Testimonials
What Our Clients Are Saying About Our Workshops
Enjoyed every minute and your choice of subjects were outstanding!
Thanks so much for a great workshop and private session. Enjoyed every minute and your choice of subjects were outstanding!______
Jansen Photo Expeditions hosts fabulous photography workshops!
Mark and Holly Jansen of Jansen Photo Expeditions host fabulous photography workshops! Their excitement for photography and life in general is truly addictive. They are both just so knowledgeable and a joy to be around. The Icelandic workshop is very well organized and with the help of a fabulous local photographer, they seek out the most gorgeous spots and make sure that their clients are safe at all times in the rapidly changing winter weather.
I recently took Holly’s iPhone class online and I’m so glad I did because now I’m able to take creative images with the camera that I always carry in my bag wherever I go.
I just returned from the San Francisco street photography workshop and it was a blast! There are so many great opportunities for street photography in San Francisco and it really helps that Holly and Mark know the city inside out. It seems to me that the Jansen workshops attract nice, non-pretentious clients who love photography and life. I highly recommend their workshops and I’m eyeing the Costa Rica workshop in December of 2018.
Thanks for a great Lightroom Class!
I want to thank you for the great Lightroom class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp of the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography.
Again, thank you!
Sarah L.
“I’ve gone to Iceland twice now with Holly and Mark. It’s an experience that has no parallel. Mark and Holly attract really nice, high-quality people to their trips. When you’re traveling in a small group and spending days on end together, that’s important! Both years I have left Iceland with a whole new batch of friends and a deep appreciation for its unique and wildly varied landscape. It’s great that they partner with an Icelandic photographer — who is really nice and very funny! — because he knows the intimate details of the landscape and how to navigate the roads (which is important in the winter)! The 3 of them collaborate closely to curate a top-notch experience for trip participants, including providing you with amazing photographic opportunities. I would travel anywhere with Mark and Holly and am contemplating my next trip. (And yes — you really DO need all of the gear on the list!)”
Thank you for a terrific three days in Yosemite
“Thank you again for a terrific three days in Yosemite. I greatly appreciate your knowledge and experience with photography, the environment we are in and, of course, being two very nice people who are very easy to be with…and make it all fun!”
They Have a Great Sense of Place and Light
“Without a doubt, Mark and Holly understand landscape photography. Moreover, they have a great sense of place and light. Coupled with their knowledge of Big Sur and the Central California Coast, one can expect to have exceptional opportunities to photograph one of America’s most beautiful natural treasures.”
This dynamic husband and wife team make up the perfect dream team!
“Mark and Holly both make their Photo Expeditions fun and enlightening for all skill levels and ages. Their timely, helpful suggestions delivered in a nurturing fashion, inspire learning and respect for their knowledge, efforts and ultimately, your results.
This dynamic husband and wife team make up the perfect dream team!”
We’ll always remember the good time we had!
“Wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the photo expedition! In a word it was fantastic. Even with my phone, I took some great pictures that are wowing my friends. The locations that you planned were perfect. Did you arrange for the supermoon sunset too?! We’ll always remember the good time we had!”
They focus on Techniques to Accelerate Your Ability to Create Stunning Images
I am extremely pleased with the progress of my photographic skills and images thanks to Holly and Mark’s experience in creating a great landscape photography workshop.
I have been able to attend six workshops with Holly and Mark. Half were with a group and half were private.
The group workshops provide a great platform to share your experience and challenges with Holly and Mark as well as the other participants. The groups are kept to a very manageable size (6-8) people. This small size allows each participant to benefit from one-on-one teaching whether working on composition, setting exposures or learning how to improve your photographic process. Holly and Mark focus on areas of photography you want to develop and provide great hands-on training to improve your skills.
In a private workshop, Holly and Mark focus on techniques to really accelerate your ability to create and capture stunning images. I have always been amazed at both my images and my development as a photographer at the end of a private workshop.
A great skill they have is organizing a day to take advantage of locations and lighting. The smaller size of the groups enables them to keep the participants engaged, creative and productive. We were able to visit a number of inspiring locations at the right time. In a private session, you are able to capture even more images and locations which really helps to hone your photographic skills.
As native Californians, Holly and Mark really have deep experience in the most photogenic parts of California. As such, they know exactly where and when to be in the best locations any time of the year.
For me, one thing I really appreciate is they are two really nice people who you enjoy spending time with and learning photography from.
I highly recommend an experience with Holly and Mark!
It was a big eye opener…Simply Outstanding
“I’ve done photojournalism, industrial photography, and portraiture for the Air National Guard for the last 20 years. Now that I have retired I wanted to move in a more artistic direction. I looked around for a way to get a different critique and direction and I found Mark and Holly. We spent several days traveling around the Big Sur coast shooting and critiquing what I shot. It was a big eye opener and put me back in the direction that started me in photography in the first place. They taught me the mechanical techniques that will help to make my images sharper and better composed. And just hearing Mark and Holly, with their background critique my photos gave me a better understanding of how to capture and process my photos was simply outstanding.”
They Get You to the Right Place at the Right Time for the Best Light
“Travel photography is tough. You go to unfamiliar places and want to get the best pictures possible. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you can find someone who can recommend a spot. Mark and Holly help take the guesswork out. They have been to the places before – many times, and guide you where to go and at what time of day to take the best pictures possible. Whether it’s the iconic half dome or El Capitan shot, or lesser known places like Diamond Beach in Iceland, they get you to the right place at the right time to have the best light so you can get the best image possible. Mark and Holly actively work with you during the workshop – as a group and one on one, showing you how they would take the shot and why. You come away with great pictures and learn their approach in the process.”
Looking Forward to Taking More Workshops with Mark and Holly
“I have taken two photography workshops with Mark and Holly and am looking forward to taking more. The first workshop was beginning landscape photography on Ventura Beach. This is the first time that I used a tripod outdoors with a wide angle lens. This is all it took, and now I am hooked on landscape photography. These were the best beach photos that I have ever taken and all it took was some professional tips from Mark and Holly. I also got some great action shots of windsurfers and surfers. Their approachable and friendly instruction has given me the confidence to go out on my own and take my photography to the next level. On top of this, we had an amazingly great time. They are both lovely and professional.My second workshop was a day trip to Anacapa Island during the Western gull nesting season. The Island, a beautiful location any time of the year, was covered with nesting gulls and adorable baby gulls. The Lighthouse and the view was spectacular and this is where I took some of my most favorite photos ever. To top it all off, we were escorted back to the mainland by hundreds of jumping dolphins! It was a magical day that I will never forget.
So if you enjoy photography and nature and want a leg up in getting proficient, I highly recommend Holly and Mark Jansen.”
A Beautiful Day with Experienced Photographers
“My wife and I spent a beautiful day with Mark and Holly photographing in Santa Ynez Valley and along the Santa Barbara coast. Not only did we learn a lot about landscape photography, we also discovered some beautiful locations in the process. Last but not least we had a great time and enjoyed every minute of that day. Mark and Holly are very nice people and experienced professional photographers. I highly recommend their tours and workshops to anybody interested in improving their photography skills.”
An Unforgettable Week in Yosemite
“My family spent an unforgettable week in Yosemite with Holly and Mark Jansen. Our 18-year son is very involved in landscape photography. We would never have experienced the magic of the places and the hidden treasures of the magnificent Park if we were without Holly and Mark. We will be back to another journey with them. This was the best New Year holiday ever.”
A High Level of Integrity
“Having recently returned from a trip to Iceland with Jansen Photo Expeditions, I find myself yearning to go back. Not only was the landscape jaw-droppingly beautiful, but the food and accommodations were great. Jansen Photo Expeditions attracts high-quality individuals, which makes a huge difference when you’re traveling in a small group. The camaraderie and the new friends I made on this trip were like the icing on the cupcake! Everyone has been so impressed with the photos I shot while I was in Iceland (including myself!), but honestly, I feel like the landscape did the “heavy lifting” for me — it’s so incredible that it’s hard to take a bad shot! It helped tremendously to be with people who knew exactly where to go, how to handle the “dynamic” weather conditions, and how to get the best shot. Mark and Holly have been to Iceland several times and work exclusively with an Icelandic guide who knows the terrain and the conditions. As a team, they work with a high level of integrity to keep us safe and show us how to capture the best of this incredibly beautiful country. It was an amazing trip and I want to go back!”
