Thank you for registering for one of my photography workshops. I appreciate it. I hope the following information will help you prepare for the workshop. Whether this is your first photography workshop or your 100th, don’t worry about your skill or knowledge level. My goal is to help you improve, regardless of where you are in your journey.
You should have also received a registration email from TicketTailor with hotel information in it. If you didn’t get it, check your spam folder.
If you have any questions, please, reach out.
Thanks,
Bryan
p.s. While it’s covered in the participant guide elsewhere, I thought that I should mention that I highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance, including the “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage. Depending on the type of insurance you purchase, it can cover the workshop fee, travel costs, and more if you have to cancel.
p.p.s Also, I’ve partnered with other photography-related businesses to get you product discounts. Don’t forget to take advantage of those discounts, especially the best price discount at Adorama. That’s also covered in this guide. I may earn commissions if you shop through the links, but it doesn’t change your cost.
Key contact info
Email: bryan [at] bryanhansel [dot] com
Phone: (218) 370-8351
What is this participant guide?
This is your guide for our upcoming photography workshop. Whether you’re a first-time participant or a returning photographer, this guide will help ensure you’re well-prepared for our photographic adventure. While the content is extensive, I’ve organized it to be easily navigable. Use the navigation menu on the ← left on your computer to access the different sections. On mobile, the menu should be at the ↑ top of the page and accessed via the hamburger button
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I encourage you to review this material before the workshop and keep it as a valuable reference for future use. Some sections of this guide may be more relevant to your specific workshop than others, so feel free to focus on what’s most pertinent to you.
I update this regularly, so check back for any additions.
Before you arrive checklist
This checklist will help you prepare for your workshop.
As soon as you register
- Print your registration email (lodging info is in it)
- Make your hotel reservation (lodging info is in your registration email)
- Book your flights and car rental, if needed (use Team Reach to coordinate flights and car rentals)
- Obtain travel insurance
- Introduce yourself on Team Reach (the group code is in your registration email)
- Read the Participant Guide, starting with Registration and Policies
- Tell me about any medical conditions that could affect your workshop, and request a health information form if you need one
- Email or call me with any questions
90 days before: final payment due
- Pay your final payment by the due date, which is 90 days before your workshop (most final payments can be made starting Jan. 1)
- Check the Final Payment Due Dates table for your workshop’s exact date
About two months before
- Order any filters, holders, or other gear you need, since popular items can sell out
- Read your camera’s manual and practice any features that may be needed, such as focus stacking for macro workshops
- Winter workshops: reserve snowshoes from the Lake Superior Trading Post (218-387-2020)
- Winter workshops, November to March in Grand Marais: buy crampons or ice cleats (required)
- Become bear aware: read the bear safety information and watch the video
- Get excited, I know I am
About two weeks before
- Print and bring your waivers and model release (you’ll get them by email)
- Work on carpools in Team Reach
- Buy your park pass or state park permit, if your workshop needs one. Only drivers in the carpools will need them
- Look for my email with the final itinerary, meetup time, and meetup location
- Check the weather forecast and pack layers, with rain gear, an umbrella, and a camera rain cover
- Check your boots or hiking shoes, since workshops could include rough trails
- Think about your goals for this workshop and what you want to get out of it
- Review the Leave No Trace information in the How we work together section of this guide
The week before
- Charge all your batteries and bring spares
- Pack all your chargers (camera chargers, phone chargers, laptop chargers)
- Clear your memory cards
- Download offline maps and your planning apps (I use PhotoPills), since there may be little or no cell service in the field
- Pack water bottles and snacks and any groceries you are bringing
- Bring a headlamp↗ for night sky and sunrise workshops, and bug protection for summer workshops
- Make a gear list and check it twice, or use the list in the gear section of this guide
- Prepare to have fun!
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A few photos to help motivate you
