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Utah Photography Workshop: Into the Badlands

Into the Badlands:
Utah Photography Workshop

Imagine a landscape so unique that astronauts are trained here for landing on planet Mars!
This part of Utah has places that feel like you are on a different planet, with large wilderness sections filled with unique colors, textures, and natural architecture. The region offers much to explore and photograph – from hidden canyons to dramatic narrows, rugged mountains, and spectacular rock formations that are strewn across the desert landscape.

Discover the Badlands with us!
During this 6 day workshop, we will be traveling to locations far from paved roads hidden in the heart of Utah. Our intimate knowledge of the area allows us to provide you with the best way to capture the breathtaking beauty that this untamed part of the Colorado Plateau has to offer.

On this photo adventure, we will explore many picturesque locations. This area is overflowing with dramatic sandstone features including arches, monoliths, endless canyons, red rock, white domes, and countless stunning desert features to feast your eyes on.

As we venture outside of the more well-known locations, we will see some of the most interesting badlands in the world. The colorful hues of Bentonite Hills, the bluish Mancos Shale badlands, and the deep martian-red badlands of the Chinle Formations are just some of the areas we will visit.

With its dark skies and endless foregrounds, we’ll also have several opportunities to photograph the stars in one of the few remaining dark skies in the US. 

During the workshop, our itinerary will be kept as flexible as possible as we chase the light and colors of this extraordinary place. On a typical day, you will be up early to capture the sunrise and out past sunset.
Daylight hours will be spent resting, in post-processing sessions, or out shooting the endless vistas.

Our Photo Guides will monitor weather forecasts, road conditions, and any other factors and plan the days to optimize shooting conditions. Our goal is to put you in the best locations at the right time with the best light!

Whether you’re an experienced, amateur, or beginner photographer, you will add to your portfolio with an incredible array of images, learning composition techniques with the assistance of award-winning photo guides.

 

Please note that this is a drone-friendly workshop and we will be happy to help you with guidance on how to take spectacular photos using your drone. We have a limited number of drones available for hire if you do not have your own and wish to learn – please contact us at info@vip-llc.com for information and rates.

Dates

26-31 March, 2025

Group Size

Maximum of 12 participants

Price (USD)

$2,990 (Double Occupancy)
$3,490 (Single Occupancy)

Photography Workshop Highlights

  • Improving your Landscape, Drone, Astro, and Golden Hour photography skills with our team of master photographers
  • Workshop dates optimized for weather conditions, astrophotography, and Milky Way
  • Experiencing the rich palette of colors as the desert becomes ablaze during Golden Hour
  • Capturing the incredible textures and rock formations in different perspectives – from epic wide-angle landscapes to intimate abstracts
  • Receiving support and mentoring that is personalized to your photography skills and journey
  • Learning composition techniques to transform your photos into compelling, creative, and engaging images
  • Introduction to drone photography, assistance with drone setup, and if it’s your first time or in-field instruction for how to fly one and use this new tool for photography
  • Visiting the dramatic mesas and badlands
  • Understanding how to create stunning panoramas – from shooting the images in-field to the post-processing workflow
  • A small workshop so your experience is truly personal, and you get to know your guide and fellow photographers

Included

  • 6 day workshop with 5 nights accommodations 
  • Award-winning, professional Photo Guides who will provide a combination of instruction, masterclasses, and in-field guidance
  • Transfers to and from workshop location (from Las Vegas)
  • Transportation during the workshop in a comfortable vehicle that is suited to the rough terrain of the area
  • Park fees and permits
  • Post-processing sessions with Photo Guides
  • Access to exclusive discounts on gear from our partners

Excluded

  • Flights/travel to and from the pickup location in Las Vegas
  • Food and beverages
  • Items of a personal nature including (but not limited to) laundry services, clothing, Wi-Fi, email, or phone charges
  • Personal Travel, Medical, Equipment or Trip Cancellation Insurance
  • Visas (if applicable)
  • Gratuities for Photo Guides, local guides, and/or drivers

Book Now

To secure your spot on this workshop, select from the below to either pay a deposit or in full.
Completing your payment confirms acceptance of the Terms and Conditions as outlined.

Please note that the full amount is due 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
A 4% charge is added using this service. Please contact us if you prefer other payment options.
Occupancy Type is subject to availability - please refer to Your Accommodation Selection in the Important Workshop Information section below.

Utah Badlands Image Gallery

Some of our favorite images our Photo Guides have captured from this incredible location!

Important Workshop Information

Level of Fitness and Medical Requirements

A mild level of fitness is required for this workshop.

 

Most shooting locations are easily accessible via a short hike. However, sometimes this may be across rough, uneven, icy, or muddy terrain that includes elevation changes. Our Guides will let you know if a photography destination involves a long hike, steep incline, or particularly challenging terrain, and provide alternative shooting locations or other options if you don’t feel comfortable.

 

Participants should also be able to carry their own camera gear while hiking.

 

Sometimes we may remain in a location shooting for a few hours. Participants should be comfortable outdoors for extended periods of time in various weather conditions such as wind, rain, sun, and extremes of temperature. Wherever possible, our Guides will keep the vehicle available nearby so participants can rest and take a break.

 

All participants should be in good physical shape with no mobility issues. If you have any concerns about your suitability, then reach out to us and we will be happy to discuss the particular location details of the workshop with you.

 

You must advise Viking International Phototours in advance and in writing via email of any illness, injury, or pre-existing medical conditions that might reasonably be expected to affect your participation during the workshop.

Important - Minimum participant requirements

Our workshops require a minimum number of participants to proceed.

 

We will confirm if your photography workshop will be proceeding 90 days before the start date, at which point full payment of any remaining balance will be required.

 

Viking International Phototours reserves the right to reschedule or cancel workshops due to low participant numbers. We will do our best to reschedule the workshop within two years of the original date. 

If this happens, we will offer you the choice between:

    • Retaining your spot on the rescheduled workshop;
    • Transferring to the same workshop on a different date if there is availability; or
    • Canceling your spot on the rescheduled workshop: No refund – your funds will be held as credit which can be transferred or used towards our other photography workshops, self-drive packages, or tours for up to 2 years from the date of cancellation.

In the improbable event that a workshop is canceled altogether rather than rescheduled, we will offer you the choice between:

    • Applying your funds towards a different workshop, tour or self-drive experience; or 
    • Receiving a full refund minus a $300 USD fee and any non-refundable fees paid to third parties.

Please note that Viking International Phototours are not liable for travel expenses incurred to reach the workshop destination or any other personal expenses incurred in preparing for your workshop. For this reason, we require that you obtain Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance.

 

We also recommend you do not book travel or make any trip-related purchases before the workshop has been confirmed.

Your Accommodation selection

Accommodation options on our photography workshops may include:

• Double Occupancy where you will share a room with your traveling companion;
• Double Occupancy where you are paired with another workshop participant of the same gender; and/or
• Single Occupancy in your own room.

Your accommodation selection is made when you book the workshop.

 

 

Solo Participants
Solo participants are welcome to select the Double Occupancy rate at the time of booking. If Viking International Phototours is unable to pair you with a roommate of the same gender from the workshop group, we will notify you ahead of the workshop and request you to pay the supplementary cost for a Single Occupancy room.

 

 

Single Room Availability
On some photography workshops, Single Occupancy rooms may be limited. If this is the case, single rooms will be assigned on a first-booked, first-served basis. If you booked a photography workshop at the Single Occupancy rate and we are unable to provide you with a single room, we will notify you ahead of the workshop, place you into a Double Occupancy room paired with a workshop participant of the same gender, and refund you the difference.

When to arrive at the workshop destination

We cannot delay or change a workshop in the event of travel disruptions that cause a participant to arrive late.

 

If this happens, participants are responsible for arranging their own transport to catch up with the group – which can be a very costly expense. In addition, no refunds will be made for any time missed on a workshop due to the late arrival by the participant.

 

For this reason, we highly recommend you arrive the day before your workshop is scheduled to start at the latest.
At the very least, you will be more refreshed and relaxed for the start of your adventure.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

We know that plans can change, and unforeseen circumstances can happen. 

 

You need to advise us in writing via email as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop. Your cancellation is not official until you have received a return email confirmation acknowledging your cancellation.

 

If you cancel and we can fill your spot on the workshop, you will receive a full refund minus a $300 USD fee.
If you cancel and the workshop does not fill, cancellation requests and refunds will be processed according to the following:

    • More than 90 days from the start date of the workshop: Full refund minus $300 USD fee*
    • Less than 90 days: No refund – your funds will be held as a credit which can be transferred or used towards our other self-drive packages, tours, or photography workshops for up to 2 years from the date of cancellation*.

*Please note that some of our workshops with partner companies/third parties may have non-refundable deposits, which will not be refunded or credited to you.

Itinerary

Our workshop’s itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of our Photo Guides depending on factors including but not limited to weather, road conditions, transportation delays, and other factors beyond our control. We will check the weather forecasts and road conditions and plan our day to optimize shooting conditions.


We cannot guarantee that we will be able to visit all the locations on the itinerary.

Aerial Photography & Drones

There are drone-friendly places in the US, so if you own a drone, you are welcome to bring it along to the workshop.


Please note that you are solely responsible for your equipment, and are expected to adhere to all rules and regulations as specified by the Federal Aviation Administration and any other applicable state-specific regulations.


Viking International Phototours and our Photo Guides will not be liable for any injury or damage caused to equipment, environment or people caused by you operating your drone during our workshop.

Traveling with a Non-Photographer

If you are traveling with a partner/friend who is interested in joining you on this workshop but they are NOT a photographer, we may be able to accommodate them. In some instances, this may be at a reduced price.

 

Please note that this will be at the discretion of Viking International Phototours – contact us for information.

 

Your companion would need to understand that this is a photography workshop and not a typical ‘tourist’ tour – long hours will be spent photographing locations outdoors rather than visiting attractions.

Arranging as a private workshop experience

If you are interested in this workshop but would prefer a private experience or to attend with your own group of people, we can arrange that for you – contact us to discuss.

Booking Terms & Conditions

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Booking with Viking International Phototours indicates acceptance of the Booking Terms and Conditions as outlined.

How to contact us

If you have any questions about this workshop, please get in touch with us at info@vip-llc.com.