Photo Tours

[Imagebuffet]

I enjoy camping, travel and photography, so I am thinking of a way to make a business out of these interests. One possibility is for me to set up photo tours. Does anyone have any observations or advice relevant to this idea?

[park]

With many tours out there, what would make yours special? Other than the wish to make it so, what is your plan?

[utdbear]

Also, where would you do tours?

[J Eddington]

You had better know where you are going and have serious connections. Example photos of all the locations. I would suggest running some trial trips with friends to see how it all goes.

[Imagebuffet]

Good words of advice, all.

Originally Posted by J Eddington

You had better know where you are going and have serious connections. Example photos of all the locations. I would suggest running some trial trips with friends to see how it all goes.

I am an active member of two hiking, backpacking and camping groups. I'm contemplating taking over another group, or forming my own. I've been hiking and camping (with my cameras) all over Texas, New Mexico and parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas for two years. I have thousands of photos of these locations.

Admittedly, I am a beginner in every aspect. I've visited and photographed many interesting locations, often enough in some cases that I'm beginning to learn the side streets nearly as well as my neighborhood back home. But, that may not be enough support, or enough off the beaten path.

[park]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

Good words of advice, all.



I am an active member of two hiking, backpacking and camping groups. I'm contemplating taking over another group, or forming my own. I've been hiking and camping (with my cameras) all over Texas, New Mexico and parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas for two years. I have thousands of photos of these locations.

Admittedly, I am a beginner in every aspect. I've visited and photographed many interesting locations, often enough in some cases that I'm beginning to learn the side streets nearly as well as my neighborhood back home. But, that may not be enough support, or enough off the beaten path.

It sounds like you are offering to be a guide rather than instructor.

I believe most people that are looking for photo tours are looking for an expert photographer to take them through an area he is very familiar with and not only show them the area but teach them photography. Dennis Darling, a photojournalism professor at the University of Texas, did and still does that afaik in Ireland. There is even a company here that has been doing ten or so trips a year for the last twenty years. The leader is a very fine landscape shooter.

I think you are going to have to bring a lot more to the party than you now have to offer. Especially with everyone and their dog offering workshops now that business is so tough. Good luck. Perhaps you could partner with a photographer that has an outstanding reputation that might be interested in you helping with logistics.

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by park

It sounds like you are offering to be a guide rather than instructor.

Yes. I have no intention of being a photography instructor.

Originally Posted by park

I believe most people that are looking for photo tours are looking for an expert photographer to take them through an area he is very familiar with and not only show them the area but teach them photography. Dennis Darling, a photojournalism professor at the University of Texas, did and still does that afaik in Ireland. There is even a company here that has been doing ten or so trips a year for the last twenty years. The leader is a very fine landscape shooter.

I think you are going to have to bring a lot more to the party than you now have to offer. Especially with everyone and their dog offering workshops now that business is so tough. Good luck. Perhaps you could partner with a photographer that has an outstanding reputation that might be interested in you helping with logistics.

Thank you for giving me much to think about.

I am approaching this from the perspective of someone who has led hiking and camping groups. Many people want to enjoy the outdoor life. I would like to offer that, and offer photography with that.

Another idea is to offer tours in which I would serve as the photographer. I don't know how well that would fly.

[park]

Originally Posted by Imagebuffet

Yes. I have no intention of being a photography instructor.



Thank you for giving me much to think about.

I am approaching this from the perspective of someone who has led hiking and camping groups. Many people want to enjoy the outdoor life. I would like to offer that, and offer photography with that.

Another idea is to offer tours in which I would serve as the photographer. I don't know how well that would fly.

Many professional photographers get local guides to help them shoot in most places, particularly foreign countries. Do amateurs really need a guide to let say Mesa Verde or Big Bend? I don't think they would pay squat for that. The only place I see guides making money is on river rafting trips.

What do you mean serve as the photographer? Everyone carries a camera now. Why would a group need a photographer?

What groups want and will pay for is a photographer they respect to teach them while out on a tour/workshop and that is something you simply can't do at this point. Just my opinion of course...

[Imagebuffet]

Originally Posted by park

Many professional photographers get local guides to help them shoot in most places, particularly foreign countries. Do amateurs really need a guide to let say Mesa Verde or Big Bend? I don't think they would pay squat for that. The only place I see guides making money is on river rafting trips.

That could be. Some of the other members of the camping groups will accept paying $30 to a campground for a weekend a few hours away, but pitch a fit if the camp organizer charges anything. But, many of these people won't go alone, so they are looking for groups.

Originally Posted by park

What do you mean serve as the photographer? Everyone carries a camera now. Why would a group need a photographer?

Sometimes, people don't want to bother shooting their own photos. I've had people approach me about shooting their group's night out. It isn't that much different from why wedding photographers still get hired.

Originally Posted by park

What groups want and will pay for is a photographer they respect to teach them while out on a tour/workshop and that is something you simply can't do at this point. Just my opinion of course...

I'm sure that is true if the group consists of photographers. I know a lot of people who feel strained to shoot more than 3 photos on a weekend trip.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Maybe you can do street shooting in the metroplex and call it Yuppie or Metrosexual or even Cougar hunting and require people to use rangefinders (nice an quite) (or even the cheap film one shot disposables) and you would give a class on guerilla street shooting before going out for your prey.

Otherwise what it sounds like you intend to offer is a dime a dozen on Craigs list and you will starve.

[ggeen]

Hello Richard. I don't know if I have your idea right in my head just thinking out loud -- kinda. There is a Nikonean's group that does photography adventure tours. Like Yellowstone in winter kind of thing. Is that the market you are looking for?

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by park

It sounds like you are offering to be a guide rather than instructor.

I believe most people that are looking for photo tours are looking for an expert photographer to take them through an area he is very familiar with and not only show them the area but teach them photography. Dennis Darling, a photojournalism professor at the University of Texas, did and still does that afaik in Ireland. There is even a company here that has been doing ten or so trips a year for the last twenty years. The leader is a very fine landscape shooter.

I think you are going to have to bring a lot more to the party than you now have to offer. Especially with everyone and their dog offering workshops now that business is so tough. Good luck. Perhaps you could partner with a photographer that has an outstanding reputation that might be interested in you helping with logistics.

I agree with this. Most of these types of tours, the organizer is not just a guide/chauffeur but also an instructor. A lot of the people who sign up for these things want to learn, not just be guided to a location. That's why they're usually called field workshops.

The ones who don't need instruction and just want a guide, are more likely to want a private guide rather than a group trip; and they're going to want somebody with in-depth knowledge of a location (beyond what a person can dig up in a few hours of searching on the internet). They're also likely to want to go to places that are more remote or otherwise difficult to access (tricky 4WD roads, river-only access, etc).