Smoky Mountains

Springtime Flowers, Waterfalls and Forests in the Smokies

April 25 – 29, 2024

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits atop the Spine of Time, a rugged 6000-foot mountain divide between North Carolina and Tennessee. The Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most biologically diverse in the National Park System, hosting more than 19,000 plant and animal species.

We will expertly guide you through this magnificent mountain wilderness and teach you how to best capture the Park’s old-growth forests, sweeping mountain vistas, cascading mountain rivers, bubbling streams, waterfalls, and vernal wildflowers. April and May are the wildflower months in the Smokies, with different species blooming at different times, so bring your macro lens to capture some of the local colors up close. The sunrises and sunsets with stacked layers of blue mountains are iconic Smoky Mountain scenes, and these images will stand out in your portfolio.

We will spend ample time helping you process your photos and giving instant feedback and image reviews throughout the workshop so you can use what you’ve learned immediately.

Our workshop group is small, and every need is taken care of for you in advance. All you need to do is show up and focus on learning in one of the crown jewels of U.S. National Parks. Join us. The Great Smoky Mountains await!

Muench Workshops is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service.

Your Pros

Matt Payne

Talor Stone

Location

Tennessee, USA

Tuition

$4,995

Dates

April 25 – 29, 2024

Fitness Level

Easy

Availability

Open for Registration
Limited to 8 Guests

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.

April 25, 2024: Arrive at Knoxville, Tennessee Airport before 1:00 PM today. Pick-up is available at 1:00 PM for all who need a ride from the airport to the hotel. We meet in the hotel at 3:00 PM for orientation and Q&A before going to the park for an evening photography session along the Little River, followed by dinner.

April 26, 2024: Early wake-up call and sunrise shoot on Foothills Parkway-West. After breakfast, we will do a morning shoot in the Tremont area of the park with river landscapes and wildflowers. After lunch, we will drive to Greenbrier for more river scenes, macro photography, and wildflowers and finish up at Clingmans Dome for sunset, followed by dinner.

April 27, 2024: Sunrise shoot at the Oconoleftee Overlook and then breakfast in Gatlinburg. We will photograph a local waterfall or wildflower patch at Hardwood Cove Trail for the remainder of the morning. After lunch, we will photograph some forest scenes and sunset at Morton’s Overlook, followed by dinner.

April 28, 2024: Sunrise shoot at Clingmans Dome and breakfast in Gatlinburg. Afternoon image review and Lightroom/Photoshop session and lunch break. In the afternoon, we will do literal and abstract river reflections and more river scenes in Elkmont or a nearby sunset location.

April 29, 2024: Sunrise and morning shoot in Cades Cove, photographing flowering dogwoods, country roads, and old homesteads from the 1930s. Final image review session at the hotel and finish up at noon. Flights home can be anytime after 3:00 PM from Knoxville Airport.

Gallery

Fitness

Easy: You are able to handle easy walks of no more than a half mile.

Flights

Arrive McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee before 1:00 PM on April 25, 2024. Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on April 29, 2024.

What to Bring

Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.

What’s Included

Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $600 supplement.
All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
All permits and park fees.
All transportation during the workshop.
Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!

Not Included

Travel to and from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
Items of a personal nature.
Alcoholic beverages.
Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
Anything else specifically not listed as included.
Single rooming available for $600 supplement.

Payment Terms

Your deposit of $2,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
The balance is due not later than January 1, 2024.
All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.

Testimonials

“I have been on more than a dozen photo workshops since 2013. The Smoky Mountain one was by far the most educational one for pure photography instruction. Richard and Tom were always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and make suggestions. They made the workshop educational and provided a lot of laughs along the way. ”

“Talor was very knowledgable and the critiques were awesome. Talor Stone is a great workshop leader. Really made the workshop fun. Would gladly take another workshop with her as the leader. ”

Behind the Scenes