Minnesota’s North Shore offers some of the most dramatic landscape photography in the Midwest — basalt shorelines, crashing Lake Superior waves, boreal forest, waterfalls, and some of the darkest skies in the region for night sky photography. Club workshops are built around this landscape and around what your club actually wants to learn.

Unlike my private and small group sessions, club workshops include classroom time, image review sessions, and a schedule built around your group’s skill level and interests. I coordinate the room block at a local hotel at my negotiated rate and reserve a conference room for the duration of the workshop.

Most club workshops follow this structure, though I’ll customize it to your group:

• Day 1 (Friday): A half day of classroom instruction and an evening field session, typically sunset
• Day 2 (Saturday): Full day, sunrise through sunset, can include classroom sessions
• Day 3 (Sunday): Sunrise and image review, done by 11am

Club workshops typically work best with around 10 participants, with a maximum of 12. Smaller groups are welcome — the per-person fee adjusts accordingly.

I work with all skill levels, including mixed groups that range from beginners to experienced photographers. Before the workshop, we’ll talk through your club’s goals and I’ll shape the sessions to meet everyone where they are.

If your group is a few people short of the minimum, contact me. I’ll occasionally open remaining spots to my other clients, though I can’t guarantee that I can fill those spaces.

Book Early

Fall and summer dates on the North Shore fill quickly; popular weekends often book more than a year in advance. Shoulder season and winter dates have more flexibility. If you have specific dates in mind, the sooner you reach out the better.

Pricing

Club workshops start at $5,990 for up to 10 participants — $599 per person at full enrollment. Smaller groups are welcome; the per-person rate adjusts based on headcount. Contact me to discuss your club’s goals and get a custom quote.

If your club wants me to come to them, I’m available to travel to your region. Travel workshops require additional fees for mileage, lodging, and any required location permits, and pricing is discussed during the planning process.

This event is in cooperation with and under a Special Use Permit from the U.S.  Forest Service, Gunflint Ranger District. Travel workshops may require separate permits depending on location.

What You Will Learn

Club workshops are flexible by design. I build the curriculum around what your group wants to get out of the experience. Before the workshop, we’ll talk through your club’s skill level and goals and shape the sessions around them. That said, most club workshops cover some combination of the following:

1. Camera technique in the field — exposure, depth of field, long exposure, and working in challenging light conditions
2. Seeing and composing photographs — how to read a landscape, find foregrounds, work with light, and translate what you see into a strong image
3. Post-processing and image review — classroom sessions on editing workflow, with group image review so everyone learns from each other’s work
4. Shooting in challenging conditions — weather, wind, waves, and varying light all present opportunities if you know how to work with them

The goal is the same as any workshop I run: you leave with better images from the trip and the knowledge to make better images on your own.

What to Bring

Dress appropriately for the season — conditions on the North Shore can change quickly. Beyond that, bring your typical camera gear: your camera body, your favorite lenses, a sturdy tripod, and enough memory cards and batteries for a full day in the field. I’ll provide a suggested equipment list to all the club members who sign up.

Registration and Cancellation Policies

Please read my Registration and Cancellation Policies for general terms. Club workshops have the following additional terms:

• A $300 non-refundable deposit per person is required to reserve your dates. The balance is due 90 days prior to the workshop.
• Club workshops have a minimum total fee. If a participant cancels, the remaining members are responsible for meeting that minimum. Plan your group size accordingly.
• If the club cancels entirely, all fees are forfeited. Depending on the hotel’s policy, the club may also be responsible for any reserved rooms.
• Travel workshops require additional fees for mileage, lodging, and permits, which are agreed upon during the planning process.