Join professional outdoor photographer and Sony ambassador Scott Kranz for a three-day photography workshop in North Cascades National Park—a place Scott calls his favorite on Earth. Known for his 50 PEAKS and WA100 projects, Scott has spent years exploring and documenting this rugged landscape and is eager to share its beauty and stories with you.
This immersive workshop includes moderate to strenuous day hikes, drive-up photography sessions, and a one-night backpacking trip into the backcountry. With a near-full moon on the schedule, we’ll capture epic mountain landscapes, intimate natural details, and wildlife encounters, all while experiencing some of the park’s most stunning viewpoints.
What you’ll learn: choosing and packing essential camera gear; researching location insights and trip planning; mastering exposure settings and camera techniques; creating compelling compositions in various ecoregion within the park and range; learning Scott’s complete creative process—from concept to final edit; and much more.
Workshop details:
Dates and Start/End Times: Friday, July 11 (morning) – Sunday, July 13, 2025 (end of day)
Group Size: Limited to four (4) participants for personalized instruction
Accommodations: One night car camping and one night backpacking in the backcountry
Pre-Workshop Connection: Scott will connect with each participant beforehand to learn about your background, goals, and aspirations. You’ll also receive a detailed welcome packet with the full itinerary and packing list.
Important consideration: This workshop requires excellent physical fitness. Expect to hike 10 miles round trip, gaining 3,000-4,000 feet in elevation at a pace of 2 miles per hour, while carrying camera gear and a day or overnight pack. (View a typical, representative hike here.) The routes often includes steep and exposed terrain, so comfort and confidence in these conditions are essential.
DATE: July 11-13, 2025
GROUP SIZE: up to 4
COST: $1399 USD
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous Hiking & Backpacking
4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (13 reviews)
About your instructor:
Scott Kranz
Scott Kranz is a Minnesota-bred, Seattle-based photographer, filmmaker, and educator. When he moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest in 2013, he couldn’t have imagined how the mountains there would forever change his life. He just knew their natural beauty held an undeniable power, and that his life’s work would soon become visual storytelling in the outdoor spaces where we work and play. Since then, Scott has become an industry leader, partnering with the world’s leading outdoor brands while shooting on all seven continents.
What is included?
All workshop photo education in the field over three workshop days.
Reservations for campground sites and backcountry overnight permits.
Guided shooting for sunrise, sunset, and near-full-moon photography in North Cascades National Park.
Trail snacks, water, coffee, and tea.
Certified NOLS Wilderness First Responder and LNT Trainer on site.
The requisite Commercial Use Authorization for North Cascades National Park.
What is NOT included?
Transportation to, from, and during the workshop.
Dinner, breakfast and lunches.
Any accommodations before or after workshop, such as the nights of Thursday, July 10, or Sunday, July 13.
All travel insurance and gear insurance (highly recommended).
What to expect:
Scott will keep the itinerary flexible to account for the current weather, lighting, and conditions at the workshop locations. We will let the weather and light guide our shooting plans each day to ensure you can maximize your photography, capturing both epic mountain landscapes and intimate natural features in this world-class park and range.
Conditions permitting, our days will be long, as we plan to rise early for sunrise shoots and continue until sunset to take advantage of the best light, making the most of each day. For reference, during this workshop, the sun will rise by 5:15am and does not set until after 9:00pm.
As noted above, the workshop will involve one night of car camping as well as one overnight in the backcountry as part of a backpack outing. While we cannot guarantee the exact location or destination for the backpack outing, due to various factors (permit availability, wildfires, road closures, etc.), we are hopeful to overnight camp at one of the following backcountry sites: Sahale Glacier Camp, Boston Basin, Trappers Peak, or Hidden Lake.
Some shooting will be done close to the road, while other times we may hike or backpack to reach prime backcountry locations in remote areas. Expect strenuous hikes with approximately 3,000-4,000 feet of elevation gain over 10 miles each day. Participants should be physically fit for hiking with loaded packs on maintained backcountry trails for consecutive days. In advance of the workshop, we may ask about your fitness and hiking experience to confirm your ability to fully participate and ensure a successful workshop
