In-Field Photography Workshops
Ready to take your landscape and nature photography to the next level?
Skip the endless research and let me guide you to the most stunning locations in Washington and Oregon. In small, hands-on workshops, you'll master essential techniques, refine your skills, and come away with incredible images—and the knowledge to create more.
Rates
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2 hours in the field, within 10 miles of Camas, WA.
Additional person: $150 -
$450
Within 50 miles of Camas, WA.
Additional person: $300 (max 4 people). -
$750
Within 80 miles of Camas, WA.
Additional person: $400 (max 4 people).Travel beyond 80 miles will incur additional driving or airfare costs (see below).
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$1,150
Includes lodging and James’ travel within 80 miles of Camas. Travel beyond 80 miles will incur additional driving or airfare costs (see below).
Additional person: $600 (max 4 people).
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Reach out to discuss a personalized workshop!
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Your driving costs
Your airfare
Your meals
For half-day workshops beyond 50 miles or full-day workshops beyond 80 miles, these fees apply:
James’ driving costs: $55/hour only for travel beyond the first 50/80 miles.
James’ airfare: For destinations over 200 miles.
James’ rental car: If flying to a destination.
A private workshop to beautiful locations in the PNW focused on improving skills and making impactful landscape and nature photos. Each workshop is custom tailored to you and your interests, goals, and availability.
Who should take a workshop?
I work with committed hobbyists and accomplished pros who want to push past the obvious, standard shots.
Because many of the most compelling locations in the PNW require getting off the beaten path, you should feel comfortable hiking several miles at a social pace (~2 mph) on uneven terrain while carrying your gear. At a minimum, you must know how to confidently operate your camera's settings.
You should bring a modern DSLR or mirrorless system, a range of lenses, a sturdy tripod, and weather protection for both you and your gear.
Designed around you
I am passionate about photography workshops! Why? Because they’ve improved my photography more than any other method. Books, websites, and videos are valuable resources, but the information flows in one direction. When working together, you can ask questions as they arise and receive instant feedback.
Whether we are chasing grand atmospheric landscapes, hiking deep into the woods for macro fungi shots, or exploring abstract textures, I customize the itinerary entirely around your goals. We can rough it and camp near the trailhead to catch the earliest light, or basecamp at a comfortable lodge.
My workshops strike a balance between the technical and creative aspects of the craft because both are important! More importantly, I won't just act as a tour guide. I narrate my thought process. I’ll share exactly why I’m choosing a specific vantage point, how I’m reading the weather and light, and how I'm gathering the raw ingredients in the field (like focus stacks or brackets) to execute a specific vision in post-processing.
Locations
As a mountaineer and avid hiker, I have spent a lot of my time in the mountains, forests, and coasts of the Pacific Northwest, so I’m able to take you to the best spots for making compelling images of these uniquely diverse landscapes.
Workshops are more fun and successful when we adapt to the changing weather and light. I know many spots that work given the right conditions. My job is to keep all the places in my memory along with the conditions in which they shine. It works well. Not perfect, but I increase our success a lot doing things this way. Plus, it makes for a fun adventure!
Washington (North Cascades, Mt. Baker, Olympic NP (rainforest), Rainier, Helens, waterfalls tour, beaches tour, fall color in Leavenworth, etc.
Oregon (Sisters/Bend, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, waterfalls tour, beaches tour, etc.
What you’ll learn
Before we meet, we’ll discuss your workshop goals and locations of interest. A week out from the workshop, we’ll connect again to discuss the weather and any last-minute changes. While we’re together, I’ll share everything I know about advanced composition and camera techniques, location scouting, image processing in Photoshop, and much more.
Pre-Planning
Developing creative vision and style
Composition Theory
Location scouting
Find and plan a shoot
Camera Technique
Traditional and abstract techniques
Exposure bracketing
Focus stacks & panoramas
Creative use of shutter speed
Post-Processing
Establish an artistic philosophy
Lightroom & Photoshop
Exposure blend, luminosity masking
Increase depth and impact
Weather
Weather forecasting
Predict dramatic weather
How to adapt to bad weather
Understanding light