Autumn Photography Workshop in Bulgaria

Planet

We do not print brochures or flyers – all of our communication with guests is through the internet, our website, partner platforms, and social media channels. This ensures that all information is accessible, updated, and eco-friendly.

During our time in Bulgaria, we keep transportation as efficient as possible. We travel as a small group in one vehicle, which helps minimize our carbon footprint. Group sizes are intentionally limited, not only to provide personal attention but also to reduce our impact on the places we visit.

Each guest receives a reusable water bottle at the start of the workshop, which they can refill from safe drinking water sources throughout the trip. This avoids the need to purchase single-use plastic bottles, reducing both environmental impact and unnecessary expense.

While photographing in the Rhodope Mountains, Melnik, and Rila Monastery, we often pick up litter along the way, leading by example and encouraging our guests to leave places better than we found them. We also take time to explain the importance of the ecosystems we explore – from forest birds and mountain plants to the fragile sand pyramids of Melnik. We always carry binoculars in our vehicle so guests can observe birds and wildlife, deepening their understanding of how photography, education, and conservation are connected.

Our guides are passionate about nature, culture, and conservation, and many are active members of organizations that protect wildlife, cultural heritage, and natural landscapes in the Balkans. We regularly volunteer in environmental projects, from bird species monitoring to community clean-up initiatives, and often contribute our photographs to non-profit causes and awareness campaigns.

Throughout the workshop, our team also educates guests about the rules of conduct in protected areas, national parks, and cultural heritage sites. We emphasize respectful behavior, whether photographing local people, exploring monasteries, or walking through mountain landscapes. By traveling responsibly, we ensure that our photography leaves only a positive footprint – inspiring images, deeper awareness, and support for the local communities we visit.

People

On our Bulgaria Photography Workshop, we choose to work only with small, locally owned suppliers for accommodation, such as family-run guesthouses, farmhouses, and boutique B&Bs. This ensures our guests experience genuine Bulgarian hospitality and traditions, while the money they spend directly supports the local community rather than large corporations or intermediaries. We communicate and book directly with these suppliers, creating a fair and transparent exchange where both sides benefit.

Our relationships with these partners are long-term and built on trust and respect. Many of them are families or small businesses who take great pride in welcoming visitors. They often go above and beyond for our guests – from offering a taste of homemade rakia or local wine, to inviting us into their wine cellars, or even sharing in seasonal activities like grape harvesting, bread baking, or helping to feed the farm animals. These encounters create memorable, authentic experiences that go far beyond standard tourism and allow our participants to truly connect with Bulgaria’s culture and people.

By supporting small local enterprises, we not only provide a richer travel experience but also help sustain rural communities, keeping traditions alive and ensuring that tourism is a positive force for both travelers and hosts.
It is very important to us that we only use established local eateries and restaurants that offer locally produced seasonal food - run by local people who know traditional food of the area best. Food is one of the most important parts of the travel and we educate our guest of local specialities, the background of the food they eat (where it comes from, why it is important, ingredients & recipes…).

All our small group or private tours are run by local guides and photographers. Local people know the area intimately and this is very important for us as a photography tours business. Great guide/photography leader is of key importance for us. The right person can make or break the experience of our guests so we work only with best guides and in off season we offer free training, study trips and education on different aspects (one of them is how to travel responsible). Also local photographers know what conduct is acceptable and where is allowed to photograph and where not.

We also promote traditional crafts performed by local people, like stone cutting in Karst, copperware in Sarajevo, cheese making in Bohinj, a visit to a beehive at Lake Bled… All these places supplement their income in this way – we pay for their demonstration plus our guests can buy their products directly from them.

We are a small business with a small budget so we cannot make significant donations to charities. However we do get involved in different ways. Most of our staff are members of organisations like Birdlife Slovenia, Birdlife Croatia, Cave explorers society of Slovenia and others. We volunteer as a company on events like census of endangered bird species in Slovenia, initiatives of cleaning trash dumped in nature. Many times we contribute our photographs to non-profit organisations or projects.