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Experience the magic of peak fall color on this unforgettable Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains Photography Workshop. This immersive 3-day Smoky Mountains fall photography workshop is designed to put you in the right places at the right times to capture the very best of the season—golden valleys, fiery red hillsides, misty mountain layers, and winding forest roads glowing beneath a canopy of autumn leaves.
The Great Smoky Mountains are legendary in the fall, and for good reason. When the color reaches its peak, the entire landscape transforms into a breathtaking mix of reds, oranges, and golds, creating some of the most photogenic scenery in the United States. With extra time built into the schedule, we’ll have the flexibility to chase the best light, work around weather patterns, and ensure you come home with a memory card full of portfolio-worthy images.
Even if you’ve visited the Smokies before, seeing them wrapped in peak autumn color is an entirely different experience. The atmosphere is electric, the scenery feels endless, and every overlook becomes a new opportunity. If you’re looking for a workshop that delivers maximum variety and nonstop photographic potential—this is it.
Throughout the workshop, you’ll take your landscape photography to the next level as we dive deep into the fundamentals that separate a good image from a great one. We’ll focus heavily on composition, visual flow, and learning how to use angle of view to strengthen your scenes. You’ll learn how to simplify complex landscapes, recognize strong foreground elements, and “see” the Smokies with a trained eye—building images that feel intentional, balanced, and powerful.
Whether you’re looking to build a stronger portfolio, refine your technique, or experience the Smoky Mountains during the most beautiful season of the year, this workshop is an unforgettable opportunity to photograph the Smokies at their absolute best.
Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains Photography Workshop – Overview
Come explore the far reaches of the Great Smoky Mountains during one of the most photogenic seasons of the year. I’ve been returning to the Smokies several times a year for as long as I can remember, and over time I’ve discovered a collection of locations that are nothing short of magical—places that most visitors never see, and scenes that never make it onto the typical itinerary.
The Smokies are truly unique. This mountain range holds some of the richest biodiversity in the entire Eastern United States, with plant and animal life found nowhere else in the region. And in the Smokies, everything grows big—towering old-growth forests, moss-covered boulders, and ferns so large they feel prehistoric. This landscape has a way of pulling you in, and during autumn it becomes absolutely unforgettable.
On this workshop, we’ll explore a carefully selected mix of iconic overlooks and hidden backroads, along with some of my favorite secret locations deep in the park. We’ll also be scouting and exploring a few new areas along the way, giving this trip an adventurous spirit and a fresh creative edge. Expect to return home inspired, energized, and with a portfolio full of images that truly reflect the wild beauty of the Smokies in fall.
As peak autumn arrives, the Great Smoky Mountains transform into a breathtaking tapestry of color. The lush greens of summer give way to a dramatic blend of reds, oranges, yellows, and golds, painting entire ridgelines and valleys with a glow that feels almost unreal. Under clear blue skies, the contrast between fiery foliage and distant mountain layers creates some of the most striking landscape photography opportunities in the United States.
But the Smokies are more than just fall color. The true magic often happens in the subtle moments—misty mornings rolling through the valleys, soft fog wrapping around distant peaks, and golden light spilling across the landscape during the first and last minutes of the day. We’ll be chasing those conditions constantly, positioning ourselves to capture the Smokies at their most dramatic and atmospheric.
We’ll also spend time slowing down and working the intimate side of the forest. The Smokies are famous for small scenes—mushrooms that appear overnight, mossy logs, forest streams framed by fallen leaves, and quiet pockets of color that most people walk right past. These details are often where the strongest images are made, and I’ll teach you how to identify them quickly and compose them with purpose.
A major goal of this workshop is to help you learn how to “see” the landscape differently. We’ll work on building strong compositions even when conditions aren’t perfect, learning how to bring new life into scenes that might look ordinary during harsh daylight hours. You’ll learn how to use depth, layering, visual flow, and foreground structure to create images that feel intentional and powerful.
This workshop is also highly instruction-focused, with real-world techniques designed specifically for photographing a landscape like the Smokies. We’ll spend time working with shutter speed control, one of the most important tools in your creative toolkit. Whether we’re freezing wildlife movement, capturing drifting leaves, or creating silky motion in mountain streams, you’ll learn how to make shutter speed choices that enhance the story and mood of your image.
We’ll also dive into advanced techniques such as image blending for challenging dynamic range scenes, as well as black and white conversions that can transform a moody Smoky Mountain photograph into something timeless and dramatic. These are powerful tools that can elevate your work beyond what the eye sees and help you develop a more refined personal style.
If you’re looking for a workshop that combines adventure, peak fall color, and high-level instruction in one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the country, this Great Smoky Mountains Fall Photography Workshop is the perfect opportunity. The Smokies in autumn are unforgettable—and once you see them in peak color, you’ll understand why photographers return year after year.
Booking Info: Contact the Bearskin Lodge in Gatlinburg and mention Mountains to Sea Workshop for our block discount. 840 River Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. 865-430-4330
*We are fully Permitted in the Park and promote “Leave No Trace”
Important: Your safety is always our highest priority. Please make sure you are able to hike at least one mountain mile. The terrain here is uneven and can be steep to our shoot locations. An equipment list will be provided prior to the Workshop. *If you have a pre-existing medical condition, we will need to know about this in advance to assess your ability for this trip.
Itinerary
Day 1 (1/2 day)
Meet in the Great Smokies at the Bearskin Lodge. Check in is 4pm. Sunset Session at Morton’s Overlook
Day 2
Wake up early for a Sunrise Session at Cades Cove. Our afternoon Session will be at Tremont. Our Sunset Session will be at Clingmans Dome and nearby overlooks.
Day 3
Sunrise Session at Oconaluftee Overlook, followed by some key Waterfalls. We will have a short presentation on retouching, advanced composition and how to capture dramatic angles. Our afternoon and Sunset Session will be at Roaring Fork Motor Trail.
Day 4
Sunrise Session at Clingmans Dome. Workshop adjournment and Check Out at 11am.
TERRAIN
Woodland Terrain and Trails, pavement, and Mountain streams. Good sturdy footwear and water shoes are recommended
ACTIVITY
Easy to Moderate trail walking up to a 1.5 miles
EXPERIENCE
Aspiring to Advanced. Cell Phones are welcome
GROUP SIZE
6 Participants
TEMPERATURES
30-75 degrees. Full Winter and Summer Waterproof/Breathable Outerwear is recommended.
HUMIDITY
50-90 %
NEAREST AIRPORT
Knoxville, TN
Charlotte, NC
Topics we will cover
Learn how to create powerful compositions and bring your artistic vision to life
Visualizing your composition, capturing and guiding the viewer
How to identify and control: Balance and visual flow
The use of filters to enhance and control light. How to “see” light
Histograms, how to read them, and why they play an important role
Focus Stacking for extreme front and back focus
How to use lens compression
How to blend focal lengths
How to create beautiful Long Exposures to unveil a hidden visual world
Photographing the night sky: Stars, Milky Way, Star Trails and Time Lapse Photography
Light Painting in the Twilight and night Landscape
How to research potential shoot locations
How to read the weather
Image Critique
Post Processing and Digital Workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop
What is included:
3 Full days of Photography and field Instruction in the Great Smoky Mountains
Guidance through the most visited National Park in America
Snacks and Drinks are provided during the Workshop
One on One field guidance in composition, color, balance, and harmony
Learn how to capture and process in Black and White.
Visual interpretation of the landscape. How to see and use the light.
Fully park permitted and Insured.
What’s not included:
Food. Plan to bring your favorite snacks and water. We will have some available.
Flight
Lodging
Parking Fees
Alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance (optional but recommended)
Personal Items
Transportation. Participants should plan to provide their own transportation. Carpooling will be available at your own discretion.
PACK LIST
Click HERE to view the Packlist
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel your booking, the Deposit is non-refundable on all Seasonal and Group Photography Workshops. If the cancellation is less than 90 days, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit and 15% admin fee when your spot is filled. If the cancellation is more than 90 days, you will receive a full refund when your spot is filled, or, you may move to another available workshop (minus a 15% admin fee) in the current calendar year. The remaining balance on the new Workshop is due upon transfer.
If you are booked for a Private Workshop and you need to cancel, you may reschedule your workshop one time within the current calendar year during an available time.