Laying the Groundwork

Long before we set foot in these places, the research begins. We spend days poring over books, maps, checking road and trail access, and reading everything we can: field guides, local reports, and even old travel notes. Apps like PhotoPills play a big role in our planning, allowing us to visualize how sunlight, moonlight, and the Milky Way will align with the landscape at specific times of year. We use it to track sunrise and sunset angles, moon phases, golden hour timing, and even when light will hit certain peaks or valleys.

Each region brings its own preparation. For Alaska, we study salmon runs, tide charts, and bear movement patterns to time our tours with peak activity. For our northern lights tours, we choose Fairbanks because of its clear skies, high aurora visibility, and ideal northern latitude. In Florida, we track bird migrations, tides, and nesting seasons to plan for the best photographic opportunities. In the Southwest, we focus on light angles in slot canyons, sunrise and sunset positions, and weather systems that create dramatic skies. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we monitor the timing of fall color and the wildlife activity that follows, such as the elk rut and predators moving through the valleys. On the Maine Coast, we plan around the short summer window when Atlantic puffins return to their nesting islands, timing our June tours to coincide with their brief but active breeding season.

We also stay connected with trusted local resources who share real-time updates on animal behavior and conditions throughout the parks we visit. This ongoing communication helps us guide our routes and adjust plans during the tour to keep our groups in the best possible position for photography. All of this preparation ensures that when we arrive in the field, we have a clear understanding of what to expect, from light and color to wildlife behavior, and how to make the most of every opportunity.

Scouting the Scene

By the time we start scouting in person, we already have a good sense of what we’re looking for, but seeing it firsthand always brings surprises. We head into the field with flexible plans. Sometimes we’re exploring wide open landscapes such as mountain peaks, river valleys, or desert vistas. Other times we’re on the water, traveling by small boats to check for sea life, including whales, sea lions, and puffins.

Before each trip, we talk with local boat operators and guides who know the tides, currents, and wildlife patterns. These conversations help us position ourselves close to the action, always with photography in mind. On the water, we study where wildlife tends to appear, making note of timing and angles that bring the best photographic opportunities.

Our goal is to find the places that make people stop and feel something. We look for foregrounds that lead the eye, backgrounds that hold interest, and details that give context. We pay attention to accessibility, timing, and how the light changes throughout the day. Every note we take helps shape the experience our participants will have when they return to that same spot with their cameras.

Reading the Light

Light is our constant teacher. Morning brings softness and quiet tones, midday challenges us with contrast, and evening rewards patience with color and atmosphere. Long before sunrise, we’re already awake, layering up in the dark and stepping into the cold to reach a location before the first light touches the horizon. On scouting days, we experiment, trying new compositions, adjusting exposure, and watching how shadows move through the landscape. We hike trails, climb ridges, and often drive long distances between locations, following the light as it shifts across valleys, coastlines, and open plains. Every stop along the way offers something new to study and photograph.

When the weather rolls in, we don’t pack up. We wait. Mist, rain, or snow can completely transform a scene, turning something familiar into something extraordinary. Each location teaches us something about adaptability, which becomes invaluable once a tour begins.

The more we understand the light and how it interacts with the land, the more we can guide others toward those fleeting moments when everything aligns.

Refining the Process

Scouting never really ends. Once we finish one round, we start again. There is always something new to learn, even in places we have visited for decades. A location that was once a reliable hotspot may no longer produce the same results, while another area may suddenly come alive with opportunity. We revisit, re-evaluate, and refine constantly to keep every itinerary new and rewarding.

Even when we are scouting, our cameras are always close. These are carefully planned days in the field, designed to test timing, light, and composition. We photograph each location to see how light and weather interact with the landscape, making notes on direction, access, and timing so we can return under the best conditions. Every scouting trip deepens our understanding of the landscape and helps us anticipate changes in light, wildlife behavior, and seasonal conditions.

Always Evolving

After a day in the field, we review what we have learned, back up images, and plan the next steps. Every bit of research, from our first scouting trip to the final pre-tour check, contributes to a stronger experience for participants. By the time a tour begins, we already know where the light falls first, when wildlife is most active, and which compositions work best.

Scouting is more than planning. It is about connection and spending time in a place long enough to understand how it breathes and changes. That connection directly benefits the photographers who travel with us on our photo tours and workshops, because every stop, time of day, and composition is chosen through firsthand experience. Conditions shift, landscapes evolve, and wildlife patterns change, which is why we return again and again, always learning, refining, and striving to create the best photographic opportunities possible.