Yes, they do, but we cannot guarantee how fast the internet will be. We sometimes stay in small rural places and the speed of the wifi connection can sometimes be spotty. If a fast and reliable internet connection is essential to you on your photo tour, we suggest you bring a travel internet device.
Here’s an article with helpful tips: https://www.travelandleisure.
This is the device we travel with: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YKB6VMN/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2EER51DNG9JUZ&psc=1
Dietary restrictions have not been a problem.
On all our tours so far, we have found options for:
- Vegetarians
- Pescatarians
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- Fodmap
Age is not a concern so long as you are physically fit and a good walker.
- Please let us know if you have special needs due to allergies, weight or physical limitations.
- On some of our tours we will be in and out of the van a lot, especially when we are out photographing in the countryside and we will sometimes be walking over uneven ground. Visiting and exploring towns and villages can involve a good deal of walking, up and down. However, none of our tours are hiking tours.
- If you are prone to motion sickness you may want to consider bringing the appropriate medication for this.
- We encourage you to keep your luggage as light as possible as you will be handling it on your flights as well as in the hotels. Most of the smaller accommodations that we stay at do not have elevators.
Flights are not included.
All ground transportation during the tours is included.
Our number one goal in the field is to assist all participants who want our input.
Therefore we will only do our own photography if each member of the group is content. Sometimes we will photograph for teaching and demonstration purposes. We have photographed most of our photo locations many times and will guide you toward the most successful compositions. You will also have time for your very own discoveries.
Breakfast is always included in the tour package and usually consists of a generous breakfast buffet.
Lunch and dinner are not included unless specified in the tour description.
Magrit and Jim spend a great deal of time researching tour accommodations.
Much of our tour research time is devoted to finding comfortable and inviting lodging. We make it a point to actually stay in the potential hotels before we make a decision. Usually we stay in friendly smaller 3-4-star hotels (often family-run) and have had excellent feedback from our participants.
Ages seem to range from 40 to 80 years. One year, we even had a 19-year-old young woman and her grandfather on two tours.
Approximately 60% of our participants are single and 40% are married couples or friends traveling together. Roughly 60% women, 40% men.
Refundable deposits can be made via Paypal.
Final payment options include checks, bank transfers, or wire transfers. Any refunds of deposits due to the client canceling before the deposit refund deadline will be minus any associated Paypal fees.
Deposits are non-refundable 180 days or less before the tour begins.
The trip fee balance is due 180 days before the tour begins.
Trip fee cancellation policy:
– 60 to 89 days before the tour begins: 50% of the fee is non-refundable.
– 59 or fewer days before the tour begins: 100% of the fee is non-refundable.
All refunds, due to participant cancellations, will be minus any PayPal expenses incurred by Photography Travel Tours.
We recommend travel insurance in the event that you need to cancel. Travel Guard and Travelex are two companies that you may want to look at.
Post-processing is one of the greatest benefits of digital photography. On our tours, we spend most of our time in the field capturing images and do not always have time for post-processing. If time permits or we have downtime because of bad weather, we will have some post-processing sessions. Jim uses Lightroom, Photoshop, Nik Plugins, and various other plugins and stand-alone software tools. It is amazing how a few subtle processing adjustments can really make your images come alive!
We have a schedule for each day but it is not set in stone.
To ensure best results, we prefer to assess the day’s weather conditions and will sometimes change the agenda accordingly.
In order for you to get the most out of your photography tour, you need to know your camera.
We’re not a camera store, and therefore, we do not know the ins and outs of all camera models. You do not want to be figuring out how to use your camera in the field with a glorious (and often fleeting) composition in front of you. Especially when it is dark out, you need to be familiar with your camera settings. Take a class and/or find online tutorials specifically for your camera, and practice before you join us. As part of your photo tour, we will teach you photography techniques like shooting the magical Blue Hour, but if, for instance, we ask you to bring up your histogram, you’ll need to know how to find it.
Understanding these basic camera functions will help you get the most out of your photo tour:
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- Using your camera in manual mode. This means that you know how to use the meter in your camera. Zeroing out your meter is a starting point for correct exposure.
- How to adjust your f-stops.
- How to adjust your shutter speed.
- How to adjust your ISO.
- Understanding the relationship between apertures (f-stops), shutter speeds, and ISO.
- How to set your camera to JPEG or RAW format.
- How to review a photo and bring up the corresponding histogram.
- How to use exposure compensation if you are using Aperture Priority. Jim & Magrit usually shoot in Aperture Priority.
- How to access the self-timer if you don’t want to use a cable release.
- How to download and back up your photos if using a laptop, or how to use two cards in your camera for backup.
- How to use Exposure Bracketing for high-dynamic scenes.
- How to use your tripod. Practice at home.
We are not accepting non-shooting spouses or friends.
All our photo tours are geared toward people who are passionate about photography and are tailored accordingly. It is our experience that non-shooting spouses/friends impede on the flow and schedule of the tours which is not fair to the rest of the group.
Group size is limited to 12 participants. The average group size is between 8 and 10 participants.
If we require vans for the tours such as Tuscany, we limit the number of people per 9 passenger van to 7 for greatest comfort.
I’m planning a Europe trip between 24-Sept and 22-Oct in 2022. Do you typically offer trips during this time period? Thanks!
Christian,
We do not typically offer tours in the fall but did so in 2021 because of covid and because of covid we had to cancel. Do I sound like a broken record? We have given it some thought for the fall of 2022 as we are so uncertain about our spring/summer tours, because of covid. I can email you if we add the fall.
Take good care,
Jim
When I traveled to Iceland last year I had to get a COVID test 2 days before I traveled and provide airport officials with a certificate indicating that I was COVID negative. Do I need to get COVID test 2 days before I travel and provide airport officials with a certificate for my Tuscany 2023 trip?
Thanks.
Hey Bob,
At this time you do not need to do the testing for Europe. Best to communicate with me via email, at jim@jimnilsen.com. I almost missed this one…went into the spam.
Jim
Can a bring a mini drone for Duore valley location?