Frequently Asked Questions
A. Is this tour for me?
Are your tours suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. Our tours are built for photographers at any level, including people who have owned their camera for a month. Groups are usually capped at six (unless otherwise advertised) with either one guide to three guests or two guides to six, so beginners get genuine hands-on instruction rather than being left to keep up. If you can find the shutter button, we can work with you.
I am an experienced photographer. Will I be held back by beginners?
No. With a maximum of six guests and a one to three guide ratio, experienced photographers get individual attention while beginners are supported separately. Locations are chosen for their photographic merit first, not for how easy they are to teach at. Most of our guests are competent photographers looking for access, conditions and local knowledge rather than basic instruction.
What is the difference between a photography tour and a photography workshop?
Our tours are multi-day trips of three to four days where accommodation, meals, transport and instruction are all included and we move between locations chasing the best conditions. A workshop is typically a single session at one location.
Can my partner come if they do not take photographs?
Yes. Non-photographing partners are welcome on our tours and are priced on request, since the cost differs from a full photographic place. Contact us with your tour and dates and we will quote you directly.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, 18. That applies to every guest on every tour, including guests travelling with a parent. There is no upper age limit. Fitness matters more than age on our tours and our locations are chosen to suit a low to moderate level of fitness.
Do you take solo travellers and is there a single supplement?
Yes, there is no single supplement. Every guest gets their own room as standard, included in the tour price. Twin share is available on request if you are travelling with someone. Most photography operators charge extra for a private room, sometimes over $1,000. We do not.
Is a guided photography tour worth it, or should I just travel Tasmania myself?
A guided tour is worth it when you want the best results from the time you have, if you do not know where the light falls at which hour in which season, or want access to locations that require a Parks licence to shoot commercially at night or are not generally available to the public. You are buying local knowledge and timing, years of exploration and understanding, scenery and access you might not otherwise achieve.
B. Skill and equipment
What camera do I need?
Any camera with manual controls will work, whether that is a DSLR, mirrorless, full frame or crop sensor. What matters is that you can set aperture, shutter speed and ISO yourself. If you are not confident doing that yet, we will teach you on the first evening.
Can I join with a compact camera or a phone?
A phone alone is not enough for our multi-day tours, because much of what we shoot needs long exposures and a tripod mount. A capable compact with manual control is workable. If you are unsure whether your camera suits, send us the model and we will tell you honestly.
Do I need a tripod?
It depends on the tour. Fungi and Fagus needs one, because focus stacking is not possible without it. Coastal and astro sessions want one. Some tours barely use one at all. Each tour page carries its own equipment list, so check that. If in doubt, bring the lightest one you own. If you need a new one, let us know and we can assist.
What if I cannot use manual mode yet?
That is fine and it is common. We cover manual exposure at the start of the tour and reinforce it in the field for the rest of the trip.
Do you provide any camera gear?
No, we do not loan cameras, lenses or tripods. Bring your own gear and bring more batteries and cards than you think you need. Cold Tasmanian mornings drain batteries faster than you expect.
What should I pack for Tasmanian conditions?
Layers, waterproofs and proper footwear, regardless of season. Tasmania genuinely does deliver four seasons in a day and the locations we shoot may be exposed. Bring a warm hat and gloves even in summer. A full packing list is sent when you book.
C. Fitness and access
How fit do I need to be?
Our tours require a low to moderate level of fitness. Expect short walks to shooting locations, typically under 30 minutes, on tracks that can be uneven, wet or slippery, particularly on rainforest trails. You do not need to be an athlete. You do need to be steady on your feet carrying camera gear.
How far do we walk and on what ground?
Most walks are under 30 minutes each way on formed tracks, boardwalk or beach. Rainforest sections can be muddy and slippery. Some sessions run before dawn or after dark, so you will be walking on uneven ground with a head torch.
What happens if I cannot manage a particular walk?
You skip that walk and we work something out. Tell us in advance and we will plan around it.
Can you accommodate limited mobility or a disability?
We would rather have the conversation than turn you away by default. Our locations involve uneven natural terrain, night walking and no accessible facilities in remote areas, so we cannot describe our tours as wheelchair accessible. Contact us with your specific needs and we will tell you honestly which tours will work and which will not. We can also create private tours based on accessibility.
D. Group size and guides
How many people are on a tour?
In most cases a maximum of six guests. On Ben’s Tasmanian Photography Tour, numbers may be higher at seven or eight.
How many guides and what is the ratio?
Either one guide to three guests, or two guides to six, unless a tour advertises otherwise. That ratio is why beginners and experienced photographers can be on the same trip without either being short-changed.
Are your guides Tasmanian?
Yes. Our guides live and photograph here year-round. That is the difference between someone who knows the Bay of Fires has a two-week window when the light hits the lichen correctly and a tour that is organised based on limited local knowledge. Our local knowledge ensures you'll explore the most authentic locations and the lesser-known ones only locals know about
Will I get one-on-one time?
Yes. At one guide to three guests, individual attention is built into the format rather than being something you have to ask for. If you are working on a specific technique, tell your guide at the start and they will build it into the week.
E. Food, rooms and drinks
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. We routinely cater gluten-free and vegetarian. For anything else, including allergies, vegan, and other restrictions, we consult with you before the tour and will do our best to support you. Tell us when you book rather than on the first night, and we will make it work.
Do I get my own room?
Yes. One room per person is standard and included in the price. Twin share is available on request.
What accommodation do we stay in?
Comfortable private accommodation chosen for a combination of its proximity to shooting locations and its star rating. We value comfort and good food. Each tour page names the specific accommodation for that trip.
Which meals are included?
Meals are included on our multi-day tours. Each tour page lists exactly what is covered for that trip. Generally all meals are covered apart from breakfast on day 1 and dinner on the last day because we will not be with you at these moments.
Is alcohol included?
No. Soft drinks and water are provided throughout the tour. Alcohol is at your own cost.
F. Money, booking and cancellation
What is included in the price, and what is not?
Included: accommodation with your own room, meals, transport during the tour, all national park entry fees, and photographic instruction throughout. Not included: flights to Tasmania, travel insurance, alcohol and personal items. Each tour page carries the full list for that trip.
Are prices in Australian dollars and do they include GST?
Yes. All prices are in Australian dollars and include GST.
How does the deposit work?
An A$500 deposit per person secures your place. The balance is invoiced by email and due 60 days before the tour departs. The deposit is non-refundable.
What is your cancellation policy?
It depends on how far out you cancel.
60 days or more before departure: full refund of everything you have paid, excluding the A$500 deposit.
30 to 59 days before departure: if we can resell your place, we refund 50% of the tour price. If we cannot, there is no refund.
Less than 30 days before departure: no refund.
The middle tier is honest rather than generous. Your balance falls due at 60 days, and by then we have committed your accommodation, your instructors and your transfers. We cannot recover those costs unless somebody takes your place. If somebody does, you get half back. We will tell you either way, as soon as the place is filled or the tour departs.
We publish this openly because you should be able to compare it before you book, not after.
Can I transfer my place to someone else?
Yes, in most cases. Ask us at least 14 days before departure and the replacement guest needs to meet the same booking conditions. It is at our discretion rather than automatic, but we would much rather move your place to a friend than have you lose it.
Do you offer payment plans?
Contact us. The standard arrangement is an A$500 deposit with the balance due at 60 days prior to departure. We would rather have the conversation than lose you over timing.
G. Weather and honest expectations
What happens if the weather is bad?
Tasmania's most photogenic conditions are rarely blue sky. Our itineraries are built to be flexible, so if a location is unworkable we move to one that suits the day. Bad weather changes what we photograph, not whether we photograph. Worst case scenarios allow for more editing time and we find that people generally appreciate this.
Will I definitely see the aurora, the fungi or the fagus?
No, anyone who guarantees it is selling you something they cannot deliver. Aurora depends on solar activity and clear skies, both outside anyone's control. Fungi and fagus are seasonal and we time our tours to the peak windows, but nature does not run to a calendar. What we can guarantee is that we will be in the right place at the right time of year, with people who know where to look.
Does it rain the whole time in Tasmania?
No, Hobart is one of the drier Australian capitals. The west and southwest are genuinely wet, which is exactly why the rainforest there looks the way it does. Expect changeable conditions rather than constant rain and pack for all of it.
H. Permits, safety and insurance
Are you licensed to operate commercially in Tasmanian national parks?
Yes. We hold a Nature Based Tourism Business Licence issued by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. This is what allows us to run commercial photography tours inside Tasmania's national parks and reserves legally, including at night. Not every operator working here holds one. If they do not, it is likely that you are not covered under their public liability insurance.
Do you carry public liability insurance?
Yes. We carry $20 million in public liability cover.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend it and we do not provide it. Travel insurance should cover trip cancellation, medical costs and your camera equipment. We are not responsible for costs, injuries or losses that insurance could have covered.
Are national park entry fees included?
Yes. All park entry fees are included in your tour price.
What happens if there is a medical problem in a remote location?
Our guides carry first aid equipment and communications and we brief the group on the plan for each location. Some of our locations, particularly in the Southwest, are genuinely remote with limited mobile coverage. Tell us about any medical condition or medication when you book, in confidence, so we can plan properly.
I. Photographing Tasmania
When is the best time of year to photograph Tasmania?
There is no single best time, only different subjects. Autumn from late April into May brings the fagus turning gold and peak fungi season. Winter delivers snow, aurora and the lowest sun angles of the year. Spring brings wildflowers and dramatic skies. Summer offers long twilights and access to the highlands. We run tours across all of them for that reason.
When does the fagus turn, and where do you see it?
Tasmania's fagus, the only native deciduous tree in Australia, turns gold and russet across roughly two to three weeks from late April into early May. Mount Field and Cradle Mountain are the most reliable locations. The exact timing shifts each year with temperature and altitude, which is why local knowledge matters more than a fixed date.
When can you photograph the Aurora Australis from Tasmania?
The aurora australis is visible from Tasmania year round, but the practical season is autumn through winter, roughly March to September, when nights are longest and darkest. Southward-facing coastlines away from town lights give the best chance. Visibility depends on solar activity, which nobody can schedule.
When is fungi season in Tasmania?
Fungi season runs through autumn, roughly April to June, peaking after sustained rain. Tasmania's wet forests produce an extraordinary variety, and the best displays are in old-growth rainforest rather than open bush.
Do I need a hire car?
No. Our tours depart from and return to the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart and all transport during the tour is included. Fly into Hobart, get a cab or Uber to your hotel and we handle the rest.
Are there snakes and should I worry about wildlife?
Tasmania has three snake species, all venomous and all far more interested in avoiding you than meeting you. Wear boots, stay on tracks and you are unlikely to see one. There is nothing in Tasmania that will hunt you so you are safer than many other states.
J. After the tour
Who owns the photographs I take?
You do, outright. Your images are yours to use however you like, including selling them commercially. We claim no rights over anything you shoot on our tours.
Will you use photographs of me?
Possibly. By joining a tour you agree that images we take of you during the trip may be used in our promotional material. Tell us if you would rather not appear and we will respect that.
Do you help with editing after the tour?
Yes. We review images during the tour and are available afterwards for questions about processing your files. Contact us.