# Photo Workshop vs Photo Tour: Key Differences & Which One Is Best for You

URL: https://jvn.photo/photo-workshop-vs-photo-tour-which-one-is-best-for-you/
Last updated: 2026-10-15

> If you've ever searched for photography trips, you've probably come across the terms photo workshop and photo tour. These are the two main ways people describe purpose-built trips that focus on photography. They might sound similar, but they offer very different experiences in my opinion.

If you’ve ever searched for photography trips, you’ve probably come across the terms **photo workshop** and **photo tour**. These are the two main ways people describe purpose-built trips that focus on photography. They might sound similar, but they offer very different experiences in my opinion. If you’re searching for photography workshops in [Iceland](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/iceland/), [Greenland](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/greenland/) or [Antarctica](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/antarctica/), understanding the difference between a photo workshop and a photo tour is essential before booking.

Scroll down & let’s explore the differences.

Table of Contents

- What Is A Photo Workshop?
- What Is A Photo Tour?
- Which One Should You Choose?
- Why I Focus On Photo Workshop Experiences
- Choosing Between My Iceland & Greenland Photo Workshops

- Iceland: Land-Based, Flexible & Within Easy Reach
- Greenland: Remote, Boat-Based & A Bigger Commitment

- Frequently Asked Questions

- What’s The Main Difference Between A Photo Workshop & A Photo Tour?
- Do I Need To Be An Experienced Photographer To Join A Photo Workshop?
- Are Photo Workshops Suitable For Beginners?
- What Kind Of Subjects Are Covered In My Photography Workshops?
- Why Join A Guided Photography Experience Instead Of Traveling Solo?
- Should I Choose Jeroen’s Iceland Or Greenland Photo Workshop?

[image_with_animation image_url=”1149004″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*Over the years, I have run all kinds of photo workshops in [Iceland](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/iceland/), [Greenland](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/greenland/) and even [Antarctica](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/antarctica/).*

## What Is A Photo Workshop?

Participating in a **photo workshop** is all about the experience of doing photography in-the-field & learning while you are doing it. It’s a hands-on experience where you spend time in the field, in incredible locations, with an experienced photographer who helps you develop your skills while exploring stunning landscapes or encountering curious wildlife.

You can expect to get personal feedback, learn how to use light & composition more effectively, and discover how to tell stories through your images. Workshops usually have small groups so everyone gets plenty of one-on-one attention.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1179833″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*During photo workshops you can expect in-the-field tuition. While I will occasionally look over your shoulder & give input, it is important for you to not be afraid to ask questions.*

[image_with_animation image_url=”1177084″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*During some of the photo workshops I offer, we make time for personal & group critique sessions that will help you improve your photography.*

## What Is A Photo Tour?

A **photo tour** is more focused on the travel-for-photography experience itself. While you will also visit amazing photography locations, there is usually less, or even no, teaching involved. The focus is on getting you to the right place at the right time and then letting you do your own thing.

It is perfect for photographers who already know their way around a camera and simply want to capture beautiful scenes without formal lessons. Think of it as a guided adventure designed for photography enthusiasts.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1174544″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*While you are driven to the right place at the right time on a photo tour, you are mostly left up to your own abilities when figuring out how to photograph the location you stopped at.*

## Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re looking to grow as a photographer and learn along the way, a **photo workshop** is by far your best choice. If you’d rather focus purely on shooting in breathtaking places and doing your own thing, a **photo tour** might be a better fit.

There is really no wrong answer. It just depends on what kind of experience you are after.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1146716″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*Photographing in challenging places, such as at Fellsfjara/Diamond Beach, may require someone local to teach you how to get the best results – even if you are a well seasoned photographer.*

## Why I Focus On Photo Workshop Experiences

For me, the [photo workshops I offer](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/) are about much more than taking pictures. **They are experiences.** They are about connecting with the landscape or the wildlife, understanding light & composition while sharing those unforgettable moments with others who are just as passionate about photography. We don’t just get to the right locations at the right time, but I also spend time trying to teach you how I look at my subjects while we are out in the field. This is by far the best way to learn landscape & wildlife photography.

Whether we are [photographing Arctic foxes](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/arctic-fox/) in Iceland, [flying our drones](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/drone/) above the Icelandic Highlands, lying on grassy cliffs between [puffins under the midnight sun](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/puffins-2026-photo-workshop/) or sailing around icebergs in Greenland, my goal is always the same: **helping you become a better photographer while experiencing the beauty and wildness of nature**.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1177731″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*Encountering Arctic fox cubs that probably have never seen a human before is an incredible experience, not just from a photography point of view.*

[image_with_animation image_url=”1133268″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*Sailing through some of the remotest corners of Greenland, and of our planet, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.*

## Choosing Between My Iceland & Greenland Photo Workshops

Once you’ve decided a workshop is the right fit, the next question I get is a simple one: which of mine? I run trips in two very different worlds, & they ask very different things of you. So let me be honest about both, including who each one isn’t for.

### Iceland: Land-Based, Flexible & Within Easy Reach

My [Iceland photo workshops](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/iceland/) are land-based. We drive, we sleep in proper hotels & guesthouses, and if the light lets us down at a location we can simply come back the next morning. That flexibility is the whole point. To me it’s what makes Iceland the easier of my two destinations to say yes to, & it’s the one I usually steer first-timers towards.

Season shapes everything here. In [winter](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/winter/) we chase low light, snow & the aurora, with short days & genuinely cold, icy conditions underfoot. In [summer](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/summer/) we swap the northern lights for the midnight sun & the green highlands, with days so long we can shoot almost around the clock.

Subject-wise, Iceland covers the widest range I offer. If you love grand scenery, my [nature & landscape workshops](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/nature-landscape/) are built around it. If flying is your thing, I run dedicated [drone photography workshops](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/drone/) above the highlands. And for wildlife there are two very different characters: the [Arctic fox](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/arctic-fox/) in the remote Westfjords, & the [puffins](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/puffin/) nesting under the summer sun. Both sit under my wider [wildlife & bird photography](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/wildlife-bird/) trips.

On fitness, Iceland is forgiving but not effortless. Most locations are a short walk from the vehicle, so you don’t need to be an athlete. You do need to be steady on uneven, sometimes slippery ground & happy to stand out in weather that can change by the hour. The Arctic fox trip is the one exception, with longer walks over rougher terrain to reach the dens.

So who is Iceland not for? If you’re after wall-to-wall wilderness with no roads, no hotels & nobody else in sight, this will feel too comfortable. Iceland is spectacular, but it’s also well travelled, & at the famous spots you’ll be sharing the view.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1190008″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*One of my drone workshop groups up in the Icelandic Highlands. Iceland is land-based, so we can simply drive back whenever the light looks more promising.*

### Greenland: Remote, Boat-Based & A Bigger Commitment

My [Greenland photo workshops](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/greenland/) are a bigger step than Iceland. You fly in, the photography happens from boats, & you reach places no road goes near. But Greenland isn’t one single kind of trip, so let me split it in two.

My West Greenland workshops, around Ilulissat & Disko Bay, are the more comfortable end. We head out on small boats to photograph giant icebergs & humpback whales, fly drones over the ice where it’s allowed, then come back to a proper hotel & a hot meal each night. It’s genuinely remote scenery without roughing it, which makes it the Greenland trip I’d point most people to first.

My East Greenland expeditions into Scoresby Sund are the wilder, more committing end. Here we live aboard a small sailboat, off-grid, moving quietly between anchorages with the ice & the weather deciding the route rather than a printed itinerary. There are no roads & no hotels to retreat to, but there are polar bears on the pack ice & the largest fjord system on Earth to sail through. This is the once-in-a-lifetime one, & it asks the most of you.

Either way, Greenland is a summer trip for me, built around the long Arctic light, open water & the drama of icebergs & glaciers rather than snow & aurora.

Subject-wise it leans towards [nature & landscape](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/nature-landscape/) on an epic scale, with the [drone](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/drone/) really coming into its own over ice you simply can’t reach on foot. West Greenland adds a lot of wildlife too, with whales feeding close to the boats.

On fitness & experience, both trips ask you to be steady on & around small boats in changeable Arctic seas. West Greenland is the easier of the two, with hotels & shorter days on the water. The East Greenland expedition is the demanding one: multi-day, off-grid, & better suited to photographers who already know their camera well & don’t mind a flexible, roll-with-it schedule.

So who is Greenland not for? If you want Iceland’s freedom to jump in a car & chase the light on your own clock, neither trip will feel like that. And if the thought of days on a small sailboat with no way to bail back to a warm room puts you off, take the West Greenland trip rather than the East expedition, or start in Iceland & build up to it.

[image_with_animation image_url=”1202436″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”]

*My East Greenland expeditions are lived aboard a small sailboat, following the ice & the weather between remote anchorages rather than a printed itinerary.*

Between them, my honest steer is this: start in Iceland if you want range, flexibility & an easy first step; pick West Greenland if you want proper Arctic remoteness with whales, big ice & a hotel to come back to; & save the East Greenland sailboat expedition for when you want the wildest, most committing trip I run. Either way, tell me what you want to photograph & I’ll point you at the right one.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few of the most commonly asked questions people have before considering to join a photo workshop or a photo tour.

### What’s The Main Difference Between A Photo Workshop & A Photo Tour?

A photo workshop focuses on learning and skill development, while a photo tour is more about the travel experience and photography opportunities.

### Do I Need To Be An Experienced Photographer To Join A Photo Workshop?

Not at all. Workshops are designed for all levels – from beginners to advanced photographers. Whether this is to be your first photography workshop or you are a seasoned travel photographer with a portfolio packed with nature and landscape images captured on trips around the world, we can all learn from each other. The beauty of photography is that we all have our own vision, our own set of eyes on things.

### Are Photo Workshops Suitable For Beginners?

Yes! You will receive hands-on guidance & personal feedback in the field to help you improve your photography step-by-step. Additionally, once you are booked on a photo workshop, further guidance will be offered in terms of how to prepare, what to pack/bring etc. If you already want to get into the nitty gritty of what photography & outdoor gear to bring, I have [a great blog available explaining it all in detail](https://jvn.photo/outdoor-apparel-photography-gear-photo-workshop/).

### What Kind Of Subjects Are Covered In My Photography Workshops?

The photo workshops I offer include [landscape](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/nature-landscape/), [drone](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/drone/) and [wildlife & bird](https://jvn.photo/photo-workshops/wildlife-bird/) photography, depending on the trip theme.

### Why Join A Guided Photography Experience Instead Of Traveling Solo?

Joining a guided photo workshop gives you expert instruction, access to local knowledge and the chance to photograph in the best conditions without worrying about logistics.

If that didn’t convince you, then maybe these [5 reasons how a photo tour can level up your photography](https://jvn.photo/5-reasons-how-a-photo-tour-can-help-level-up-your-photography/) can help you decide to join one Jeroen’s amazing adventures!

### Should I Choose Jeroen’s Iceland Or Greenland Photo Workshop?

Choose Iceland if you want flexibility, the widest range of subjects & seasons, & an easy first trip: it’s land-based, so we drive between locations & sleep in hotels. Greenland is more remote & mostly photographed from boats. My West Greenland workshops pair boat days among icebergs & whales with comfortable hotels at night, while my East Greenland expeditions live aboard a sailboat in true off-grid wilderness. If you’re still learning your camera, start in Iceland, then step up to West Greenland or the East expedition.

## What Previous Photo Workshop Participants Said