As long as your group size doesn't exceed the maximum number of clients, you absolutely can book as a group. It's possible there would be some discounts as well. It also may be possible for me to do a private workshop just for you and your group. I have done workshops for as many as 150 people, so don't be put off by my regular small size workshops, I can handle your group!
No, I have clients that just want to travel with an experienced guide and that is no problem.
I'm not trying to provide an elusive answer, but it's yes and no. I will always have my camera and take photos for teaching, to illustrate how I would photograph the scene, future workshop marketing images, the light is excellent, or we found Big Foot. I am there to teach, and it's your workshop and not mine. If you need help and I have my camera up, DO NOT HESITATE, ASK! I will always stop what I am doing to help a client.
I specialize in small group photography workshops, and that means a typical group is about six clients. The location has a lot to do with the total number of clients. For example, if we are shooting from a blind, there is going to be a hard limit because space is limited. If we are in a forest, then there might be a few more people. My job is to help you create great images, and if there are too many clients, I can't give people the individual help that I provide. In some cases, I work with another professional photographer, and on those workshops, we might take as many as twelve, but with two instructors you can still get personal attention.
I have been trying for years to control the weather in my workshops, and I have yet to be 100% successful. I do plan my workshops at times of the year that historically are the best times for photography, but as you can imagine it does not always work. If we absolutely cannot shoot, I usually do classroom sessions or group photo editing sessions until we can get back out there. Severe weather is just one of the many reasons I highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. You can read more about Travel Insurance on my blog.
Do you have a camera? If you answered yes, you can join my workshops! All skill levels and all camera types are welcome. I keep my groups small so that I can offer as much personal attention as you need to get the best possible images with your gear. I always advise people to check with me before buying gear specifically for my workshops. I am adept at spending other peoples money, but I do try to make sure your purchase will benefit you for your future photography. Call me and we can talk about what you have and what you might need.
Most of the workshops require you to be able to walk with your gear to a shooting location. These are rarely strenuous, but can be a half of a mile or more. I don't think there are any longer than a mile. There are some with very little exertion like the Kenya Photo Safari. Either my partner or I have photographed at all of the workshop locations so I can give you more specifics and advice. Get in touch with me and can give you the scoop on the difficulty level of any workshop that interests you.
It is sometimes possible for a non-photographer to join you on your workshop. There may be a fee depending on the workshop. Some of the workshops like Paris Street Photography we encourage you to bring a travel companion to share the experience with you! Shoot me a message and I will let you know about bringing your guest for a workshop.
I have posted a fairly detailed day by day schedule for the workshops. My goal was to give you a sense of what you can expect when you join a workshop. There will be times when those schedules will change and this is nearly always for the better. For example, we may find a rare sighting and linger at a location longer than expected and that could lead to missing something else. There are also times when it could be not so good, such as horrible weather and a planned event was cancelled.