Tony MeleOctober 2, 2024
A wonderful trip with a friendly, knowledgeable team (Drake and Mauro) who are committed to making each trip something to remember. This particular trip provided great sites in the Italian Lakes region (Como, Orta, Maggiore) to photograph, delicious food and wonderful accommodations. The other folks on this trip consisted of amateur and professional photographers who were all wonderful to travel with and hang out with. We're already discussing which trip to do next year.
Yvonne DenmanSeptember 25, 2024Off the beaten path...Amazing trip and photo guides! As a professional photographer, I've been fortunate to travel on many international photo tours with various large and boutique photo travel companies - and Italy Workshops outshines them all. Italy Workshops has created a winning formula of providing unique cultural, food and photo experiences that allows guests to truly connect with Italy's culture, natural beauty and people. As part of their workshop format, Italy Workshops also provides photography tutorials both in the field and in a workshop setting. Many thanks to Drake, Gabriele and Mauro for the trip of a lifetime!
Tim SomersSeptember 25, 2024Fantastic time with great group and Drake was very welcoming and helpful throughout the trip. Would recommend to others and will join them again for another workshop.
David PomeroyJune 4, 2024Drake and his whole team made this a marvelous experience. Everything was amazing. The scenic and cultural beauty was wonderful. This was an enjoyable and carefree experience. Well-planned transportation allowed us to get from one attraction to the next with never a wait. We would highly recommend any trips with Italy Workshops.
Tammy TrockiJune 3, 2024I just got back from my third trip with Drake and company, this time, to Tuscany. Drake is a wonderful photographer and teacher who leads you to photographic opportunities both out of way and iconic, and helps you take better images with a kind and personal touch. But there’s more! On this trip, that included wine-tasting in an Etruscan tomb, visits to leather and stone mosaic workshops, a private tour of the centuries-old city archives of Sienna, and—the most special to me—visits and portrait sessions with a traditional farm family and several retired gentlemen, characters all, in an adjacent Tuscan town. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the excellent food, wine, and lodging in welcoming spots throughout. Drake and Gabriele, our Italian guide, planned everything beautifully drawing on knowledge of the area and personal acquaintances. Italy Workshop trips are adventures you will remember always.
Robert BarkinMay 21, 2024Our trip to Tuscany was a delight in every aspect. The photography was outstanding, and so was the camaraderie. A true pleasure.
Elizabeth PleeterApril 30, 2024I write as a non photographer, accompanying my husband who is one, on the seventh trip that Drake has led to various regions of Italy as part of the Italy Workshops, this time to the Amalfi Coast. The places he chooses are always beautiful and interesting, but thanks to Drake and his personable and knowledgeable assistants, Mauro and Gabriele, native Italians who have fluent English, we are always treated to special insights, be they cultural or culinary, that are not available on ordinary tours. For example, this time a pizza making lesson on the beautiful property of one of Mauro’s friends in Tramonte. The group is always small, the transportation by van or pre-arranged vetted taxis that are driven by excellent and punctual drivers. The schedule set for the day is flexible, with adjustments made in response to unexpected occurrences or the group’s interests. Drake and his assistants are approachable, helpful with the most minute details in addition to technical aspects of photography and as attentive to my preferences as to those of the photographers in the group. Accommodations are always nice, sometimes spectacular, as are the included meals. There is some free time built into the schedule. My husband and I usually travel on our own, but are always up for a trip with Drake and company.
clarke shortApril 26, 2024Lived up to the hype! Incredible trip that was perfectly curated and executed by Drake and Mauro. We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty and culture of Italy.
Catherine CullikApril 23, 2024TL, DR: Delightfully exceeded expectations! Wow!!! I just returned from an incredible photography workshop in the Almafi Coast, expertly designed by Italy Photo Workshops, with Drake Busath teaching the photo workshops and Mauro Riva (also a talented photography enthusiast) handling logistical details with precision. I am in awe of how many different experiences we had - from taking the ferry to Capri and having lunch in a beautiful private home to walking around Positano and taking photos at the lookout during the blue hour to taking a fun and informative pizza making class with a local restauranteur. Oh, and we also visited a paper museum, and had a private tour after hours that was, like everything, terrific. The small tour size (8 people) was ideal for getting around easily, and the meals were delicious. The hotel was simple and lovely and incredibly well-located, and the team was thoughtful in all details. I can not recommend highly enough - if you are looking for a true Italian experience, are wanting to take time with your photography, and prefer real soulful travel experiences, this is the journey for you. One note: photographers of all levels welcome, and they are so patient and kind. I would recommend becoming comfortable with editing techniques before coming on the trip, just so you can get the most out of the experience.
Becca BNovember 7, 2023I was excited for this workshop but also kind of nervous because I’ve never done any group travel before! But the Dolomites have been on my list for a long time and you add in fall colors, and I had to sign up. I was immediately very comfortable and it felt relaxed and was just a great experience. It felt like we were a group of friends driving around the beautiful mountains together. Sean, our photographer, was so supportive, even before the tour began, and went the extra mile by picking up a purchase for me from the local camera shop because I was already in Italy. Mauro was a fantastic local guide, so warm and genuine, and a fantastic guide for the area, doing his best to help us go to locations with good weather even when it meant altering the original itinerary proposed. And he definitely delivered on the beautiful golden larches, which I was most excited about. I came home feeling more like a friend than a client, and the goodbyes on farewell day were genuinely sad. The accommodations were excellent, and the included meals were at excellent restaurants Mauro had chosen. I only wish it were a few days longer! I hope to book another trip soon, the value and experience were top notch.Load more
