CROATIA & VENICE • 2027
Dubrovnik, Korcula, Hvar, Split & Venice
13 days and 12 nights * group size 4-5
April 14th – April 26th, 2027
workshop cost $8,500 plus 1 local flight
single supplement $1,150
Two cool places in Europe
I'm excited to announce a new photography workshop running from April 14th – 26th, 2027 in Europe. Croatia is a truly unique and stunning country for photography, and we'll be visiting some of my favorite locations from Dubrovnik to Split. For a travel photographer, the light bouncing off the Adriatic is absolutely magical, especially during golden hour.
After 10 great days exploring Croatia, we'll head to the airport in Split and fly over to the one and only Venice, Italy. Whether you've been to Venice before or this is your first time, it's hard to even describe the photo opportunities — there is just incredible eye candy in every direction in this magical city.
Venice is where I asked my wife Holly to marry me, and I never get tired of coming back to Italy. Combining an incredibly fun and photogenic workshop in Croatia with the beauty of Venice is going to make for one pretty cool workshop.
Magical Dubrovnik
The Grand Canal of Venice
The waterfalls of Krka
Dates: April 14th - 26th, 2027
13 days • 12 nights Group size • 4-5
** workshop full **
Photography everywhere, day & night in a ton of gorgeous locations
** 3 day Extension to Florence **
I will be doing a 3 day optional extension to the photogenic city of Florence
You can let me know if you might want to join us and I can tell you more about it
Florence is pretty Special!
Croatia is Vibrant
The Adriatic Coastline & the Dalmatian Coast is simply breathtaking — crystal-clear turquoise water, dramatic cliffs, and over a thousand islands. From historic cities with cobblestone streets to immaculate islands encircled by glistening waters, Croatia has something to offer everyone.
The Kingdom of Croatia was established around 925 AD meaning Croatian statehood goes back roughly 1,100 years. As a modern independent nation, Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991 and the juxtaposition of old and new is everywhere.
Our photographic adventure begins in the southern tip of Croatia in the one-of-a-kind city of Dubrovnik. Inside the ancient walls of the old city is something you truly have to see to believe — it's absolutely one of my favorite places on earth.
From there we'll work our way up the coast, hopping on ferries to a couple of stunning islands we are staying on before finishing up in the beautiful city of Split and some incredible waterfalls nearby. It's a pretty special journey through an incredibly photogenic country.
Nowhere like Venice
Why do people love Venice?
It defies logic — a city built on water, on wooden piles driven into a lagoon over a thousand years ago, that somehow still stands. Just existing there feels like a miracle of human will and ingenuity.
No cars, no noise — the silence is profound compared to most cities. You hear water lapping, gondoliers calling, footsteps on stone. For modern travelers, that sensory shift is almost disorienting in the best way. I just love this place!
It's genuinely irreplaceable — Venice looks like nowhere else on Earth. Every canal, every crumbling palazzo, every reflection in the water is unique. There's a reason painters, poets, and photographers have been obsessed with it for centuries.I am not sure if there is anywhere more beautiful on earth than the exquisite beauty of Venice, Italy.
From the photogenic canals that are intertwined throughout this floating city to alleyways where you are guaranteed to get lost each day and then, what about the best food on earth? Italian pasta and pizza, the yummiest gelato ... OMG!
Two Special Countries
Literally across the water from each other, both of these countries are paradise for photography. Venice is less a city and more a living painting that somehow never repeats itself. Photographically, it rewards the early riser enormously.
Waking early to shoot, the city belongs entirely to us — mist rising off the water, empty bridges, gondolas bobbing silently in the dark. The iconic Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco become genuinely intimate at that hour rather than the tourist spectacles they become by midday.
Croatia offers something completely different but equally stunning. Think dramatic coastal cliffs, impossibly aquamarine Adriatic water, and medieval walled cities that look carved from the limestone they sit on. In a single country you get Roman ruins, medieval walled cities, UNESCO National Parks, island villages, cascading waterfalls, and some of the most beautiful water color in the world.
This workshop will be a great mix of both, and the photo opportunities will be plentiful and pretty amazing. I'll be working with everyone every day on their photography, and we'll all leave with some fantastic memories.
Cost
Workshop Costs
The workshop fee is $8,500 and includes stunning, handpicked accommodations in both Croatia and Venice — hotels I've personally stayed in and selected with great care. While every property offers something special, it's their locations that truly set them apart. Daily breakfast is included at most hotels.
Also included:
Ferry crossings between Dubrovnik, Korčula, Hvar, and Split — traveling by ferry through these islands is honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire journey
The Vaporetto boat ride from Venice out to the colorful island of Burano
A full-day excursion by private van from Split to the breathtaking Krka Waterfalls
The single supplement for a private room is an additional $1,150.
The 3 day extension to Florence will be $2,200 and will include the train from Venice to Florence, 3 nights in a beautiful hotel in the center of Florence and shooting stunning photography day and night all around Florence.
Not included:
The short flight from Split to Venice (typically around $250), which each participant will book independently
Occasional local taxis, buses, and water taxis used throughout the trip
I'll be upfront with you — the fee is a bit higher than I originally envisioned, and that's entirely intentional. I've made the decision to keep this workshop very small and intimate.
Over the years, I've moved toward leading smaller groups, especially on longer international trips, and the difference is remarkable. You receive more personal attention, the itinerary stays flexible, and the whole experience simply feels more like traveling with friends than attending a workshop. Honestly, I enjoy it more too.
Photo ops everywhere
Photo opportunities in Croatia are honestly everywhere. Dubrovnik is one of those places where you almost don't know where to point your camera first — the old city walls, the stone streets, the light bouncing off the Adriatic. It's just stunning. The islands of Korčula and Hvar are equally beautiful and the kind of places that remind you why you picked up a camera in the first place.
Split is a city that a lot of people overlook and it really shouldn't be. The old town sits inside a Roman palace that's nearly 1,700 years old and the morning light in there is something pretty special. And the amazing waterfalls in Krka National park are stunning and we will take a day trip there from Split in a private van leaving early!
Venice is Venice. I've been there so many times and it never gets old. Every canal, every bridge, every little alleyway is a photo waiting to happen. If you've never shot golden hour in Venice, it's something you really need to experience. And a day trip to the surreal and one of a kind colorful town of Burano will be one fun adventure!
If this sounds like your kind of trip, let me know asap. The group is small by design and two spots are already gone even before I am announcing this workshop.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This workshop includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Europe is modern and easy to get around, so traveling between locations will be pretty straightforward.
CLIMATE
April is a shoulder season in Croatia and Italy, offering the best of both worlds — mild temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and fewer crowds compared to the summer peak season. Coastal regions enjoy average daily temperatures around 64F (18°C), with highs reaching a little warmer in some areas,
CLOTHING
April weather can be mild but unpredictable — you can get sunshine and rain in the same day, so layers are your friend. Pack a lightweight fleece, some breathable tops, and definitely a good packable rain jacket or water-repellent layer that can double as a windbreaker. Venice in particular can be breezy and damp, and Croatia's coast gets a good amount of wind off the Adriatic.
MONEY
The currency in Italy and Croatia is the Euro. It might be best to get some Euros before you leave your home so you have some to use when you get there. We can all change Euros either in a bank or ATMS's that are everywhere.
PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS
For both Croatia and Venice:
- ✅ Valid U.S. passport with 3+ months beyond return date
- ✅ No visa needed for stays under 90 days
- ✅ Expect biometric collection (fingerprints/photo) at first EU border crossing under new EES
- ✅ ETIAS not yet required for April 2027
ELECTRICITY
Italy (Venice)
- Voltage: 230V, 50Hz
- Plug types: Type F (two round pins) and Type L (three round pins in a line — Italy's unique standard)
- You'll most commonly encounter the Type F (Europlug)
Croatia
- Voltage: 230V, 50Hz
- Plug type: Type F (two round pins — standard European)
HEALTH
No vaccinations are required to enter Croatia or Italy, though I'd recommend having a conversation with your doctor before any international trip. They may suggest updating a few routine vaccinations.
Everyone on the workshop should be in good health and comfortable with walking. Most of it will be easy going, but there will be some hills, steps, and uneven terrain along the way, so please keep that in mind.
MISC:
You will probably need to arrive a day early in Dubrovnik before the workshop starts and I can help you with that..
Europe's new Entry/Exit System (EES) — a digital border control program — became fully operational on April 10, 2026. It collects biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images from non-EU visitors upon first entry.
Make sure you have a biometric (e-passport) — most Americans already do. A separate travel authorization called ETIAS is also coming, currently scheduled to launch in late 2026, with full mandatory enforcement rolling into early 2027.
NOWHERE LIKE EUROPA!