Taking you places that will stir the imagination
- and helping you make great pictures while you’re there!

Our Mentor Series instructional tours minimize classroom instruction and emphasize being in the field. Each destination is chosen to provide participants with stunning locations to capture, along with situations that will challenge you visually.  Every program provides information to help you grow as a visual artist. We provide hands-on help in the field and are always available to answer any questions you have at any time. We photograph along with you, and share our insights and techniques as a way to offer you alternative viewpoints.

We have over 28 years of experience teaching workshops, leading tours, doing assignment & stock photography. We pull from that deep well of experiences to provide information and insights that you can carry forward into your own photographic adventures– along with the great images you’ll make on the trip!

Join us for a photo adventure in one or more of our great locations. You’ll visually stretch and grow, and have a great time. Scroll down page for more information

Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring

General Information for The Mentor Series

Each day’s schedule varies somewhat based on weather, which locations we’ll visit, and how long we will photograph while there. If the conditions are right we will photograph beyond just morning or afternoon/sunset light. Participants should come with a flexible attitude to get the most out of the program.

We generally begin the first evening at 6:30 pm – Introductions, Orientation, Opening night presentation, Q&A’s. Participants should have dinner prior to this meeting. (Note: Starting times may vary with each scheduled event and will be indicated in the materials sent to participants)

Monday-Friday checkout – Sunrise/early morning sessions, and afternoon/sunset sessions daily, and whenever the light is right, we’ll stay out and photograph! There will be discussions and one critique session during the day.*  On Friday, we’ll photograph in the morning at a nearby location and finalize our workshop over brunch, finishing around checkout time.

* On any program where there are not formal critiques scheduled, we are still available to sit and informally review images that you might have questions about, and upon request, will do e-mail critiques up to 10 images per person, upon returning home.

Personal Critique Service: All participants in the Mentor Series have the option to add 1 months of professional critiquing for an additional charge of $150. This entails a written critique of up to 40 images, delivered on CD or emailed. Fee also includes email support during that 1 month window for questions and advice.