2024 Travelers' Choice
About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
We've built an amazing team of experienced guides, and dedicated office staff that elevate your travel experience. Get to know their backgrounds, and hear their stories.Gift Certificates
Give the gift of photo adventure! We offer gift certificates that can be applied to any of our upcoming tours.Loyalty Program
We reward our frequent photo adventurers with exclusive discounts on amazing photography tours.Contact Us
If you need to get in touch with our office staff, or have additional business inquiries, you can find our information here.Stay Up To Date On All Things
Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
Our Photography Community
Our Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Our Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.Community Testimonials
We're proud to foster an amazing group of photo travelers, and here you can find their stories from their past adventures.Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Our Photo Guides Are Awesome
Published July 1, 2019
Backcountry Journeys photo guides are awesome!
As a company dedicated to providing world-class and seamless adventure travel photography tours and workshops, we believe that they are at the heart of our success. Whether you travel with Ben, Matt, Russ, Russell, Kevin or Kenton, you can be confident that you’ll be in great hands.
All of our guides are experienced photographers, but that is just the baseline. They are also all lovers of the natural world in which they lead tours.
As a company dedicated to providing world-class and seamless adventure travel photography tours and workshops, we believe that they are at the heart of our success. Whether you travel with Ben, Matt, Russ, Russell, Kevin or Kenton, you can be confident that you’ll be in great hands.
All of our guides are experienced photographers, but that is just the baseline. They are also all lovers of the natural world in which they lead tours.
Kenton Krueger
Ben Blankenship
Russell Graves
Matt Meisenheimer
Kenton Krueger
Russ Nordstrand
While our wonderful photo guides may know just about everything there is to know about the locations we visit together, they also know how to have a really great time while still managing to attend to every important detail that goes into making a tour exceptional.
“Just completed the Canyons of Utah photography tour with Russ and crew from Backcountry Journeys! This was one of the best vacation experiences of my life! Not only were the guides knowledgeable in photography, cameras & camera gear, but they also were very knowledgeable about the geology, history, flora and fauna of the two National Parks we visited. This added immensely to the experience for me. The Backcountry Journey crew took care of every detail of the trip so all we had to concentrate on was photography. I really appreciated that they were familiar with the restaurants in the towns we stayed in, the food was great. Again, this was an awesome experience and I plan on taking more trips with Backcountry Journeys!”
Tony E. -Springfield, MO
Tony E. -Springfield, MO
Many photography workshop instructors can teach you what F-Stop to use, or what shutter speed will work, but can they tell you all about the natural and human history of the landscape and the regions you are photographing? Our guides can, and will. While on a Backcountry Journeys photo tour you can also count on learning about the geology, wildlife, flowers, and birds, etc., of the region that you are photographing.
Backcountry Journeys provides our photo guides with the freedom—plus all the behind-the-scenes support they need—to deliver thoughtful and attentive personal service, each and every time.
Our photo guides are not only employees, but they are also part of our small (yet growing) family. We choose to not utilize independent contractors like many companies do because we feel that a family of folks working as guides makes them an integral part of our business which leads to greater investment in the overall approach to providing quality tours and workshops time after time.
And, as we often hear in testimonials from our guests, this approach works!
Backcountry Journeys provides our photo guides with the freedom—plus all the behind-the-scenes support they need—to deliver thoughtful and attentive personal service, each and every time.
Our photo guides are not only employees, but they are also part of our small (yet growing) family. We choose to not utilize independent contractors like many companies do because we feel that a family of folks working as guides makes them an integral part of our business which leads to greater investment in the overall approach to providing quality tours and workshops time after time.
And, as we often hear in testimonials from our guests, this approach works!
“Many thanks to (photo guide) Matt Meisenheimer for an amazing 6-day expedition in Glacier National Park. His ability to get us to the right places at the right time for incredible sunrise and sunset photography opportunities is unsurpassable. He was totally dedicated to instructing the group as to obtain max results. Despite forest fire haze in the park, he taught us to benefit from its color enhancing effects. He was quick to share his expertise in Photoshop in Lightroom for post-processing our images.
Food, comfort, and instruction are incomparable for the price. This being my second trip with Backcountry Journeys I look forward to many more with this group.”
Linda L. – Connecticut
Food, comfort, and instruction are incomparable for the price. This being my second trip with Backcountry Journeys I look forward to many more with this group.”
Linda L. – Connecticut
Great photography is at the heart of everything that we do, however, having a guide who can share insight into the natural and cultural history of a place we are visiting together is the icing on the proverbial cake. Wildlife, ecology, history, even local cuisine. These things combined with being at the most interesting places at just the right time for well thought out scenes for your images, and personal instruction, all combine to make your Backcountry Journeys tour complete.
Our belief is that our tours are more than just photography. They provide to our guests the opportunity to connect with a place, with the other folks they are traveling with, as well as their guides in ways that lead to unforgettable experiences that should last a lifetime. As photographers, we all know that part of what we are doing with creating an image is to tell a story. To achieve a feeling about a scene. If a photographer can connect with the location, that story, those feelings can be better achieved in an image. Our guides work hard to provide all the right ‘feels’ so that you have this whether you are aware of it, or not.
We attribute much of our success to our remarkable guides who are out there helping to facilitate all of this with their enthusiasm, likable personalities, knowledge and talent as leaders.
We invite you to come along with us one day to find out for yourself just how ‘awesome’ our photo guides (and all of our world-class tours) really are!
Our belief is that our tours are more than just photography. They provide to our guests the opportunity to connect with a place, with the other folks they are traveling with, as well as their guides in ways that lead to unforgettable experiences that should last a lifetime. As photographers, we all know that part of what we are doing with creating an image is to tell a story. To achieve a feeling about a scene. If a photographer can connect with the location, that story, those feelings can be better achieved in an image. Our guides work hard to provide all the right ‘feels’ so that you have this whether you are aware of it, or not.
We attribute much of our success to our remarkable guides who are out there helping to facilitate all of this with their enthusiasm, likable personalities, knowledge and talent as leaders.
We invite you to come along with us one day to find out for yourself just how ‘awesome’ our photo guides (and all of our world-class tours) really are!
We offer world-class travel photography
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.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Trip Calendar
View our trip calendar and filter upcoming departures by interest or seasonality.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.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.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
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.