What To Expect
For our next workshop, we’ll be heading to one of my absolute favorite places on earth - Yosemite National Park! This park is easily one of the most photogenic parks the states has to offer and we’ll be there during the height of fall colors which is when Yosemite is at its best. With stunning views of Half Dome and El Capitan, epic waterfalls around every corner, and the Merced River flowing through the valley, there’s never a shortage of things to do here. Every day, we'll be seeking those perfect reflections and colorful skies that Yosemite is known for. There's such a huge variety of shots here and I’m really excited to show you some of my favorite lesser known spots. It’s a place that means a lot to me and it’s where I first found my passion for photography. Some of my favorite moments ever captured were in this valley. I'll never forget my first time there and I know you won’t either!
During this workshop, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of photography, composition and working in the field, editing techniques with Lightroom and mobile editing, videography, and how to utilize social media to its fullest potential. In addition, you'll make memories that will last a lifetime in one of the most beautiful places on earth with a group of 9 like-minded individuals. This trip is sponsored by Sony so we will have the full lineup of the newest Sony gear from the entry level RX100 to the top of the line a7R IV and a9 available for you to use daily. We will also have all of the G Master lenses and several of the newest prime lenses so there will be no shortage of gear to try out! This trip is suitable for all fitness levels and all levels of photography experience. Even if you're coming with no camera and no prior photography knowledge, we'll teach you with the gear we provide so you can go home with great shots! Above all else, our workshops are about going on an adventure that you'll remember forever. This workshop will be limited to 10 people only. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns!
What You'll Learn
Fundamentals of Photography
Adventure Photography Techniques
Gear Planning, Scouting, & Researching
Composition and Getting the Shot
Live Lightroom & Mobile Editing Tutorials
Travel Videography
Social Media, Business, and Branding
What To Bring
Camera plus accessories such as tripod, memory cards, batteries, polarizer and ND filters
Laptop or smartphone/tablet (for editing sessions)
Clothes for hiking (including rain jacket and warm clothes)
Hiking boots
Casual clothes
Backpack (to hold gear during hikes)
Sunglasses
Sun protection
Headlamp
Toiletries
Medication
What's Included
Action-packed itinerary for the days, with lectures planned for each night
4 nights of accommodations
Transportation to and from the airport
Transportation for the duration of the trip
Entrance to the park (unless you’re driving yourself)
All breakfasts and dinners and some lunches
Personal instruction and one-on-one photo critiques with two instructors
Daily use of Sony camera gear
Gift bag valued up to $200
What's Not Included
Airfare to and from FAT Airport
Some lunches when we eat out and snacks for daily hikes
Travel & gear insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Email tiffpenguinworkshops@gmail.com to reserve your spot today!
*Early bird pricing only until Friday, August 30th.
Returning students will receive a $100 discount.
All that's required today to reserve your spot is a $500 deposit.
The remaining balance will be due in two installments on Friday, August 30th and Friday, September 27th.
Both weeks are sold out.
To be put on the wait list, please fill out the form below!
Refunds & Cancellations
This workshop includes a non-refundable $500 deposit. Cancellation requests must be made by email to tiffpenguinworkshops@gmail.com.
Cancellation on or before September 27th, 2019: 100% refund less non-refundable deposit fees.
Cancellation after September 27th, 2019: This close to the workshop date, we are no longer able to offer refunds. If you are able to find someone to fill your space, we can refund your fees less the non-refundable deposit.
In the highly unlikely event a workshop is cancelled, those enrolled will be immediately notified and refunded all payment received in full, including any deposits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I book my flights for?
Week 1: We’ll be making 2 stops on our way up to Yosemite so there’s a couple options in terms of where to get picked up. We will plan on leaving from the Long Beach area at around 8am on Wednesday, October 30th (exact meeting spot TBD). For those coming from the LA area, there will be a dedicated meeting spot where you can safely park your car for the weekend and we will then carpool the rest of the way. We will then drive to Fresno where we will pick up the rest of the group from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) at around 12pm. From FAT, it’s only about a 2 hour drive to Yosemite. It’s important that everyone arrives at or before the established meeting times so book your flights accordingly. You're also welcome to drive and meet us at the cabin if you’d like. If you’re planning to drive yourself, be aware that the cabin is located within Yosemite National Park so you will need to pay the $35 admission fee for a seven day park pass or you can use an annual pass if you have one. For your departure on November 3rd, the earliest you should fly out from FAT will be around 3pm because the planned drop-off time is 1pm. We're planning to leave from Yosemite early Sunday morning but there can often be delays getting out of the valley and getting back into LA so we want to make sure everyone allows enough time to make it to their flights. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the best flights to book!
Week 2: We’ll be making 2 stops on our way up to Yosemite so there’s a couple options in terms of where to get picked up. We will plan on leaving from the Long Beach area at around 8am on Wednesday, November 6th (exact meeting spot TBD). For those coming from the LA area, there will be a dedicated meeting spot where you can safely park your car for the weekend and we will then carpool the rest of the way. We will then drive to Fresno where we will pick up the rest of the group from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) at around 12pm. From FAT, it’s only about a 2 hour drive to Yosemite. It’s important that everyone arrives at or before the established meeting times so book your flights accordingly. You're also welcome to drive and meet us at the cabin if you’d like. If you’re planning to drive yourself, be aware that the cabin is located within Yosemite National Park so you will need to pay the $35 admission fee for a seven day park pass or you can use an annual pass if you have one. For your departure on November 10th, the earliest you should fly out from FAT will be around 3pm because the planned drop-off time is 1pm. We're planning to leave from Yosemite early Sunday morning but there can often be delays getting out of the valley and getting back into LA so we want to make sure everyone allows enough time to make it to their flights. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the best flights to book!
What will the itinerary be like?
The itinerary will be action packed and filled with tons of amazing chances for photos each day. We don’t release a detailed itinerary because we like to keep the exact contents of the workshop a surprise for those who are attending but you can definitely count on an abundance of river reflections, waterfalls, hikes to grand vistas, and amazing sunrises and sunsets. Most days, we’ll be in the park from sunrise to sunset so be prepared for long days. However, this time of year, the sunrise and sunset times are pretty forgiving so we’ll be back to the cabin at a decent hour each day. During the weekend we’re there, sunrise will be around 7:20am and sunset will be around 6pm. We’ll send out a rough itinerary to all attendees prior to the trip but this is always subject to change based on weather and photographic conditions.
How physically fit do I need to be? Do I need to be an experienced hiker?
The hikes that we will be doing in Yosemite will range from very easy to moderate difficulty so some limited hiking experience will be helpful. Some hikes will cover moderate distances and will require some minor elevation gain so modest physical fitness is recommended. However, we will definitely be taking our time on the hikes so don’t worry if you consider yourself a slow hiker! Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns!
Is there a minimum age required to attend the workshop? What's the average age of participants at your workshops?
You must be at least 21 years old to attend this workshop. If you’re under 21, you may attend if you’re accompanied by someone who is over 21. The average age of participants at our workshops is roughly 21 to 40 but we welcome all people of ages 21 and over! This workshop is open to both males and females.
Do I need a DSLR camera to attend this workshop?
No! First and foremost, this workshop is about going on an adventure with a group of like-minded individuals and soaking in the natural beauty of Yosemite. If that sounds appealing, then we’d love for you to join us! Along the way, we will be taking many photos so having a camera is definitely a plus, but this can be anything from your smartphone to a top of the line DSLR. You will also have the opportunity to use Sony camera gear for the duration of the trip. We'll make sure everyone is up to speed in terms of how to use the gear so that you can get the best possible photos while you're there!
What will the accommodations be like?
We will be staying in a cabin about 20 minutes outside of the valley for our weekend in Yosemite. The cabin sleeps up to 12 people. Some people will need to share beds but there will be plenty of room to spread out. We will be holding our evening talks at the cabin and will be cooking most dinners there as well. The cabin will have some extra parking for anyone who will be driving themselves.
What if there's bad weather?
There’s always a chance that the weather may not cooperate during our visit. In the event of rain or trail closures, there are plenty of backup options for beautiful places to explore and photograph. Fall foliage can be very unpredictable and highly weather dependent so we can’t guarantee the presence of fall colors. However, we’ve planned the workshop around the dates where we’ll have the highest chance of observing fall colors.
What are the transportation details?
We will be transporting the group in 2 vehicles for transportation in and around Yosemite during the weekend. All you have to do is get yourself to FAT airport or the cabin on October 30th for week 1 or November 6th for week 2 and we’ll take care of the rest! We will be driving as a group to all hikes and activities.
Can I come earlier or stay later?
You are more than welcome to arrive earlier or extend the end of the trip at your own expense. As long as you make it to the cabin on October 30th for week 1 or November 6th for week 2, anything is fine! However, in the event of an early departure, you will need to arrange your own transportation to the airport.