A hands-on creative escape for every level and every camera
If you’ve been craving a chance to slow down, get outside, and finally learn how to take photos you truly love, this weekend is for you. Whether you shoot with a phone, a point-and-shoot camera, or a full professional setup, you’re invited to join us for a supportive and joyful photography immersion led by Jaime and Steph, two guides with over thirty years of combined professional experience behind the lens.
During this weekend getaway, we’ll wander through beautiful natural spaces, chase good light, and practice simple techniques that will help you capture the world the way you see it. You’ll get real-time coaching, hands-on instruction, and plenty of space to try things out without pressure. We’ll walk you through landscape and nature photography, as well as help you feel confident creating outdoor portraits that feel natural and expressive. Together, we’ll help you build skills you can use long after the trip ends.
You’ll head home with new skills, a fuller camera roll, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty around you. More importantly, you’ll feel empowered to keep creating. Photography becomes so much more fun when you understand how to make your camera work for you, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Adventure Rating: Beginner
This trip is rated beginner because of our modern accommodations and beginner-friendly level of hiking.
ACTIVITIES
Nature Photography Sessions: We’ll explore some of the Midwest’s prettiest trails and learn how to see a scene like a photographer. You’ll practice composition, lighting, and storytelling while capturing plants, wildlife, water, and wide-open landscapes.
Portrait Workshops: You’ll learn how to take warm, candid portraits in natural light. We’ll cover simple posing, working with your subject, using your surroundings creatively, and building portraits that feel authentic rather than stiff.
Hands-On Learning: You won’t just hear about photography. You’ll be shooting constantly, experimenting, reviewing your images with us, and gaining confidence through real practice. Every question is welcome and no experience is required.
ACCOMMODATIONS & LOCATION
We’ll be calling 6 private cabins at Lacey Keosaqua State Park home for the weekend. The cabins are modern, with adjoining showers and flush toilets in each cabin. The cabins come equipped with heat and A/C. Two Wanderers will sleep in each cabin.
About Lacey Keosaqua State Park
Dedicated in 1920 as Iowa’s second state park, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park spans 1,653 acres and offers ample opportunity for fishing, hiking, camping and swimming. Oak-hickory bluffs and valleys characterize the park, including a three mile trail along the bluffs of the Des Moines River. Lacey-Keosauqua is a historic river crossing site along the Mormon western trek in the mid-19th century. Many of the park’s structures were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s and are available for day-use. Source: Iowa DNR
GETTING THERE
If you are flying in from outside of Iowa, the closest airport is the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID). You’ll need to rent a car to get to the cabins (~2 hour drive), or arrange carpool with a local Wanderer. Carpooling details are sent pre-trip in the private trip Discord channel. Carpooling arrangements can’t be guaranteed, but we try our best to connect Wanderers for coordination!
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Your registration provides you:
Expert planning and two Wander Women guides to help make the weekend as seamless and fun as possible!
Two nights of comfortable lodging in a state park cabins
All food for the weekend, prepared by your guides, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners and plenty snacks and beverages
Instructional photography sessions and workshops
Wanderer swag bag full of goodies
A private trip Discord channel to connect with guides and fellow participants before & after the trip
Comprehensive pre-trip online guide with detailed logistics, packing recommendations, and trip tips
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Participants will be responsible for providing/paying for:
Transportation to/from trip (we always encourage carpooling and can connect you with other participants to ride with!) and trip activity locations
Photography equipment must be provided by the participant
INVESTMENT
$525
PAYMENT PLAN
We offer payment plans for all our trips, so you can pay a deposit now and the rest over time! WeTravel (our booking platform) easily lets you make a downpayment (this is also your non-refundable trip deposit!) and set up automatic payments for the remainder. For the payment plan schedule, just check the WeTravel page for details. There is NO fee for choosing the payment plan option!
Deposit for this trip: $260