Zion & Southwest Utah Custom Photo Tours with Michael DeYoung
Custom Multi-Day Private Photo Tours in Zion & Southwest Utah
Turn dreams into reality with an exclusive, full service private photo tour in Zion National Park & Southwest Utah
What is a private tour? It’s a custom, full service instructional based tour just for you, created and guided by Michael and Lauri. We help you every step of the way, creating a once in a lifetime photo adventure. Let us take you to our favorite Alaska photo locations.
Got a group of photo friends, a partner or spouse, or just yourself and want to craft your own unique tour? You’ve come to the right place! With our guiding and logistics expertise we create and guide a unique Zion photo experience just for you.
THE ACTIVE PHOTO TOUR ADVANTAGE
20+ years of professional photography experience in Zion. We know Zion and the surrounding area inside out – not just as pro outdoor photographers but as intrepid and seasoned hikers. We work with local, reputable adventure guides and transportation providers that facilitate one-of-kind canyon country photo experiences.
Full service tour with a team, not just a guide: Michael and Lauri have worked together for 30 years. We combine our logistics experience with commercial photo productions as well as for our many self-supported wilderness trips, to create a one of a kind photo tour for you and will suggest itineraries that maximize the photo experience – all with your approval – based on your ideas and preferences. We arrange accommodations and provide all ground transportation, as well as book photo-driven excursions during the tour. Prior to the trip we will provide comprehensive equipment and clothing suggestions to optimize your Zion experience.
Michael is a former meteorologist, natural light master and patient teacher: Sharing his weather and light expertise, Michael guides you in how to capture the best possible imagery in all lighting conditions. He works with all skill levels, doing what it takes to get you to the next level. Whatever you want to work on, even if it is just motivation to push yourself creatively, Michael patiently helps you get there.
Adventure Specialists: Add Adventure to your tour. Adventure is our passion and we love to share it with clients! Are you an active and fit shooter? Do you think it’s cool to explore unique back country slot canyon photo ops under your own power? We certainly do! We are all about combining photography and adventure and even photographing the adventure, not just the landscape. Let’s exercise our muscles, lungs and creativity. We can make your tour more unique and memorable by adding slot canyon exploration (i.e. varying degrees of technical canyoneering) to the mix.
Michael DeYoung is an award-winning adventure, lifestyle and landscape photographer creating imagery for stock libraries and commercial clients – primarily in the travel/tourism industry.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
“Our main focus with our clients is to provide the highest quality Alaskan experience possible in addition to helping capture the best possible imagery. We support local businesses and sustainably showcase the places we love. We love to help people grow as photographers, building skills, confidence, and creative vision. We strive to awaken that outdoor photography passion in all of us.”
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
“Not only is Michael an expert in where to take great photos in Zion, but he is also a gifted teacher. I came away with great pics AND learned a thing or two about how to take fine art landscape photos. I highly recommend Active Photo Tours if you’re looking for both guidance and “awareness” of where to take wonderful pictures.”
– Daryl W.
“Michael and Lauri are amazing. They helped me plan a private day tour in Zion. Had a great time and want to go back. I learned alot about landscape photography also at the same time. Highly recommend without any reservations.”
– Will G.
READ MORE REVIEWS
MOST REQUESTED TOUR ITINERARIES AND APPROXIMATE COST
Custom photo tour total costs vary depending upon several factors including season traveling, lodging location, your lodging style preference, and distances traveled to shoot locations.
The most common tour requested is based from Springdale, UT. Costs include our guide fee, 1-2 hour orientation and presentation, ground transportation in our private van or rental vehicle (for 3 or more clients), and all expenses including accommodations, location/entrance fees, and Zion Narrows outfitting. Client meals are separate and not included in costs.
These itineraries are merely a suggestion. You can, if desired, go with what the suggested tour describes, or you can modify it to suit your photographic preferences.
Click on image below to see the details and estimated cost on the selected trip idea.
2-DAY NARROWS & SLOT CANYON PHOTO TOUR
WHEN: Nov – Feb & Apr – May (2-Day Minimum Required for Zion & Southwest Utah tours)
DAILY GUIDE FEE: $900/day 1-2 people; $1,000/day 3-4 people
INCLUDED IN DAILY GUIDE FEE:
✓ Michael & Lauri as your guides and drivers
✓ Personalized photography instruction
✓ Ground transportation to and from your lodging in Springdale, UT – the gateway town to Zion National Park
✓ Pre-tour logistics including developing the itinerary and making reservations for lodging and any other possible guiding excursions
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES (NOT INCLUDED IN DAILY GUIDE FEE):
✓ Your Meals (pay as you go)
✓ Lodging for your group and possibly Michael & Lauri’s **
✓ Fuel **
✓ Rental vehicle for more than 3 participants **
✓ Entrance and locations fees **
✓ Third-party guide and off highway transportation fees **
** These expenses will be reflected in the total estimate of the tour.
POLICIES:
PAYMENT TERMS:
Unless otherwise agreed, the following payment schedule applies at time of booking:
If Booking more than 120 days in advance: A non-refundable deposit of $900 (or the equivalent of one day quoted guide fee) is required to reserve the dates. This can be paid via Venmo or a credit card via PayPal. This covers our time of researching and creating reservations for the custom tour and is included in the total cost of the tour. Final payment of the remaining balance is due in January of the year the tour takes place.
B: If Booking less than 120 days in advance: 100% of the quoted price is due at time of booking to be paid as follows: A non-refundable deposit of $900 (or the equivalent of one day quoted guide fee) payable via Venmo or a credit card via PayPal, AND the remaining balance paid via check, Venmo, wire transfer, or PayPal due on the same day.
Deposits and Final Balance payments can be made by credit card (via PayPal), Venmo, check, or other wire transfer app. We accept credit card via PayPal for the deposit at no charge to you. If you wish to pay the FINAL BALANCE by PayPal, a 3% transaction fee/surcharge will be added to the quote for the final balance.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations made prior to 120 days of tour’s start date will receive a refund of all amounts paid to date except for the non-refundable deposit and any non-refundable deposits made to third-party vendors for the additional excursions specific to your itinerary.
Refunds for cancellations made within 120 days of the tour’s start date are not guaranteed. If we can fill the space with another booking, we will refund the amount paid to date minus the initial non-refundable deposit and any non-refundable deposits made to third-party vendors for the additional excursions specific to your itinerary.
Cancellations made within 120 days of the tour’s start date where we CANNOT fill the space will forfeit 100% of our guide fees. We attempt to get a refund from all vendors who have a favorable refund policy and will return these amounts to you once all vendor refunds have been processed.
In the event you are unable to make your initial date, we will work with you to reschedule without forfeiture of your non-refundable deposit and as much of the payments made to secure the additional venues. We understand rescheduling is not always possible due to both parties’ schedules. For that reason, we strongly recommend Trip Insurance.
TRIP INSURANCE
Active Photo Tours and DeYoung Photo Workshops, LLC are not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets or lodging arrangements you made in the event of you or anyone in your group had to cancel. You may want to invest in trip insurance to cover these circumstances. We highly suggest TravelGuard® or similar travel insurance policies to assist you in case of last minute plan changes and emergencies.
DeYoung Active Photo Tours
(A division of DeYoung Photo Workshops, LLC)