Experience the Blue Ridge Mountains in Autumn
Take your PHOTOGRAPHY TO NEW HEIGhTs
There are five spots available each weekend for the 2026 Blue Ridge Photography Workshop. Led by 25 year veteran photojournalist Sean Rayford, during the peak of fall foliage season in western North Carolina.
Oct 2-4, 2026
Oct 9-11, 2026
Oct 16-18, 2026
The Blue Ridge Photography Workshop is for photographers looking for life changing experiences with visual storytelling in the mountains of southern Appalachia during peak fall foliage season.
And it’s for photographers looking for a unique experience on a spiritual level.
As a South Carolina based photojournalist covering the biggest storms in North America I’ve come to the mountains of my neighbor state each fall to use the challenging landscape as training grounds for my work — as seen in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine and beyond.
This workshop is for intermediate and advanced photographers. There will be an official group campsite that will serve as our field classroom. You don’t have to stay here, but if you want easier access to me, workshop resources and the exchange of valuable information with other campers —we’ll be here.
The campsite will also be located for good access to spots to start your morning. Since you’ll probably be getting up early to catch sunrise, this is one of our first logistical challenges. But as a photojournalist, logistics are my specialty — and it’s here where I help you take things to the next level.
In fact, I bet you $100 that this workshop will be the best investment you make in your photography journey in 2026. (Link to details)
What about bad weather?
I’ve covered more than a dozen of the biggest storms in the US during the last decade. Weather is challenging but it’s beautiful and damn interesting on this landscape.
This workshop is NOT for someone looking to learn how to use a camera. It’s for you. You know the basics but you want to take your photography to the next level.
As a career photojournalist, using a micro camper van covering extreme weather — logistics are my specialty. I’ll use that expertise and my 2,000+ miles of experience on the Blue Ridge Parkway during the peak of fall foliage season to help you make best use of your time in the mountains.
I’ll also help you take your photography to the next level by identifying your personal and specific goals for the workshop. In a world where everyone is a photographer, what we do with our photography has become a defining metric — because technology has given us the opportunity to make an endless stream of photos.
This process, where photographers do things with their photography - beyond social media posts is also how we supercharge our learning. It forces us to interact with our work on a more intimate level. Are you a content machine or a human?
Students can partner or form groups or go their own way in the field making photos. I’ll facilitate that.
What about power and communications at the campsite?
You are in luck, because this is also my specialty and communications technology with an array of portable battery solutions will be available at the field campsite. I’ll make sure they are topped off for your charging needs
What about food?
Each morning at the campsite I’ll have fresh fruit, nuts and trail mix for students, depending on their preference. At lunch I’ll have a grill, burgers, dogs, salads, and the fruit and nuts and a veggie tray. For dinner, I’ll grab you a personal togo item or meal. I’ll be able to keep it refrigerated. This will maximize your time in the field.
Breakfast and dinner expenses are covered by the worksop but students will pay for their dinners.
What about restrooms?
We will stay at a campsite that has restroom facilities of some type — or in an extreme scenario you will be given a shovel and a brand new personal folding toilet and directions.
Where is the campsite?
The first two weeks of the workshop we will be south of Asheville near Waynesville, Slyva or Maggie Valley and the third week, north of Asheville near Linnville.
Students will be responsible for booking their own campsite or lodging
What if a hurricane comes?
I’m a working photojournalist and spend all year preparing for hurricanes. Fall foliage season in western North Carolina overlaps with hurricane season. There’s small chance that I’d have to deploy for this type of work — but this workshop is a lot about logistics and how I will prepare with you before the workshop an my contingency plan that is in place. Each student will get 2 hours of video chat or phone time prior to the workshop.
You’s get a full refund on the workshop but I will have prepared an outline and plan of attack for the trip and you are more than welcome to follow through on you own. All students also get 1 hour of follow-up which you’ll also still receive.
You’ll also receive any workshop in 2027 at 50% off. And I know you’ll take advantage of this because of how good your experience was because of our planing.
Some people talk about luck, like it sits next to a pot of gold in the near Big Butt Ridge at milepost 425 on the The Blue Ridge Parkway. This workshop is about how luck sits at the intersection of preparation and opportunity.
For your chance to secure one of 15 truly unique photography learning experience in the Blue Ridge Mountains, sign up with your email to receive announcements when I open reservations.
During your weekend, you may share the field classroom and campsite with YouTube creators attending a parallel workshop. The total group size is limited to five students across both programs, ensuring small-group guidance and plenty of one-on-one time.
We will do all of this by respecting the land, wildlife and other people we encounter while participating in this workshop.