Frequently Asked Questions

Our transfer and refund policies are realistic, and we do offer refunds under specific conditions. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

We are often in the field before dawn and arrive back at base camp well after sundown. We also have 3 to 4 classroom sessions of 2-4 hours for Masterclasses and two periods during First Horizon workshops. Most field days begin early, spend some portion of the mid-day in class, and then return to the field for periods of golden ight or for night sky photography. Thus, Masterclass and First Horizon workshops can be physically demanding, and it is your responsibility to self-evaluate and be honest about your physical fitness. We may elect to remove you from the workshop if we find your fitness is not sufficient for a given class.

For all workshops, we require that you carry all your camera gear and enter and exit the vehicle without assistance unless otherwise pre-arranged assistance is agreed upon.

Easy: Most photography is from within several hundred yards to as much as a mile or so from where we park the vehicle. The terrain is typically level and smooth but can be uneven, and the walks up or downhill have minimal elevation change.

You are able to:

• Remain engaged for most of the day, driving, walking, and carrying your gear.
• Climb several flights of stairs without difficulty.
• Walk on uneven ground without assistance.
• Walk on wet, slippery surfaces without assistance.
• Climb over obstacles (like a log on a trail)

Moderate: You may have to walk up to two miles or more at a time over uneven ground, with moderate elevation gain. You may need to walk through sand, slick rock, or boggy ground.

You are able to:

• Walk for periods of one hour while carrying your gear.
• Climb and descend slopes with intermittent grades of 4% or more.
• Cross a small stream using rocks as stepping stones.
• Walk through deep sand.
• Spend long hours in very cold or very hot temperatures.

Challenging: Some strenuous hikes of several miles, often with elevation gain of several hundred feet on uneven ground. There can be locations where you are required to stand on slippery rocks and or angled slopes, and you must be able to acclimate to higher elevations of 8,000 feet plus. If you have any known heart condition, please get in touch with us in advance, and we may require a doctor’s release for class participation.

You can:

• Walk at elevation with your backpack for 1 hour or more.
• Climb and descend slopes with intermittent grades of 6% or more.
• Rise from a seated position on the ground to a standing position without assistance.

All of the information you need for any specific Workshop is on the sign-up page, and you are always welcome to contact us if you have more questions. Also, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

All Masterclass and First Horizon Workshops are limited to 8 students with two teachers/instructors. Thus, the teacher-student ratio is 1:4. NPPE may operate a class with as few as five students in some cases and provide one instructor.

Not to worry! We send a free series of preparatory tutorials exclusively for NPPE students for class preparation. Our patient, knowledgeable instructors work with you during post-classes to help you quickly develop creative post-production skills and techniques.

We select base camp hotels that are in close proximity to ou park entry points These facilities have ample refrigeration and microwave facilities, for student convenience. In some expeditions, we pack a lunch and eat in the field. We make it a point to have several lunches and evening meals together as a group because building collegial relationships with like-minded creatives is important to your creative growth. We also provide ample snacks, water, and beverages, which we carry in our vehicle coolers.

Meals and Lodging expenses are your responsibility, and we do our best to negotiate favorable rates for our workshops.

Please see our How To Prepare For Your Workshop page for guidelines on camera prep, gear list, and packing tips. Approximately 45-60 days before your workshop, you will be sent a PDF with more specific instructions.

We recommend that you download your camera’s instruction manual and load it onto your phone for access to the field. To ensure that you have the basics in place, we provide a camera command worksheet to help with your preparation. Of course, your instructors can and will provide additonal help for you!

We accept Visa, MasterCard, credit cards, PayPal, personal checks, and bank wires. If you need special payment arrangements or want to work out a payment schedule, no problem. Please get in touch with us at Bree@nppemasterclass.com, (562) 400-6536.

In addition to email and phone contact with NPPE, your senior instructor will contact you within the 60 days before the workshop to fully prepare you for your workshop.