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Overview:
For all photographers, this five-day landscape photography workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn how to work a scene with intention—especially in places as grand and visually overwhelming as Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Many photographers arrive in the Southwest and immediately focus on the big, sweeping views (and trust me, we’ll photograph plenty of those). But what I’ll help you do is slow down and learn how to see beyond the obvious—finding stronger foregrounds, cleaner compositions, and intimate scenes hidden within the larger landscape.
We’ll spend time dialing in your camera settings so you feel confident in any lighting situation, whether we’re photographing sunrise in Zion Canyon or working with high contrast conditions when the sun begins bouncing off the sandstone walls. Learning to “read” light is one of the most important skills in landscape photography, and Zion and Bryce provide the perfect environment to learn to see and capture it, as it flows down the red Sandstone Canyon walls.
For intermediate and advanced photographers, this workshop goes deeper into advanced composition techniques and creative decision-making. We’ll focus on how to identify the most important elements in a scene—shapes, textures, contrast, and leading lines—and how to use them to create more impactful, intentional images.
Throughout the week, we’ll cover real-world techniques that you can apply repeatedly in your photography, including:
Advanced composition and visual flow
Leading lines and foreground development
Light direction and how to use it to create depth
Exposure blending for challenging light
Recovering highlights and shadows in post-processing
Focus stacking for sharp detail from front to back
Focal length blending for depth and compression
Long exposure photography for rivers, clouds, and motion
Polarizer and ND filter techniques
Layering and depth-building techniques
Finding and photographing intimate landscapes and canyon abstracts
Simplifying complex scenes for stronger visual impact
This workshop is designed around a small group, which allows for personalized instruction and plenty of one-on-one time in the field. You’ll be able to ask questions, get real-time feedback, and receive guidance on both technical settings and composition as we shoot.
There’s no place quite like Zion National Park. Towering red cliffs, narrow slot canyons, desert textures, and golden reflected light bouncing off Navajo sandstone make it one of the most visually stunning landscapes in the American Southwest. Zion is the kind of place that stays with you—and it has a way of pulling photographers back again and again.
And then there’s Bryce Canyon, which offers an entirely different experience. The hoodoos stretch across the landscape like an endless maze of spires, and when sunrise hits them just right, the canyon glows with an incredible mix of red, orange, and gold. Bryce Canyon is a dream location for landscape photography, and if conditions line up, we may even get the rare opportunity to photograph fresh snow dusting the hoodoos—an unforgettable contrast of white snow against glowing red rock.
This workshop takes place in late February, one of the best times of year to photograph Zion and Bryce Canyon. Crowds are at a minimum, the shuttle buses aren’t running, and we’ll have the freedom to move efficiently and chase the best light without the typical congestion of peak season. Winter conditions also mean there’s always a chance of snow, creating unique photographic opportunities you simply won’t see during other times of year.
Each day is built around the best light. We’ll start early for sunrise sessions, explore and photograph throughout the day, and finish strong with sunset shoots when the canyon walls and hoodoos catch fire with warm reflected light. Over the course of five full days, you’ll photograph everything from sweeping grand vistas to intimate desert details—river reflections, sandstone textures, canyon abstracts, and dramatic compositions shaped by shadow and light.
This Zion and Bryce Canyon photography workshop is ideal for photographers who want more than a photo tour. It’s a hands-on landscape photography experience designed to help you grow creatively and technically. Whether it’s your first time photographing the Southwest or you’re returning to build a stronger portfolio, you’ll leave with new skills, stronger images, and a deeper understanding of how to create compelling landscape photographs.
Expect immersive instruction, a small group atmosphere, and plenty of time in the field. This is a true landscape photography workshop in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, built for photographers who want to learn, explore, and come home with extraordinary images.
TERRAIN
Sandstone, River walking, Sandy trails. Hiking Boots, Trail Shoes, and Water Shoes are recommended.
ACTIVITY
Easy to Moderate trail walking up to 2 miles
EXPERIENCE
Aspiring to Advanced. Cell Phones are welcome
GROUP SIZE
6 Participants
TEMPERATURES
30-60 degrees. All Season Outerwear is recommended.
HUMIDITY
35-45%
NEAREST MAJOR AIRPORT
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival. Orientation and take a freestyle look at our amazing surroundings in Zion National Park. Sunset shoot at Tower of Virgins
Day 2 - Morning hike into The Narrows. Sunset location on the Virgin River over The Watchman, Canyon Junction
Day 3 - Sunrise hike to Observation Pt via East Mesa. , Midday retouching Session. Sunset hike to Canyon Overlook
Day 4 - Sunrise at Zion. Travel to Bryce Canyon for Orientation and an afternoon hike into the Hoodoos. Sunset at Sunset Point
Day 5 - Sunrise at Bryce Point. Afternoon retouching Session. Sunset at Inspiration Point
Day 6 - Sunrise at Fairyland Point. Workshop Adjournment
Topics we will cover
How to research potential shoot locations
How to read the weather
Learn how to create powerful compositions and bring your artistic vision to life
Visualizing your composition, capturing and guiding the viewer
The use of Neutral Density and ND Graduated filters to enhance and control light.
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 and when to use it.
How to blend focal lengths and exposures to maximize Dynamic Range
How to create beautiful Long Exposures to unveil a hidden visual world of intrigue and wonder
Photographing the night sky: Stars, Milky Way, Star Trails, and Time Lapse Photography
Light Painting in the Twilight and Night Landscape
Image Critique and Visual Experience
Post Processing and Digital Workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop, including third-party software
What’s Included
Photography instruction with Landscape Photographer Tommy White
Lightroom and Photoshop training
3rd party programs like TK Actions, Luminar and Nik
5 Full days of Photography and field Instruction
One on One field guidance in framing, settings, visual flow and “seeing” in the landscape.
GPS field guidance to track our shoot locations
Drinks and Snacks are provided during Workshop
Identifying important subjects both near and far
Capturing textures, shapes and patterns
Visual interpretation of the landscape. How to “see” and use the light
Guidance and safety throughout the entire trip
Limited field equipment and accessories
What’s not included
Participants should plan to provide their own transportation. Carpooling will be available at your own discretion
Your flight
Meals during the trip. I will always have drinks and snacks on hand, but plan to travel with your own favorites as well.
Lodging - We will provide information for you on Lodging upon registration. As photography is all about the weather, we will plan to move about for the best conditions. We will have a secured place to stay on the night of our arrival and the night before our departure
Park and admission fees. We are fully permitted in State and National Parks, but occasionally there are other fees per individual.
Alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
Personal Items
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.