Workshop | Photo Tour Details
The number for enrollment will correspond to how many instructors we have available to assist participants.
Workshop|photo tour fees cover tuition expenses only. Travel to and from the workshop must be arranged by the participant but most people drive their own vehicles to the Smokies. No special vehicles will be required for any of our workshops/photo tours.
During the Workshop or Photo Tour:
Participants will need to carpool during the workshop|photo tour as there is generally limited parking space for vehicles at some of the shooting locations. Carpooling also allows participants to share experiences and create friendships. Unfortunately, due to insurance considerations, participants cannot carpool with instructors.
Smoky Mountain School of Photography reserves the right to cancel a workshop|photo tour for reasons that include, but are not limited to lack of enrollment, acts of God, natural disasters (such as fire, flood, etc). We are not responsible for any incidental or consequential expenses or damages that you may incur as a result of the cancellation of a workshop. Due to this, we suggest that you not make airline reservations more than 60 days prior to the workshop|photo tour start date in order to minimize the risk of non-refundable expenses. You may wish to consider booking refundable flights and/or purchasing trip insurance to cover any potential and non-refundable expenses.
Cancellation By You:
Each workshop|photo tour has a specific number of days after which there will be no refunds issued in the event of your cancellation. (See each individual workshop|photo tour section for the relevant cancellation period.) If you cancel after you have paid your deposit but before the balance due date, then we will refund your deposit plus any other monies paid minus a 10% administration fee. We do not issue refunds after the final balance due date.
If you cancel after the balance due date and are not able to receive a refund, if you choose, we will transfer your payment to another workshop|photo tour being run at a later date – within certain restrictions. A transfer is available for any workshop|photo tour that falls within one year of the date of the workshop|photo tour you cancelled and ONLY IF 45 days prior to the start of the desired workshop/photo tour, there is still room available. If there is still room available at the 45-day point we will transfer your payment to that workshop|photo tour and guarantee you a space in that workshop/photo tour at that time. If the desired workshop|photo tour fills up prior to 45 days out, we will not be able to transfer you into that workshop|photo tour.
If the cost of the new workshop|photo tour is the same price or less, you will owe no further payment. If the new workshop|photo tour fee is higher than the payment you have already made, then you will only owe the difference between the two workshop|photo tour fees.
Note: There is one exception to the above ‘no refunds’ rule. If there is a waiting list for the workshop|photo tour, and someone is able to take your place in the workshop|photo tour, then you will receive a full refund of monies paid minus a 10% administration fee.
Frequently Asked Questions are answered here!
Today’s digital “equipment” cameras are truly marvels of science. Wonderful images can be made with a minimum of equipment and the proper techniques. Below are suggested equipment needs “but” — contact us with any questions you have.
Recommended Gear
A Digital SLR
Sturdy tripod and head
Wide angle lens
Normal Zoom lens
Telephoto lens
Macro lens or close-up filters
Circular polarizer filters for each lens
Graduated Neutral Density filters
Solid Neutral Density filters, etc.
Shutter release
Lens cloths
Photo backpack
Waterproof outer layers
Warm clothes
Walking boots
River Sandals
Camera Manuals
**Note: The above listed equipment is not an all-inclusive list nor is it a mandatory list. Bring what you have – although you may want to invest in the minimum of a circular polarizer if you don’t currently have one.
Cushion or Knee Pads
Hand towel for wiping off wet cameras
Field Notebook and Pen or Pencil
Larger Notebook for taking notes
Sunscreen
Water Bottle
Bug Spray
Change of shoes
Snacks – energy bars or other snacks for while in the field
2 jackets – one weatherproof light to medium weight and one light weight fleece type that can be worn under the weatherproof jacket
Warm clothing to wear in layers – short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, hooded sweatshirts, fleece
Coverings for extremities – hats, gloves, scarves, ear coverings, warm socks, comfortable waterproof hiking boots or hiking shoes with good tread.
Waterproof Clothing – we do not stop shooting just because it is raining. The best waterproof clothing is a waterproof jacket or jacket shell with a waterproof hood. Umbrellas can work but are cumbersome when dealing with photography equipment. Waterproof covering for backpacks and equipment.
Even if you have been shooting for a little while, you may want to at least review how to change certain key things on your camera – know how to change your shutter speed, ISO and aperture at a bare minimum. Know how to change and charge batteries. Know how to change and format memory cards. Even if you don’t yet understand how all of these elements interact, you will at least know how to physically change them when the time comes.