Capture the Great Smoky Mountains in spring. Join me in Gatlinburg, TN to photograph flowering dogwood, rushing streams, misty mountain scenes, wildflowers, and the signs of the spring in my favorite national park.
Dates: April 19 to 23, 2027
Location: Gatlinburg, TN
Cost: $1299
Spring wildflowers covering the forest floor, rushing mountain streams surrounded by glowing green moss, cabins flanked by flowering dogwood, freak spring storms covering the mountain tops with snow are just a few of the photographic possibilities in the Great Smoky Mountains in the spring. This workshop will focus on areas where the spring is showing off and will compliment my fall workshop by visiting different areas of the park.
Dates: April 19 to 23, 2027
Costs: $1299 total. A non-refundable deposit of $650 is due at registration. The remainder of $649 is due 90 days before the workshop.
Bryan Hansel Photography is an authorized permittee of the National Park Service and operates under a Commercial Use Authorization from the National Park Service.
Itinerary
The itinerary for the Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains Photography Workshop is completely in the field. We’ll start at sunrise and end the day at sunset, so be prepared for long days. Depending on the conditions, we may swing into town for either lunch or dinner. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is vast, so it’s hard to see it all on one workshop, so this workshop has been designed to complement the locations on my Fall in the Smokies Workshop. We’ll go to locations that my fall workshop doesn’t visit (other than sunrise and sunset locations). The workshop will concentrate on the historic cabins in the park, the waterfalls and the spring flowers.
- Day One: Meet for an early morning outing and stay in the field until sunset.
- Day Two: Sunrise to sunset in the field. We’ll discuss composition.
- Day Three: Sunrise to sunset in the field. We’ll continue to fine-tune your compositions and techniques.
- Day Four: Sunrise to sunset in the field. We’ll continue to fine-tune your compositions and techniques.
- Day Five: Workshop ends after sunrise.
Note: The itinerary will be fluid based on the weather.
Lodging
The lodging partner for this workshop is in downtown Gatlinburg, TN. It’s within walking distance of many of my favorite restaurants and hangouts. After you register I’ll send you details about the room block and how to get the discounted room rate.
Getting There
Gatlinburg is a small resort town serving the northern side of the park. The closest big city is Knoxville, TN. The closest airport is TYS-McGhee Tyson. TYS is about an hour drive from Gatlinburg. You take US-411 to Pigeon Forge and then US-321 into Gatlinburg. Atlanta is approximately 4 hours away on US-23 to US-441.
The Blue Ridge Parkway starts in the park, so if you stay longer or come early, you could spend time exploring the parkway. If you plan on doing that, then I’d recommend flying into Asheville, North Carolina. While further away from Gatlinburg than Knoxville, it makes much more sense for visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Additional Information
Workshop type: This is a destination photography workshop. The goal of destination workshops is to emphasize experiential learning by spending more time in the field. Learn more about workshop types.
Maximum number of participants: 10
Level: This workshop is for all levels of photographers and works best for photographers using digital cameras.
Activity level: Expect 3 to 5 miles of hiking each day. Most of the hikes are easy to moderate in difficulty. Some of the potential hikes may have sections that some would consider harder, but based on the standard difficulty ratings they are easy to moderate. Sometimes participants decide to skip some of the hikes and photograph closer to the cars. This is okay. If you have questions, please, phone me.
What’s included in the workshop fee: Quality small group and one-on-one instruction. Conference room for classroom time. Fun!
What’s not included in the workshop fee: Transportation to the Smokies and photography locations. Carpooling. Lodging. Meals. Park permits.
Lodging partner: The lodging partner is within walking distance of downtown Gatlinburg. After you register, you’ll receive information about booking your room in the room block. You’ll need to make your room registration separately from the workshop fee.
Workshop Dates: April 19 to 23, 2027
Check-in date: April 18
Check-out date: April 23
Getting there: Gatlinburg is a small resort town serving the northern side of the park. The closest big city is Knoxville, TN. The closest airport is TYS-McGhee Tyson. TYS is about an hour drive from Gatlinburg. You take US-411 to Pigeon Forge and then US-321 into Gatlinburg. Atlanta is approximately 4 hours away on US-23 to US-441.
Weather: The average temps are 42°F for lows and 71°F for highs. Lows could be much lower in the mountains, especially at sunrise. While not common in April, it could snow. I’d suggest bringing multiple layers of clothing for this workshop and prepare for brisk conditions, especially at our sunrise and sunset locations.
Equipment list: After registration, you will receive a suggested equipment list and participant package. The package will discuss equipment options, photography techniques and more.
Registration and Cancellation Policies
Please, read the Registration and Cancellation Policies at the link. There are no exceptions to the policy.
Questions You Might Have
This workshop is designed for beginner to intermediate photographers who want to improve their landscape photography skills in the field or advanced photographer looking to get to the best locations. You should be comfortable using your camera in manual or semi-manual modes, but you don’t need to be an expert. If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out and ask.
Spring in the Smokies is all about variety. We’ll focus on wildflowers, waterfalls, mossy streams, historic cabins, and classic mountain scenes. Depending on conditions, we may also photograph fog, fresh spring greens, and even late-season snow in the higher elevations.
Expect moderate activity. Most locations require short walks on uneven terrain, with some hikes up to 1–3 miles round trip. Trails can be muddy, slippery, and rocky, especially near waterfalls, so good footwear is important.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens (16–35mm range), mid-range zoon (24-120mm range) and a short telephoto (70–200mm) will cover most situations. It’s nice to have a longer lens for compressing the ridgelines at sunrise and sunset. A sturdy tripod is essential for waterfall photography. A polarizer and neutral density filters or a waterfall polarizer are highly recommended for controlling reflections and motion in water.
Yes. A tripod is required for this workshop. Many of the best images, especially waterfalls, low-light forest scenes, and sunrises and sunsets, depend on longer exposures.
Each day begins at sunrise and often runs through sunset, taking advantage of the best light for landscape photography. Midday breaks may include scouting locations or time in Gatlinburg, depending on weather and conditions.
We’re based in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, just outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The location provides quick access to top photography spots in the park.
Lodging is not included. After registering, you’ll receive information about a recommended hotel in downtown Gatlinburg, TN with a discounted group rate.
The nearest airport is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), located about one hour from Gatlinburg.
Weather is a key part of landscape photography in the Smokies. Rain, fog, and changing conditions often create the best opportunities for photographing waterfalls, wildflowers, and moody mountain scenes. The itinerary is flexible to take advantage of conditions.
Yes. This is a hands-on Great Smoky Mountains photography workshop with in-field instruction covering composition, exposure, working with light, and refining your landscape photography techniques.
Spring weather in the Smoky Mountains can vary widely. Bring multiple layers for cool mornings and warmer afternoons, along with rain gear and waterproof hiking boots for wet trails. A recommended list is provided after registration.
Yes. Many participants extend their stay to explore more of Great Smoky Mountains National Park or drive the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway for additional landscape photography opportunities. I can make recommendations if you plan on doing so. You’ll need to make your own reservations.