2023 - 2024 Photographic Workshop Tours

Contact Paul for further information on any workshops.

Read what other people are saying about Paul's workshops.

Rome Photographic field workshop
June 13 - 17, 2023
$850 Alumni $765 Limited to 7 Students

Rome Photographic Workshop Tour

Ancient Rome beckons to be photographed from the Vatican to the Colosseum and so much more. Rome is my favorite city and offers an amazing variety of images and art. We will be staying near the Vatican and our time will be spent on composition, capturing images, and proper use of light. For anyone who will be staying over I recommend a personalized tour from my Roman family Steve and Grazia Andre who are the best tour guides in Rome.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Tuscany Photographic field workshop
June 17 - 24, 2023
$1395 Alumni $1190 Limited to 7 Students

Tuscan Photographic Workshop Tour

Our first stop in Tuscany will be Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance, romantic, enchanting, and utterly irresistible, Florence (Firenze) where we will feast on world-class Tuscan cuisine and art created by Renaissance masters.

When we leave Florence, we will head to the ancient Roman village of Pinza for three nights. Pienza is nestled in the Val d'Orcia, the wheat belt of Tuscany. Siena is to its north with the Bagno Vignoni with its Roman Baths nestled to its west. This is the Heart of the Tuscan region; we'll be capturing images of Roman Villas and take time to soak in the hot mineral waters of the Bagno.

We will photograph ancient cellars and take time for a little wine tasting. There will be time to take a cooking class for anyone who is interested.

From Pienza, we will head north to the picturesque perched city of San Gimignano. San Gimignano is an Etruscan city that predates Rome, famous for its ancient towers that look like skyscrapers silhouetted against the sky.

Our goal is to teach you how to capture beautiful images and explore how to create images that will continue to inspire.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes pre-trip planning, equipment suggestions, guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Venice Photographic field workshop
June 24 - 28, 2023
$850 Alumni $765 Limited to 7 Students

Venice Photographic Workshop

The rich color palette of Venice with its canals, and bridges, and the amazing architecture of San Marco Piazza and the Rialto Bridge provide some of my favorite compositions to photograph. We will be capturing breathtaking architectural images that have inspired artists and writers for over a thousand years. Venice has provided some of the best images that I ever captured. This Island City is a great location to shoot in any season and I look forward to seeing her again in her spring bloom.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Annular Solar Eclipse/Zion and Bryce National Park/Lower Antelope Canyon Photographic workshop
October 12-16 2023
$875 Alumni $795 Limited to 7 Students

Annular Solar Eclipse/Zion and Bryce National Park/Lower Antelope Canyon Photographic workshop

Join us in Utah to witness a rare annular solar eclipse on October 14th, lasting for 4 minutes and 41 seconds. Photographers won't want to miss the opportunity to capture amazing photos of the Moon appearing as a dark disk on top of the sun's more extensive, bright disk, creating a ring of fire around the Moon.

During our trip, we will explore the wonders of Bryce and Zion National Parks, as well as Lower Antelope Canyon. Our time will be divided between the stunning Zion National Park and Bryce Canyons. Zion offers breathtaking landscapes of high plateaus, sheer canyons, and monolithic cliffs. The sculptured sandstone walls shaped by water and wind over thousands of years provide photographers with the Southwest's most sought-after photographic images. Bryce Canyon National Park, located in southern Utah, is renowned for its crimson-colored hoodoos, spire-shaped rock formations. The park's main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression below the Rim Trail hiking path with stunning overlooks where we will photograph Sunrise and Sunset.

Lower Antelope Canyon, also known as Hazdistazí, meaning “spiral rock arches” in Navajo, is located near Page, Arizona. It's home to one of nature's most wondrous creations. Carved from red sandstone over millennia by seasonal flood rains and wind, the canyon's wave-like walls and narrow passageways, shaped like a “V” and opening up to the sky, give it a unique look. In the fall, when the sun is lower in the sky, the canyons take on muted red and purple tones that will take your breath away. These canyons are unlike any place in the world. We'll conclude the workshop after our morning shoot and a final critique session over breakfast on October 16th.

Join us for an unforgettable experience.

What's included in your tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

What's not included in your tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified

Iceland #1 Northern Lights Photographic field workshop
Nov 1-6, 2023
$975 Alumni $855 Limited to 7 Students

Iceland #1 Northern Lights Photographic workshop

This Six-day workshop is for amateur, aspiring and professional photographers alike, and promises to expose you to some of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes, all under ethereal lighting conditions.

Our first sunset will be spent photographing the Grótta Lighthouse, located 8 km from from our hotel in Reykjavik, on the tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula.

From there, we will head north of Reykjavik to photograph rugged black beaches and Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland's most Iconic waterfall.

No photographic visit to Iceland is complete without a tour of its most iconic sites on the Golden Circle, there we will visit Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park.

Thingvellir is the only place in the world where you can stand between two continental plates in a distinctive geological landscape that changes yearly.

Gullfoss is two separate waterfalls; the upper falls drop 11 meters, and the lower falls drop 21 meters. The rock of the river bed was formed during an interglacial period..

In the evenings we will photograph northern lights when they are visible.

We will be staying near the geothermal field surrounding the Great Geyser, giving its name to this geological phenomenon. Strokkur, another famous geyser located in the hot spring area gives a performance every few minutes, shooting a tower of water and steam 30 meters into the air. One of the attractions, apart from the magnificent geysers, is Blesi, a hot spring with water the colour of turquoise that delights the senses.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Iceland #2 Northern Lights Photographic field workshop
Nov 6-13, 2023
$1325 Alumni $1190 / Limited to 7 Students

Iceland #2 Northern Lights Photographic workshop

This eight-day workshop is for amateur, aspiring and professional photographers alike. You will photograph some of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes, all under ethereal lighting conditions.

Iceland’s south coast is known for its atmospheric landscapes, from towering glaciers to black-sand beaches. We will explore this coastline where the roaring waves of the Atlantic Ocean power ashore with tremendous force on our tour of Iceland’s most impressive sights!

During the workshop, you will visit Reynisfjara Beach known for its beautiful black sands and sea stacks, a place of wild and dramatic beauty. We will spend time photographing Vestrahorn, both Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and the Icelandic fishing town of Hofn..

In the evenings we will be out photographing the northern lights when they are visible.

We will help you develop your skills as a photographer while immersing yourself in the stunning natural landscapes of Iceland while building an incredible portfolio.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Lake Superior Frozen Waterfall and Ice Cave
Jan 28 - 31, 2024
$995/Limited to 7 Students

Includes three nights double-occupancy lodging at the Holiday Inn Munising Frozen Waterfalls Ice Cave /Dark Sky Photographic workshop

Munising in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is famous for its Pictured Rocks National Seashore and its many waterfalls. In February the Lake Superior shoreline is a winter wonderland and the many waterfalls and caves in the area create ice formations, giving us unique photographic opportunities.

This workshop is designed to be a hands-on experience where you can expand your skills and portfolio, learning new photographic techniques while enjoying nature at her best.

What's included in tuition:

· Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

· Three (3) nights double-occupancy lodging at the Holiday Inn Munising – Inside the Park (single occupancy is available for an additional $250)with breakfast each morning.

What's not included in your tuition:

· Travel costs to and from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

· Clients can carpool and share expenses or rent their own vehicle.

· Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, and beverages

Death Valley Dark Sky Photographic workshop
March 12-15, 2024
$1425 Limited to 7 Students

Includes three nights double-occupancy lodging at The Ranch at Death Valley Death Valley /Dark Sky Photographic workshop

Death Valley National Park was the third International Dark Sky Park in the U.S. and has some of the darkest night skies in the United States granting photographers a dazzling display of the night sky.

At 282 ft below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America and is surrounded by mountains rising to over 11,000 feet. In March the typical day daytime temperature averaging in the mid 70’s with the nighttime temperatures averaging in March for a ranges from a high of 70°F (21°C) to a low of 43°F (6°C). .

Each day we will be out photographing the best light of the day, Sunrise and Sunset. Each evening we will have the opportunity to photograph the Milky Way core, Star Trails, and Moonlit landscapes.

This workshop is designed to be a hands-on experience where you can expand your skills and portfolio, learning new photographic techniques while enjoying nature at her best. All skill levels are welcome!

What's included in my tuition:

· Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

· Three (3) nights double-occupancy lodging at the The Ranch at Death Valley – Inside the Park (single occupancy is available at for an additional $550).

What's not included in tuition:

· Travel costs, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, and beverages

· Clients can carpool and share expenses or rent their own vehicle.

Ann Arbor One Day Trillium/ Spring Flower workshop
May 14, 2024
$100 / Limited to 6 Students

Ann Arbor One Day Trillium/Spring Flower workshop

We will start photographing the Trilliums early in the soft light of the morning. As the soft light fades and gets harsher we will break for breakfast or early lunch depending on the lighting conditions. After our meal, we will spend time post-processing the images that you have taken followed by a meal break. After the break, we will spend more time capturing images in the field before saying our goodbyes. Spring mornings often bring light rains; these light rains add saturation and depth to an image. If there is heavy rain in the morning we will meet for breakfast and start photographing after breakfast.

What's included in my tuition:

· Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

What's not included in your tuition:

· Travel costs, Meals, and beverages

Arches - Canyonlands - Dead Horse Point Dark Sky Photography Workshop
September 23-27, 2024
$1375 Alumni $1275 Limited to 8 Students

The price includes four (4) nights double-occupancy lodging at the The Virginia Inn – Moab Death Valley /Dark Sky Photographic workshop

Arches and Canyonlands are recognized as an International Dark Sky Park with a Bortle Class rating of 1 – 2. granting photographers a dazzling display of the night.

This tour provides an opportunity for both beginner and intermediate photographers to capture photos during golden hour and at night, including astrophotography once the Milky Way emerges.

Some of the stunning landscapes this tour will take you to are Mesa Arch, Balanced Rock, Park Avenue, Delicate Arch, and Dead Horse Point, among others.

Each day we will be out photographing the best light of the day, Sunrise and Sunset. Each evening we will have the opportunity to photograph the Milky Way core, Star Trails, and Moonlit landscapes.

This workshop is designed to be a hands-on experience where you can expand your skills and portfolio, learning new photographic techniques while enjoying nature at her best. All skill levels are welcome!

What's included in my tuition:

· Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

· Four (4) nights double-occupancy lodging at the The Virginia Inn – Moab (single occupancy is available at for an additional $400).

What's not included in tuition:

· Travel costs, meals, and beverages

· Clients can carpool and share expenses or rent their own vehicle.

Colorado Fall Colors Photography Workshop
September 29 – October 3, 2024
$1375 Alumni $1275 Limited to 8 Students

The price includes four (4) nights double-occupancy lodging at the St Elmo Hotel – Ouray Death Valley /Dark Sky Photographic field workshop

Embark on a unique adventure with our Colorado Fall Color Photography Workshop and capture stunning shots of vibrant autumnal foliage set against the picturesque mountain peaks of Telluride, Ridgeway, and Ouray.

The San Juan Mountains boast some of the most breathtaking backdrops for photographing fall colors in the entire country, making this an unmissable opportunity to experience it all.

Our Colorado Fall Color Photography Workshop provides you with an unparalleled opportunity to explore some of the most picturesque locations in the country and capture the essence of the fall season with your camera. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!

This workshop is designed to be a hands-on experience where you can expand your skills and portfolio, learning new photographic techniques while enjoying nature at her best. All skill levels are welcome!

What's included in my tuition:

· Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training, and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions.

· Four (4) nights double-occupancy lodging at the St Elmo Hotel – Ouray (single occupancy is available at for an additional $400).

What's not included in tuition:

· Travel costs, meals, and beverages

· Clients can carpool and share expenses or rent their own vehicle.

Amalfi Coast and Pompeii Photographic field workshop
March 23 - 30, 2025
$1595 Alumni $1435 Limited to 8 Students

Amalfi Coast and Rome Photographic Workshop

UNESCO considers the Amalfi Coast to be an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape. The Amalfi Coast dotted with picturesque ancient fishing villages is a combination of great beauty and gripping drama where coastal mountains plunge into the sea creating stunning scenes.

Among the glittering string of coastal gems, legendary Amalfi and Positano sparkle the brightest, while mountaintop Ravello has grand villas. We will spend the first two days in Agerola nestled between Amalfi and Positano, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is an ancient village that has miraculously survived the onslaught of package tourism.

Aside from its sheer beauty, the region is home to some superb restaurants and hotels. It is also one of Italy's top spots for photography.

Just south of the Amalfi Coast is the ancient Greek city of Paestum. We will spend a day photographing and exploring Paestum's three ancient temples and amphitheater.

North of the Amalfi Coast we will photograph the ancient ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Like its sister city, Pompeii, Herculaneum is famous for having been buried in ash during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. These ancient cities are time-capsules preserving the history of Rome.

What's included in tuition:

Tuition includes guided fieldwork, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

What's not included in tuition:

Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

Private Photography Instruction and Guiding

Additional fee for travel may be added depending on instruction location.

  • 1 person - $650
  • 2 people - $950
  • 3 people - $1150
  • 4 people - $1350
  • 5 people - $1550
  • Workshop Overview

    Workshop Overview

    Workshops capture landscape images that excite and move, images that trace where the mind has been and forms a unique vision to last a lifetime. Students learn to apply new skills daily in a supportive environment where we share our collective knowledge to take the next step. We hold a deep passion for the places we travel, and explore images that continue to inspire. What takes time to create, time respects, for good images don't just happen. Most often, our best images lie around the next turn, waiting for us to find. Our philosophy understands that through photography and an open mind, the world is ever ready to delight. Paul James is a published, award-winning photographer from southeastern Michigan who offers the best in personalized photographic instruction on every level - whether you're just beginning or are a seasoned veteran. Paul takes great pride in his work, and this translates to some great teaching techniques. He has vast experience in both the artistic and technical aspects of photography; he is adept in digital, medium- and large-format cameras, which includes a large range of camera brands and models. He welcomes photographers of all formats and skill levels; however, classes and workshops are geared for the digital photographer.

    Paul James is a published, award winning photographer from Southeastern Michigan who offers the best in personalized photographic instruction on every level; whether you're just beginning or a seasoned veteran. Paul takes great pride in his work, and this translates to some great teaching techniques. He has vast experience in both the artistic and technical aspects of photography; he is adept in Digital, Medium and Large format Cameras, which includes a large range of camera brands and models. He welcomes photographers of all formats and skill levels; however, this class will be geared for the digital photographer.

    Each day, we shoot at �first light� to capture moments with magic in every shot.

    • Learn tips and tricks used by professionals to create impressive photographs.
    • Discover new viewpoints, and interesting details that might be overlooked, to see the world photographically.
    • Learn to sense the direction of light and how to capture the magic moment.
    • Improve your photographic technique.
    • Learn your camera and how to get the most out of it.
    • Have fun!

    Example Itinerary:

    • Day One: Arrive in Pisa were we can go over equipment and Photograph at sunset.
    • Day Two: Photograph at sunrise in Pias and then travel by train to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre. After checking in to our hotel spend time photographing in Vernazza in the afternoon through sunset and when have dinner in the harbor.
    • Day Three - Five: The best times for shooting are Sunrise and Sunset and we will photograph through the day while we enjoy hiking and shopping in the seaside villages. While in the Cinque Terre we will spend time processing images.
    • Day Six: Photograph at sunrise and say our goodbye's over breakfast before traveling to Provence for the next workshop.

    What's included in your tuition:

    Tuition includes fieldwork, guiding, software training and critiques of your digital files during our classroom sessions..

    What's not included in your tuition:

    Travel costs, lodging, entrance fees, and meals are not included in the cost of admission unless specified.

    A Journey shared is truly a Journey remembered

    The Roma and Cinque Terre photographic workshops trips were a great success. Both groups came home with some wonderful images and some wonderful memories. I will soon be posting some of the new images on the website and hope that you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them. Many thanks to my two wonderful friends Steve and Grazia who helped make the Rome workshop very special. For anyone traveling to Roma for a holiday, taking one of their personalized day tours is a must.

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