FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO ARE YOUR TOURS FOR?
A PhotoWalkingTour (PWT) is for anyone who travels with a camera and would like to take better pictures. Doesn’t have to be an expensive camera, even point and shooters are more than welcome, but tours are geared towards digital photography, so a digital camera is highly recommended, although film shooters can certainly benefit, as well.
HOW DO I PAY FOR AND RESERVE MY SPOT?
Many tours have the option of paying by PayPal (no account necessary, just a credit card). You can also pay by personal check or money order (make checks payable to Ralph Velasco) and send to our mailing address at 422 1/2 Carnation Avenue, Corona del Mar, CA 92625 U.S.A. For tours that don’t have a specific date, please contact us for information on pricing and to reserve your place today. BY PURCHASING A SPOT ON ANY TOUR YOU AGREE TO OUR CANCELLATION POLICY which is spelled out towards the bottom of this page.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL DISCOUNTS?
If you’re the organizing type and have your own group with a minimum of 6 people (5 paid) for a particular tour, YOUR TOUR WILL BE FREE!!
HOW DO I KNOW MY SPOT IS GUARANTEED ON A TOUR?
I work on a first come, first served basis, so in order to guarantee your spot on a particular tour, please pay via PayPal, check or money order. Until payment is received I can’t guarantee availability.
DO YOU PROVIDE ONE ON ONE INSTRUCTION?
Absolutely! Personal instruction is available with prior arrangement and payment of the required fee. This is a wonderful way to have the full attention of your guide and to ask whatever questions you may have regarding photography and/or your camera.
We can also arrange for One on One instruction for any of our tours, please just ask.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE TOUR?
There are several recommendations that we can make in order for you to prepare for a PWT:
- It goes without saying but consider the sun, so if necessary, wear sunblock, a hat, sunglasses and proper clothing, although keep in mind that polarized sunglasses may adversely affect what you see through the camera when photographing.
- Speaking of clothing, please check the weather as close to the day of your PWT as possible, and prepare accordingly. Layers always work best and offer the most flexibility for changing weather conditions. Tours are never cancelled due to weather.
- It’s highly recommended that you bring along a water bottle in order to stay properly hydrated. On the shorter tours, we probably won’t have time to stop along the way for drinks, or for bathroom breaks, although there are often restrooms nearby and you’re welcome to catch up.
- For shorter tours, eat so that you are properly energized for the approximately two hours we’ll be together, or bring a light snack for sustenance along the way.
- Be sure your camera equipment is in good working order and that your batteries are fully charged (bring extras, if you have them). Be sure to have ample memory cards and any necessary cords, plugs, adaptors and chargers you might need, remembering, however, that we are only going to be shooting for about 2 hours and we probably won’t have access to outlets.
- Travel light. Unless you’re told previously, tripods aren’t recommended, and are sometimes not allowed in certain areas that we photography. If you’re not sure, please ask us. Roller bags are highly discouraged.
- Although rarely strenuous in nature, our tours require a certain amount of walking up and down stairs and inclines and on various surface types (pavement, grass, gravel, sand, dirt and more), so in order to get the most out of a tour, please get some physical activity in preparation.
- Wear sturdy shoes that have been well-worn and can handle the varying conditions we may encounter.
- Bring an open mind, a sense of wonder (and humor) and prepare to exercise your photographic eye!
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT?
Anyone under the age of 18 will have to have his or her parent or guardian make special arrangements to participate, and often times we’ll require that the parent or guardian be a paid participant and to be in attendance with the minor at all times.
If you are or look young, please bring identification as you may be asked for I.D. in order to prove your age and to participate in a Photo Walking Tour.
Also, see Waiver of Liability below, which will be required of both the minor and the guardian/parent.
WILL YOU SHOW ME HOW TO USE MY CAMERA?
On the small group tours, in consideration of the other participants, we won’t be able to get into considerable detail about each individual’s camera, but we’ll do our best to work with you on any issues you may have and to be sure that your settings are right for the conditions.
With One on One instruction, however, the time is yours, so we’ll work with you in whatever capacity you wish, keeping in mind that we may have limited knowledge of your camera. However, in our experience, the preliminary help provided to One on One participants is often the part of the tour they appreciate the most and it’s when the light bulbs go off and it can be seen in their eyes and in their reaction that they’ve taken a quantum leap in their photographic knowledge.
DO I NEED AN EXPENSIVE CAMERA FOR THE TOUR?
Definitely not, our philosophy is that it’s people who take photographs, not their cameras, so it doesn’t matter what type of camera you own, whether it’s film or digital, disposable, point and shoot or a D-SLR with interchangeable lenses and filters. However, we’re much more familiar with digital photography these days and it provides so much more flexibility and the results are immediate, so a digital camera is highly recommended. In my book Ralph Velasco On Travel Photography: 101 Tips for Developing Your Photographic Eye & More, the #1 tip is that “It’s not about the camera.”
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO LEARN ON THE TOUR?
PhotoWalkingTours are designed to help you grow as a photographer by teaching you how to “see like a photographer” and to develop your skills for noticing and taking advantage of more and better photo opportunities. Working with you on basic camera settings and the use of your camera, too, will provide a world of knowledge for most participants.
WHAT IF I NEED TO CANCEL?
Because you are reserving one of a limited number of spaces on a tour, thereby potentially taking a place from another interested and paying photographer – or affecting a group discount that is relied on by the other photographers – on Southern California tours (Orange, San Diego or Los Angeles Counties only) we require 7 day’s notice in order to cancel. All other tours require a MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS NOTICE.
Please note that there are NO REFUNDS, but if you are outside the above time limits you can receive a credit for the dollar amount already paid toward any upcoming tour (it will be your responsibility to schedule a future tour). No-shows, changes or cancellations with less than 7 day’s notice (for Southern California tours and One on Ones) or 30 day’s notice (for all others) WILL NOT have their fee refunded or credited to another tour.
Please understand that when you place your order via PayPal or by sending in a check or other payment method, you are agreeing to this cancellation policy, and that the above applies the same to all tours and One on One lessons and instruction.
This policy also applies should an instructor need to cancel a tour (it’s only happened once) due to illness or any other reason out of our control. There will be no refunds, but your fee will be applied towards any future tour date.
All participants must be paid in full within 72 hours of the scheduled tour.
WHAT IF THE WEATHER DOESN’T COOPERATE?
It’s often said that with regards to photography, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just varying degrees of good weather (and inappropriate clothing), so let’s get out and shoot!! Just come prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Inclement weather conditions present the perfect opportunity to create unique photographs that others won’t make the effort to capture, and often there will be indoor alternatives. We’ve only ever cancelled once due to weather, so this is not likely to happen. Again, there will be NO REFUNDS, however if a tour is cancelled due to weather, you will be credited the full amount you’ve already paid towards any future tour.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
Yes, please click on the link below to download, read, print and sign this Waiver of Liability form and bring it to your scheduled tour. If you are going to participate in multiple tours, please provide a completed Waiver for EACH tour.
ALL attendees will be required to have this form in order to participate in any PhotoWalkingTour, including parents/guardians of minors, as well as the minor.
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