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About Our Company
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About Our Company
How a BCJ Guide Scouts for a Trip
Published April 26, 2023
I recently had the privilege of tagging along on my first-ever BCJ trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. This was an incredible opportunity to learn more about how Backcountry Journeys operates in the field and to get to know our incredible guests and guides a bit better. And, as icing on the cake, I was also able to come home with some great landscape photos as well.
I went on the 'Hiker' version of our Canyons of Utah: Zion & Bryce workshop with our awesome guide Doug Marshall. It was an incredible experience to visit top-notch locations for landscape photography in both of these iconic national parks and Doug made sure to get us in the perfect locations at just the right time when the lighting was ideal. This is a trip I’ll never forget, and the experience only strengthened my excitement to work with such an awesome company.
One of the most interesting things I took away from this trip, which I don’t think I fully realized, was the sheer amount of in-depth planning and logistics that allow us to run every departure. Obviously, I’m aware that we have a full-time office staff consisting of a Field Operations Manager (Mike) and four incredible Photo Adventure Specialists (Maddy, Linda, Lauren, and Katrina), but I don’t think I fully grasped just how much goes on behind-the-scenes. These incredible people keep the lights on and allow BCJ to do what we do!
Not only am I fortunate enough to work with such a talented and robust office staff but I was also very impressed with the amount of work our guides put into each trip. Doug made it very clear that he wants every guest he works with to have an exceptional experience and walk away with new knowledge and photographs they are proud of. Our guides care about running smooth and successful trips and sharing their passions with like-minded people.
In today’s article, I want to dive into one of the most important aspects of creating a successful trip, and that is the in-depth scouting process our guides perform prior to a trip’s start date. At BCJ we know our trips like the back of our hands but, that being said, the places we visit are constantly changing. Roads can close, water levels can change, wildflowers can bloom, and snow can stick around a bit longer than expected. Photography conditions are always changing. Because of these uncontrollable variables, it’s vitally important to get our guides on the ground before our guests arrive.
I wanted to see what this process was like firsthand, so I decided to arrive three days early for my recent trip and tag along with Doug as he scouted our shot locations in Zion and Bryce. I figured it would be interesting to share my experience and elaborate on how our guides scout and prepare for a trip. So, let’s get into it and follow along with Doug as he scouts Zion and Bryce!
I went on the 'Hiker' version of our Canyons of Utah: Zion & Bryce workshop with our awesome guide Doug Marshall. It was an incredible experience to visit top-notch locations for landscape photography in both of these iconic national parks and Doug made sure to get us in the perfect locations at just the right time when the lighting was ideal. This is a trip I’ll never forget, and the experience only strengthened my excitement to work with such an awesome company.
One of the most interesting things I took away from this trip, which I don’t think I fully realized, was the sheer amount of in-depth planning and logistics that allow us to run every departure. Obviously, I’m aware that we have a full-time office staff consisting of a Field Operations Manager (Mike) and four incredible Photo Adventure Specialists (Maddy, Linda, Lauren, and Katrina), but I don’t think I fully grasped just how much goes on behind-the-scenes. These incredible people keep the lights on and allow BCJ to do what we do!
Not only am I fortunate enough to work with such a talented and robust office staff but I was also very impressed with the amount of work our guides put into each trip. Doug made it very clear that he wants every guest he works with to have an exceptional experience and walk away with new knowledge and photographs they are proud of. Our guides care about running smooth and successful trips and sharing their passions with like-minded people.
In today’s article, I want to dive into one of the most important aspects of creating a successful trip, and that is the in-depth scouting process our guides perform prior to a trip’s start date. At BCJ we know our trips like the back of our hands but, that being said, the places we visit are constantly changing. Roads can close, water levels can change, wildflowers can bloom, and snow can stick around a bit longer than expected. Photography conditions are always changing. Because of these uncontrollable variables, it’s vitally important to get our guides on the ground before our guests arrive.
I wanted to see what this process was like firsthand, so I decided to arrive three days early for my recent trip and tag along with Doug as he scouted our shot locations in Zion and Bryce. I figured it would be interesting to share my experience and elaborate on how our guides scout and prepare for a trip. So, let’s get into it and follow along with Doug as he scouts Zion and Bryce!
Day 1
Doug and I arrived in Las Vegas at around 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 13th. Our guests fly into St. George, Utah for this trip, as it’s much closer to both Zion and Bryce, but we had to pick up our trusty Mercedes Sprinter van, endearingly named Vansel Adams, that would serve as our base of operations over the coming days. The van was waiting for us in Vegas from a previous trip.
After a short drive from the airport, we met up with Vansel and did an in-depth inventory making sure we had all the essentials we would need for the entire trip. All of our vans are equipped with a thorough first aid kit, cleaning supplies, a range of tools and other supplies, and, of course, plenty of drinks and snacks. Once everything was checked off the list we made sure we had all our gear and set out for Zion national park.
After a quick 3-hour drive through the desert filled with conversation and storytelling, we eventually arrived at Springdale, a small town right at the southern entrance to Zion National Park. We stopped for a quick bite to eat and then set out to scout our first sunset shot location.
Since we were limited on time we decided to scout one of the more accessible and nearby locations, the Watchman. This mountain of desert sandstone is one of the most iconic landmarks in the entire park and it receives great light both in the mornings and evenings. We tested out multiple angles, took some sample shots and the sun quickly set. Day one was in the books.
Doug and I arrived in Las Vegas at around 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 13th. Our guests fly into St. George, Utah for this trip, as it’s much closer to both Zion and Bryce, but we had to pick up our trusty Mercedes Sprinter van, endearingly named Vansel Adams, that would serve as our base of operations over the coming days. The van was waiting for us in Vegas from a previous trip.
After a short drive from the airport, we met up with Vansel and did an in-depth inventory making sure we had all the essentials we would need for the entire trip. All of our vans are equipped with a thorough first aid kit, cleaning supplies, a range of tools and other supplies, and, of course, plenty of drinks and snacks. Once everything was checked off the list we made sure we had all our gear and set out for Zion national park.
After a quick 3-hour drive through the desert filled with conversation and storytelling, we eventually arrived at Springdale, a small town right at the southern entrance to Zion National Park. We stopped for a quick bite to eat and then set out to scout our first sunset shot location.
Since we were limited on time we decided to scout one of the more accessible and nearby locations, the Watchman. This mountain of desert sandstone is one of the most iconic landmarks in the entire park and it receives great light both in the mornings and evenings. We tested out multiple angles, took some sample shots and the sun quickly set. Day one was in the books.
Day 2
Our alarms woke us up at the early hour of 5:00 am on this second day of scouting. We had a long day ahead of us and wanted to get to our first sunrise location with plenty of time to spare. Doug and I assembled our gear, got the van started, and cracked open some red bulls (unfortunately there wasn’t time for my typical coffee routine).
After about 30 minutes of driving we arrived at the trailhead, clicked on our headlamps, and started hiking towards our objective. We arrived at Canyon Overlook at about 6:30 am with plenty of time to spare. Doug gave me the rundown on this particular location and showed me several great vantage points off the beaten path that would create compelling compositions. I Picked a spot and began to capture the scene before me as the blue hour transitioned into a golden sunrise. We captured some great photos and before I knew it, it was time to move on to the next location.
Our alarms woke us up at the early hour of 5:00 am on this second day of scouting. We had a long day ahead of us and wanted to get to our first sunrise location with plenty of time to spare. Doug and I assembled our gear, got the van started, and cracked open some red bulls (unfortunately there wasn’t time for my typical coffee routine).
After about 30 minutes of driving we arrived at the trailhead, clicked on our headlamps, and started hiking towards our objective. We arrived at Canyon Overlook at about 6:30 am with plenty of time to spare. Doug gave me the rundown on this particular location and showed me several great vantage points off the beaten path that would create compelling compositions. I Picked a spot and began to capture the scene before me as the blue hour transitioned into a golden sunrise. We captured some great photos and before I knew it, it was time to move on to the next location.
We got back in the van, ate some snacks, and headed down into the canyon. As the ideal lighting of the golden hour was now mostly gone, we moved quickly and explored several other locations we were planning on shooting once the guests arrived. We managed to capture some images but mostly wanted to check on parking for specific spots, trail conditions, and most importantly figure out when specific subjects would be in the ideal light.
We started out by visiting the lodge, where we would be staying in a couple of days, and made sure our reservation was good to go. After this, we headed across the street to the Emerald Pools trailhead and began hiking. We arrived at the dramatic upper waterfall that seems to shoot right out of the side of the cliff face at about 10:30 am. We quickly realized the currently harsh sunlight was not ideal for this location and that we would have to arrive here later in the day with our guests. Using a sun tracking app, Doug decided that any time after 1:00 pm would be ideal. We then headed back to the trailhead and boarded the shuttle to head up-canyon.
We started out by visiting the lodge, where we would be staying in a couple of days, and made sure our reservation was good to go. After this, we headed across the street to the Emerald Pools trailhead and began hiking. We arrived at the dramatic upper waterfall that seems to shoot right out of the side of the cliff face at about 10:30 am. We quickly realized the currently harsh sunlight was not ideal for this location and that we would have to arrive here later in the day with our guests. Using a sun tracking app, Doug decided that any time after 1:00 pm would be ideal. We then headed back to the trailhead and boarded the shuttle to head up-canyon.
We took it to the last stop and scouted another iconic location, the Temple of Sinawava. This towering waterfall is right off the road and is a short walk from the shuttle stop. We walked to the base, right next to the Virgin River, and tested out some angles. Once again, we realized this location would have ideal lighting in the shade late in the day. We decided that any time after 2:00 pm would suffice and continued on.
After several hours of exploring this section of Zion, it was time to grab another bite to eat and then scout our first sunset location. We headed out for what Doug called the “Scraggly Tree” which lived near the eastern entrance to the park. This is a small Ponderosa Pine that is somehow growing right out of solid rock. This small tree almost resembles a bonsai with its gnarled twists and branches and is surrounded by grooved sandstone. Directly behind this tree is another iconic landmark of the park, Checkerboard Mesa. Overall, this is an incredibly unique location that not many people visit. We captured some shots and before we knew it the daylight was gone. Day 2 complete!
Day 3
Once again, we woke up well before dawn on this third day of scouting. Today was going to be a marathon. We were headed out to Bryce Canyon National Park for Sunrise and the majority of the day and still wanted to scout some more locations in Zion as well.
We drove through the darkness and headed straight for Bryce Point which is perched up high and overlooks all the main amphitheaters that house the iconic hoodoos of Bryce. We joined one or two other photographers, set up our gear, and began capturing the sunrise. We tested out multiple angles and observed how the light moved and illuminated different areas of the scene.
Once again, we woke up well before dawn on this third day of scouting. Today was going to be a marathon. We were headed out to Bryce Canyon National Park for Sunrise and the majority of the day and still wanted to scout some more locations in Zion as well.
We drove through the darkness and headed straight for Bryce Point which is perched up high and overlooks all the main amphitheaters that house the iconic hoodoos of Bryce. We joined one or two other photographers, set up our gear, and began capturing the sunrise. We tested out multiple angles and observed how the light moved and illuminated different areas of the scene.
Doug mentioned that Bryce is exceptional for sunrises, and he wasn’t joking. After capturing some great sunrise shots, we explored a few other locations in the park including Sunset Point and Natural Bridge. Because Bryce is mostly overlooks that you can drive to, and considering that Doug had photographed this park many times before we decided it was time to head back to Zion to check one or two more spots off our list.
When we finally made it back to Zion it was well into the afternoon. We checked out another iconic location in the park, the Court of the Patriarchs, but decided that given the high water levels, this spot wouldn’t be worth visiting on the upcoming trip. The only angles we could realistically achieve weren’t ideal and the cliffs we were trying to photograph were largely covered by foliage. We headed back toward the watchman and decided to photograph it from a different vantage point farther downriver from before. We captured some nice sunset shots and headed in for the night.
Day 4
On our last day of scouting, we decided to test out one more sunrise location before heading back to St. George to meet our arriving guests later that day. We headed straight for the park and arrived at the museum parking lot around 6:45 am. The museum sits right in front of two stunning cliff faces that are part of a larger basin. On the left side of this scene was the Western Temple and on the right side was the renowned Altar of Sacrifice. This collection of cliff faces perfectly captures the first rays of sunshine in the morning and it’s hard to take a bad photo here. We snapped some images, enjoyed the peaceful sunrise, and before we knew it, it was time to head to town.
On our last day of scouting, we decided to test out one more sunrise location before heading back to St. George to meet our arriving guests later that day. We headed straight for the park and arrived at the museum parking lot around 6:45 am. The museum sits right in front of two stunning cliff faces that are part of a larger basin. On the left side of this scene was the Western Temple and on the right side was the renowned Altar of Sacrifice. This collection of cliff faces perfectly captures the first rays of sunshine in the morning and it’s hard to take a bad photo here. We snapped some images, enjoyed the peaceful sunrise, and before we knew it, it was time to head to town.
We departed Zion, and drove about an hour and a half to St. George, Utah. Upon arriving, we did a deep clean of the van, sanitizing the interior and getting all the dust and sand out of the nooks and crannies. We also restocked our supply of snacks and beverages. On trips like this, where you’re getting up early and staying out late, it’s crucial to have all the food, water, and caffeine you’ll need to hold everyone over until the next proper meal. Once we had everything we needed, we headed to our hotel, washed up, Doug prepared his orientation, and just like that we were ready to run an exceptional trip.
The trip was incredible, and it was so great to meet some of our guests in person and to take photos with them in such beautiful places. Doug was a phenomenal guide and made sure that everything ran smoothly and efficiently. I can’t wait to get out on another BCJ trip in the future and hopefully meet more of our guests. I hope this article has been informative and has shed some light on how we operate as a company and on how much work and passion our guides put into their work. Thanks for reading and I’ll see ya on the next one!
The trip was incredible, and it was so great to meet some of our guests in person and to take photos with them in such beautiful places. Doug was a phenomenal guide and made sure that everything ran smoothly and efficiently. I can’t wait to get out on another BCJ trip in the future and hopefully meet more of our guests. I hope this article has been informative and has shed some light on how we operate as a company and on how much work and passion our guides put into their work. Thanks for reading and I’ll see ya on the next one!
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experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.