specialized canyon shoes, and a sturdy wading staff for additional stability. If you have your own chest waders, you can bring those instead of renting gear.
Several months before the workshop we'll schedule a zoom meeting where we'll cover logistics, gear, clothing, travel, and more. We want you to be well prepared for your outing.



Pricing
$2,350/person + Tax
$2,115/person with Loyalty Discount
Trip Includes:
- 5-Day intensive photo workshop with 2 pro instructors
- All ground transportation
- Post-processing instruction and image critique
- Park entrance fees.
- Pre-Workshop zoom meeting
- At checkout, a 4 night lodging package will be added to your booking at the Hyatt Place in Springdale. Cost is $575 for double or $1150 for single occupancy.
Trip Does NOT Include:
- Transportation to/from your home to Springdale, UT.
- Rental Gear (cold water wading package)
- Meals, snacks, and beverages
- Instructor Gratuities
The Fine Print:
- 50% deposit required to hold your spot.
- Remaining balance is due July 14, 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.
- See the full Terms and Conditions.

Your Workshop Experience
Physical Activity
This workshop is rated Active. Several photography locations require hiking and you should expect cumulative mileage of 1-6 miles per day. We maintain a relaxed, photography-focused pace, with plenty of time to stop and enjoy the scenery. Guests should be comfortable carrying their camera equipment, water, snacks, and personal items over these distances.
The most physically demanding portion of the workshop is our time in the Zion Narrows, which we plan to visit at least once and potentially twice, depending on conditions. We won't venture farther than the confluence with Orderville Canyon, which is approximately 5 miles round trip, including the paved approach. Unlike a conventional trail, much of this outing involves wading through running water while navigating slippery, uneven rocks. We take our time and stop frequently for photography, but guests should be prepared to spend most of the day in the canyon and have good balance and mobility.
Daily Schedule and Weather
Because we photograph during the best morning and evening light, some departures may be as early as 5:30AM, and evening sessions may occasionally continue until approximately 7PM. Our Narrows outings will generally occupy most of the day, with plenty of photography stops along the way.
November weather can be variable, with pleasant daytime temperatures, cold mornings, and occasional rain or early snow at higher elevations. We build in midday downtime and classroom sessions whenever the schedule allows so guests can rest, recharge batteries, back up images, and prepare for the next outing. Guests are also welcome to sit out an outing when they would benefit from additional rest or personal time.


Recommended Camera Gear
- Sturdy and lightweight tripod and ballhead
- Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
- Wide angle lens (16-35mm is perfect). For crop sensor, you'll want 10-22mm. Ultrawide Angle Lenses in the 11-14mm range will also work nicely.
- Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
- Long telephoto lenses can come in handy in case of wildlife encounters. However, in the interest of keeping your pack weight light, we don't recommend bringing them on the hikes.
- Circular polarizer filters are a must. Bring any ND filters if you have them.
- Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
- Comfortable hiking backpack that can carry your camera gear, tripod, lunch, and drinking water.
- 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 .
- Chest Waders and or Cold Water Rental Package from an outfitter in Springdale, UT.
- A rain jacket and several warm layers since it can get cold in the mornings.
- Headlamp.
- Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Warm Hat & Gloves.
- Water bottle or hydration bladder.
- Trekking Poles.


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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Wendy Casey
Photography Instructor
Wendy Casey is a Utah-based landscape and wildlife photographer with more than 40 years behind the camera. Her photography journey began in 1982 with her first photography class. She built her technical foundation in the film era through extensive darkroom work and developing and printing her own images. That experience continues to shape the way she teaches exposure, light, camera settings, and composition.
Wendy’s photography has taken her from Utah’s dramatic red rock country and the Alaskan tundra to the vast plains of Africa. She specializes in landscape and wildlife photography, with a particular passion for wild horses and animals in their natural environments. As an exhibiting fine art photographer, she photographs with the finished print in mind, creating images designed to tell a story, evoke emotion, and be enjoyed beyond the camera screen.
As an instructor, Wendy is known for her warm, patient, and encouraging teaching style. She helps students slow down, see with intention, and take creative control of their cameras, especially through Manual mode, thoughtful composition, and field-based problem solving. Through hands-on instruction and collaborative post-processing sessions, Wendy meets photographers where they are and helps them build the confidence, technical skill, and vision to create images they are proud to print, frame, and share.
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