New Zealand Photo Tour 2026

“Nathaniel Smalley is not only an extraordinary photographer, but an incredible instructor as well. He was eager to share all of his knowledge to ensure that I came away with the very best photographs that I could be proud of. His knowledge of New Zealand added to the overall magic of the workshop. In addition, he insured that our travel on the “backwards” roads was managed by expert drivers. The addition of a second photography expert, completed the package. I will share my experience with all of my photo friends and encourage them to travel with Nathaniel Smalley. Thank you Wicked Good Photo Tours! We will meet again!”

"I recently completed the Secrets of New Zealand photo tour with Nathaniel Smalley. There were 8 participants on the trip and two professional photographers to guide and assist. The tour began in Christchurch and moved around the South Island as we took sunset and sunrise photos of majestic sites. Nathaniel shared his special locations for taking exquisite images of classic New Zealand landscape. While we took in the iconic locations like Milford Sound, we also were able to capture unique images at obscure locations.

Nathaniel was a great group leader. A distinguished landscape photographer in his own right, Nathaniel was willing to work with each of us to master the key technical and creative aspects of good landscape photography.

Nathaniel is also not afraid to jump into action. During my last shoot of the tour at Lake Matheson, I lost my tripod mount in the water right next to the wooden staircase we were using to shoot the lake from towards the backdrop of Mount Cook and Tasman. I resolved to shoot the location holding my camera. Before I could get set up Nathaniel had climbed over the railing of the steps and lowered himself to the water to recover my tripod mount which was resting on leaves just below the water surface. Somehow he did all of this without getting wet. With the return of the mount I was able to take the shot as planned with a long shutter speed. Thanks Nathaniel!

This was my first formal landscape photo tour and I found it very instructive and helpful. Our group of photographers all got along well. I would recommend future tours with Nathaniel without reservation."

“My sister Wendy and I would highly recommend Wicked Good Photo tours. We loved the trip to New Zealand we took with them in 2019. We found the itinerary, accommodations and instruction to be excellent. Nathaniel is a wonderful instructor who is a very knowledgeable and patient teacher who shared his love of photography with all of us. Nathaniel partners with a local photographer in New Zealand who is also an excellent instructor. Together they created an exceptional experience for the whole group. We are looking forward to our next adventure with Wicked Good Photo Tours.”

"Nathaniel of Wicked Good Photo Tours is wonderful. I observed him for almost a year before booking with him. He truly believes in the "leave no trace behind" principle, he does not like baiting animals for a shot and he limits his workshop sizes so that everyone gets time with him one-on-one. Before booking with him, I asked him questions and he was very kind and attentive. Another feature that I appreciated is that he took care of all of the accommodations and he checked every room before handing us our keys. He spends time helping each participant while processing pictures and he provides personal as well as group instruction. He is easy going and truly cares about all of us. It is important to feel very comfortable with the person who you book with and he/she should be approachable."

"The Bryce Canyon Workshop was a fantastic experience for both improving my photographic skills, but also enjoying the beautiful scenery at Bryce Canyon Nation Park. The trip was well organized including providing detailed pre-departure information. Accommodations were awesome and included a comfortable conference room to allow for instruction by Nathaniel as well a post-processing of our images. Nathaniel’s instructions both at photo locations and during post-processing were excellent, providing ample personalized attention. Along with his experience and in-depth knowledge of both equipment and software my photographic skills both in capturing images and processing them greatly improved. I also appreciated his experience and knowledge on composition both in image capture as well as post processing. Photographic locations were plentiful and easily accessible at Bryce Canyon. The natural beauty at Bryce Canyon was just totally breathtaking and memorable especially looking down at the hoodoos while watching the sun bring life to the multitude of colors as well as listening to the wind blow through them. I would definitely take another workshop with Nathaniel and recommend that others strongly consider taking one of his workshops."

"My wife and I know a little bit about Norway. She’s Norwegian and grew up in the far north, above the Arctic Circle. I lived in Norway for several years before we moved, and moved again (long story). On a recent trip back to visit family, we decided to couple that with Nathaniel Smalley’s photo workshop in the Lofoten Islands. Uff da, but that was a good decision! He took us to some absolutely stunning locations and is a very effective teacher of landscape photography - including how to edit the photos you take. He keeps his groups small so he can provide lots of individual attention and coaching. We stayed at nice places, ate well (get ready to appreciate pickled herring and sweet brown goat cheese) (or not), and were catered to night and day. Nathaniel is easygoing, good at problem-solving, and quick to make everyone feel comfortable. We were also lucky with the weather on our trip. I don’t know if he can deliver more of that, but we would recommend him to others without hesitation. We came away with great experiences and also some pretty darn good photographs!"

"I recently participated in Nathaniel’s 2017 Norway workshop. From the moment the workshop started, Nathaniel was completely engaged in ensuring our experience exceeded our expectations. Nathaniel’s approach is very interactive and instructional. He readily shares technical and artistic expertise. He also ensures that each student has what they need to maximize the photo opportunities. From our top-notch lodging, food and access to many beautiful locations - logistically, everything was smooth and easy. From a photography perspective, we had excursions to many picturesque locations that included beautiful beaches, waterfalls and Norwegian villages. We were fortunate to be able to see and photograph one of the most intense Northern Lights in over fifteen years. Nathaniel confirmed that we were prepared, set up and ready to go to maximize the moments. During our non-photography time, we reviewed photos, post processing techniques, while learning new editing skills. In addition to the learning, Nathaniel is enjoyable to work with in the field. He’s fun, easy going, while maintaining a high level of professionalism. I highly recommend Nathaniel’s workshops!"

"I have taken many workshops over the years and have found that maybe one third of the instructors to be excellent teachers. Nathaniel is in that category. He is very patient, has an artist's eye for composition, and an in depth knowledge of photographic technique. He spares no effort to make his trips as memorable as they could possibly be. Nathaniel's workshop exceeded my expectations. He is very thorough covering photography concepts, composition, and post processing technique. It truly elevated the impact of my images. I would take another workshop from him in a heartbeat. Thank you Nathaniel!"

“Nathaniel’s workshop is one of the best I’ve ever taken. The trip was very well organized and with enough flexibility to modify our schedule to be at places when the light was beautiful and the crowds weren’t there. With Iceland being such a popular destination, the 'must see' places get completely overrun with visitors. The times Nathaniel arranged for us to be at many of our spots was when we could capture images of these places looking pristine.

We also visited some more remote, off the beaten path locations, which I appreciated very much. Our accommodations were also good selections - from clean and comfortable to luxurious. I don’t think I could have had a more enjoyable experience with any one else and gotten the amazing images I took on this trip. Nathaniel is also very helpful with all levels of photographers and I believe that everyone improved their skills in his workshop. I plan to take another workshop with Nathaniel.”

“I have travelled to many countries around the world but I have to say that Norway (Lofoten Islands) was one of the most spectacular locations I have ever photographed. Nathaniel did an amazing job setting up our lodging, meals and transportation. The photo tour was packed with excursions to beautiful beaches, pristine waterfalls, quaint villages and yes, we were quite lucky to see the northern lights on three occasions! At every location, Nathaniel made sure that we had the right lens and filter for the scene and also checked our camera settings for correct exposure. In the evenings, we would spend hours on reviewing our photos, discussing composition and getting suggestions from Nathaniel for photo editing with Lightroom & Photoshop. All in all a photographers dream!!!”

“I signed up for the Lofoten tour led by Nathaniel on the spur of a moment, it fitted well with my remaining holiday dates at work and I am very pleased that I did. During the trip Nathaniel was great company and took us to most of the iconic locations in Lofoten for both sunrise and sunset shoots as well as Aurora hunting trips when conditions were suitable . The choice and location of the accommodations were great and the whole trip was a pleasure to be part of. My thanks to Nathaniel Smalley for all the hard work and countless hundreds of miles behind the wheel during the week. An excellent trip.”