Photography tours / adventures
One-to-one private guiding.
Field-based mentorship.
Immersive outdoor experiences.
If you’ve got a camera and you’re comfortable using it, perhaps a photography adventure is for you. I take clients, one-to-one, into the smaller more intimate landscapes of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, as well as along the coasts of the Carolinas, for adventures behind the lens. We bypass the event-like atmosphere of large group workshops, opting for more authentic outdoor experiences focused on connecting with the physical landscape.
On a photo adventure I work ONLY with you. We’ll be able to respectfully move through the natural landscape without overwhelming the resource or affecting the experience of other trail users. You’ll have my undivided attention and we’ll focus on whatever is of greatest value and interest to you.
Skip the large groups and inherent limitations of traditional photography workshops. Get greater personal interaction and more flexibility with a photo adventure.
Let’s get outside together and share an experience.
1/2 day adventure (4+ hours) - $350.00
e-mail: info@markvandyke.net
Where you’ll find me:
2026 Shoot Schedule:
January 1-31, 2026 - Winter OBX
Winter along the coast is a special time of year for me behind the camera! Solitude and adventure near the ocean is an endlessly exciting combination for me. During the winter months the predominate wind is northeast in the Outer Banks and is typically a heavier blow than the southwesterly winds of summer. Luckily, many of the coastal subjects–fishing piers, lighthouses, seascapes etc.–do not require calm conditions for beautiful opportunities behind the lens. And with two of the dominate elements of the Outer Banks–water and sand–wind can create many interesting opportunities. In winter there are also no biting insects to deal with, no hot sands, and sun protection is less of an issue. If you don’t mind the cold and you love coastal photography, winter in the Outer Banks can provide the raw material necessary to find your inspiration and to practice your creativity. Want to join me at the beach?
March 17-25, 2026 - Spring Lowcountry South Carolina
Spring along the coast in the deep south is unmistakable: gardens complete with beautiful live oak trees and dreamy spanish moss alight with the colors of azalea and wisteria, as well as strongly place-based architecture. This will be my first return to the Charleston, South Carolina area in a few years. Join me for spring in the formal gardens and along the coastlines of the Lowcountry.
Lowcountry, South Carolina Galleries
April 19-26, 2026 - Spring Blue Wall South Carolina
The Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment is a steep landscape characterized by water. For this adventure, we’ll be mixing together waterfalls and wildflowers. Expect to see both in abundance! This place is both rugged and wild. Expect hikes in the two-mile range with some steep topography to see waterfalls. Wildflowers will be diverse and plentiful. Plant macro photography is readily available, with some rare species available dependent upon annual bloom cycles and weather etc. The Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment has offered me the most consistently challenging and rewarding landscape to find my own unique connection with the land and the resultant images. If a break from chasing endless sunrise/sunset photos sounds interesting to you, join me and let’s see some waterfalls and wildflowers together!
April 26 - May 03, 2026 - Spring Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains need little introduction: they are a place of tremendous biodiversity. The landscapes are lush and green, crowded with growth. Spring is the season when life anew peaks, growth and vibrant colors dominate. The shooting opportunities are diverse: high-elevation overlooks, mountain streams, and lots of plant macro photography. Accessibility is good with lots of opportunities near to the car; hiking, wading, and other opportunities are also widely available to get further afield and/or more connected. Explore the National Park with me.
May 03-10, 2026 - Early Spring Blue Ridge Parkway
At elevation, May is when the landscape is just begining to come to life again! This is the time of spring ephemeral wildflowers–rich cove forests full of tiny treasures. Trillium, squirrel corn, dutchman’s breeches, mayapple, blue cohosh and more. And a few rare endemics like Pinkshell Azalea. While some overlook photography will be available during this time, early spring is really about the small stuff. Think plant macro photography and intimate frames of leaves and new growth. If biodiversity and plants are interesting subjects for you, join me along the Blue Ridge Parkway in early May!
June 14-21, 2026 - Spring Roan Highlands
The Roan Highlands are a unique high-elevation ridgeline along the North Carolina and Tennessee state borders featuring grassy bald habtitat. Wide-open views in all directions. This unique landscape comes alive in mid-June with flowering Catawba Rhododendron and Flame Azalea, as well as unique wildflowers like Gray’s Lily. Beyond the grassy balds are high-elevation Spruce-Fir forests, one of the most endangered and unique habitats in the country. Following hurricane damage in 2024, these high-elevation cloud forests will still be recovering. Image opportunities will range from wide-angle landscapes to intimate scenes and macro plant photography. Hiking is required to access the Roan Highlands. Expect five-mile round trips to reach Grassy Ridge Bald and to get the most exposure to this beautiful place.
June 21-28, 2026 - Late Spring Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a ribbon of roadway right through the beautiful mountain landscapes of the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. In late spring, the tree canopy is full and growth is abundant. We’ll be searching for big views at overlooks: inverted clouds, sunrise/set, etc. Waterfalls will be green and flowing with spring rains. Wildflowers will be abundant; color and variety diverse. Every type of photography will have potential and opportunity during this time period along the Blue Ridge Parkway!
I’ll be adding times and locations to my shoot schedule throughout the year. If you don’t see the time and/or place you need/want, drop me a line. Let’s talk! If you want me to travel to you and/or join your group on a photography adventure, that sounds interesting! Reach out and let’s see what we can make happen. 1/2 day adventures have proven the most popular choice for me–a field session built around sunrise and/or sunset. If, however, you would like a full-day, multi-day or week-long adventure, reach out and let’s start planning!
What others are saying:
“I participated in a private workshop with Mark in the Outer Banks. His teaching caliber far exceeded my expectations. I went in expecting to learn some specific techniques I wanted to improve, see a couple cool sights, and glean a few insights simply by observing an experienced professional in the field. What I didn’t expect was to leave with a completely new way of thinking about the images I capture. Mark’s teaching style is like his photographic work–understated yet powerfully effective, and with a depth that creates a lasting impression. The whole experience felt tailored to me and where I was in my creative journey. I will be thinking about the lessons Mark taught me for years to come.” –Kristi McLennan, OBX 2023
Questions
Why one-to-one?
Working with one client at a time allows me to offer more targeted photo adventures throughout the year, as well as to ethically access more–and more sensitive–locations. Together, we’ll have absolute flexibility in how long (or short) we stay on a subject. You’ll have my full attention; questions are welcome. One-to-one interaction will give us the greatest opportunity to actually connect and build a relationship. Most importantly, though, one-to-one photo adventures offer space: space to get lost in the landscape and create without the pressures of group and itineraries.
Why choose me?
My focus is on creatively connecting with the natural world.
I know the landscape. I’ve been a full-time photographer for over a decade and developing relationship with the landscape is very important to me. That means returning over and over and approaching the land with curiosity and a desire to learn. It means seeing not only the grand, but the small and the intimate as well.
How does this experience differ?
The purpose of a photography adventure is to practice the craft of outdoor photography in the field alongside a working photographer. Photography adventures focus attention not on the function of the camera but on the place and/or the subject. Our experience will be outdoors and raw.
Adventures are not orchestrated, highly planned, itinerary-driven events. I won’t waste time with activities that are not directly related to connecting with place. We’re either out shooting or we’re talking about photography, creativity, and place between shoots. We stay responsive to the weather and atmospheric conditions, and we follow the opportunities as they show. Photo adventures are informal and flexible; in short, it’s a real day in the field, just as any other I have when I’m working solo.
A mentorship approach.
Mentorship is relational. I’ll meet you wherever you’re at. I do not approach photo adventures as your guru or your coach. If you only need place guidance, then that’s what I’ll deliver. If you’re interested in camera technique and/or scouting strategies, then that’s what we’ll work on. This is an opportunity to go to work with me. We’ll chase beauty, together, and we’ll sort out all the details as we go.
The goal is to use the camera to engage the natural world. To be inspired and to create inspiration.
Have more questions?
Reach out.
e-mail: info@markvandyke.net