How do I sign up?
When we receive your deposit we will register you for a workshop automatically. If you are signing up for more than one person, more than one workshop, or are new to TBPW, please fill out the contact form located here. Please include your address, phone number and email if you are new to us so we can mail you a trip packet.
How do I pay the Deposit?
Method 1 Pay Pal
The easiest way to sign up is to pay with Pay Pal from the buttons on each webpage. You do not need to have a Pay Pal account…..just pay with your credit card. Pay Pal is one of the most secure online payment options available.
Method 2 Call Us at (970) 631-9383
If you prefer, we can also sign you up over the phone with a credit card number and expiration date. If you do not get through on your first try, leave a message for us on the contact page, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Method 3 Send a Check
A third option is to send a check through the mail to our address on the right. Since this is a slower method, it is possible that a trip may fill while your check is on the way. You can let us know a check is coming on our contact page, and we will save a space for you.
Mailing address: 6342 N Mountain Meadow Trail, Palmer, Alaska 99645
What are your Terms and Conditions?
We work hard to provide an outstanding workshop experience. However, Tom Bol Photo Workshops does not have any control of the weather, natural disasters, or any other emergencies that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights, medical problems, emergencies or cancellations that may affect your trip.
By booking a trip with Tom Bol Photo Workshops, you agree to the following:
CANCELLATION POLICY
- 121 days or more prior to the start of the workshop your deposit will be refunded less $300. For international or Alaska workshops the service charge is $500. These rates go into effect January 1, 2026.
- Between 121-90 days prior to the start of the workshop, we will retain your full deposit.
- 90 days and fewer to the start of the workshop your entire workshop fee is retained.
There are circumstances where Tom Bol Photo Workshops may cancel a workshop 30 days or more prior to that event. Should cancellation occur, we will refund what you have paid for the workshop fee unless it is a case of force majeure (see below). Tom Bol Photo Workshops assumes no liability whatsoever for penalties incurred by you from airlines or any other sources. This is why we recommend travel insurance for all of our workshops.
Force Majeure: “Force Majeure” means that TBPW will not be liable for any alleged damages because of any circumstances including, but without limitation, explosion, flood, storm, volcano, fire, war or threat of war, civil disturbance, sickness, quarantine, weather conditions or other untoward occurrences. If TBPW is affected by Force Majeure it will notify you of the nature and extent of the incidence. TBPW may vary or cancel an itinerary in cases of force majeure. Refunds or partial refunds will be at the sole and absolute discretion of TBPW. TBPW will attempt to reimburse you where possible however we will deduct from any refund the reasonable actual and potential costs to TBPW of the Force Majeure
Do prices ever change for workshops?
We do our best to price trips several years in advance in order to book the best rooms and rates for our photographers. In certain circumstances we may have to add additional charges or modest adjustments to your workshop cost. These changes, while infrequent, allow us price our trips so that we can continue offering excellent experiences at a rate that is both fair to you and to us.
Potential Additional Charges May Include:
● Fuel Surcharges: In the event of significant fluctuations in global fuel prices, a surcharge may be added to cover increased transportation or logistical costs. We will always aim to provide as much advance notice as possible.
● Vendor or Lodging Adjustments: Many trips rely on third-party providers such as charter aircraft, small lodges, remote outfitters, or specialized vehicles. If any changes in their rates or required services occur, a corresponding adjustment may be applied to your Trip cost.
Third-Party Services
Tom Bol Photo Workshops relies upon independent third-party service providers—including but not limited to tour organizers, transportation providers, hotel operators, and food vendors—to provide services for with its workshops. All reservations and arrangements are subject to the terms and conditions and operational policies of those third-party providers.
Tom Bol Photo Workshops cannot control the actions of such third parties and assumes no responsibility for unanticipated events or circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, travel delays, lost luggage, cancellations, overbooking, scheduling errors, or other irregularities.
Participants should build flexibility into their travel plans in case it becomes necessary to extend the length of a workshop or make other reasonable scheduling changes to accommodate such events. You agree that you are not entitled to a refund, discount, or compensation in connection with such unanticipated scheduling adjustments.
Participants further agree to release, defend, and hold harmless Tom Bol Photo Workshops LLC, its owners, and agents from any liability for injury, death, loss, damage, delay, or irregularity arising from or in connection with any services provided by third parties.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Family Members on Trips If my spouse wants to go along on a trip but not photograph is there a charge? For international workshops and workshops in Alaska, anyone who is on the trip will need to pay full price. For workshops in the continental United States, there is no charge for spouses or other family members to come along if they are independent of the group. Because of group size limits on wilderness permits, we can only have paid trip participants accompany us while shooting. We aim to keep our group size limited to 12 participants on trips. Our Costa Rica Workshop is perfect for non-photographing travel partners
Referral Discounts: Do you offer any discounts on photo workshops? Yes we do. We rely heavily on word of mouth. If you refer a new client to us who signs up for a trip, we will gladly give you a $100 discount on your next trip.
Interest List: Why do some trips fill so quickly? Upcoming trips are often a topic of conversation on workshops. When clients hear about an upcoming trip, they can request to be put on our Interest List. This ensures that they hear about that particular trip just prior to it being posted on our website. A reservation is only confirmed after we receive the trip deposit. Ask to be on an Interest List via our Contact Page
Difficulty Level and Expectations: We rate each of the workshops from Easy thru Difficult based on their physical challenges. Participants must be able to carry all of their own gear including tripods and keep up with the group while on workshops. In addition we expect that all of our participants will be positive and cooperative in a group setting. Negative behaviors or the physical inability to keep up with the group on a workshop is grounds for removal from the workshop as determined by the trip leaders. We reserve the right to refuse service on future trips if they do not meet these expectations. If you have any questions about the difficulty of a trip, please contact us
Inclement Weather: Some of our best photographs happen during inclement weather. Occasionally weather will be so harsh for camera gear that we will stay inside and work on technique slideshows, image critics and post-processing. There will be no refunds for inclement weather.
Booking hotels before and after workshops: Participants often choose to add extra days before and after workshops, especially on international trips. We encourage participants to book their own hotel room directly with the hotel staff.
Use of Name and Likeness: We reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any workshop and to use the resulting photography in whole or in part for promotional purposes, including, but not limited to: advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media. By booking a reservation with Tom Bol Photo Workshops participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves at the beginning of their workshop. We also reserve the right to use, in all or in part, any written reviews you may provide to us in our advertising and publicity both in print and electronic media.
How do you deal with covid and other communicable diseases?
We care about the health and safety of our participants. We do our best to manage communicable diseases to make sure the group is not affected.
- We encourage participants to be vaccinated against diseases and consult medical professionals to learn about the latest outbreaks. Tom and Cree use Passport Health as their medical travel consultants.
- All costs of PCR tests, quarantine and medical expenses due to covid or other communicable diseases are the responsibility of the individual. Medical evacuations or quarantine costs are not covered by TBPW.
- We encourage participants to travel with masks and covid test kits when traveling to workshops.
- Monitor your health during and before the workshop. If you feel sick before the workshop (covid, flu, strep throat, please do not attend. During the workshop immediately notify Tom or Cree if you feel sick, or learn you have been recently exposed to a confirmed Covid-19 case. Proper course of action will be determined by TBPW at that time.
- In case of possible quarantine we recommend having emergency travel insurance and bringing 14 days of extra personal medication.