Typical attendee
What is the typical FirstLight attendee like?: Our workshops are intended for those who love photography and want to further their skills. We are not a beginner’s workshop, but we do not expect our participants to be experts or professionals.
Skill level
What should be my skill level: We expect our students to have at least a basic working knowledge of their camera and understand the basics of digital workflow.
Workshop vs Expedition
What's the difference in a Photo Workshop and a Photo Expedition? FirstLight offers both Workshops and Photo Expeditions. A workshop will have a high-level of interaction between participant and instructor. Daily critique sessions will occur, along with projection sessions in which the instructor(s) will give feedback to a selection of images from each participation. Photo Expeditions are designed to provide you great access to photographic opportunities. These are built around shooting, having access to the instructor for feedback on how they see. Review sessions may be offered on an Expedition when time and location permit.
Questions are highly encouraged in both Workshop and Expeditions.
Cancellation
Workshops in the Continental United States: FirstLight has to make commitments to various vendors, arrange workspace and accommodations in the intended workshop location, all based on the numbers of our students. Therefore, once made, payments are non-refundable.
Every Photo Expedition and Photo Workshop is slightly different, and payment structure will be spelled out in the Expedition/Workshop information page. We will send out payment information via email in the buildup to your specific event.
We require trip cancellation insurance for your domestic FirstLight Workshop!
Workshops outside the Continental United States: All workshop payments are non-refundable. FirstLight must make major financial commitments to our outfitters, and we've found that travelers are making major, international plans at least a year out. If a participant cancels, finding a replacement is difficult if not impossible. Thanks for your understanding. An initial deposit is required, and successive payments will be defined for that specific event.
For International events, FIRSTLIGHT WORKSHOPS requires Travel Insurance/Emergency Evacuation and Trip Cancellation Insurance
For your upcoming international FirstLight Workshop/Expedition we require that you purchase travel insurance. This is to protect you against those unseen circumstances that may impact your attendance. Also required, a plan that will cover trip cancellation as well as: dental/medical emergencies, lost baggage, missed connections as well as trip cancellation if you should need to unexpectedly cancel. Evacuation insurance is also required by FirstLight.
FirstLight Workshops is not responsible for workshop cancellations due to medical emergencies. FirstLight is not responsible for reimbursement of nonrefundable airline tickets if the workshop is cancelled.
ALL PAYMENTS TO FIRSTLIGHT ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Additional cancellation policies
Cancellations due to medical emergencies: FirstLight Workshops is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies.
Cancellations due to non-payment: FirstLight Workshops reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 10 days after final payment date.
Cancellation of a workshop by FirstLight: In the event that a workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full. FirstLight Workshops is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets, hotel expenses or any other costs involved in enrolling for a workshop in the event of a workshop cancellation. Check with us about your workshop status before purchasing travel arrangements.
FirstLight Workshops is not responsible for workshop cancellations due to medical emergencies. FirstLight is not responsible for reimbursement of nonrefundable airline tickets if the workshop is cancelled.