What is a Photo Safaris Tour Like?
A Joseph Van Os Photo Safari is like no other kind of journey. While virtually every tour company includes "photography" as part of their overall trip activities, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris is set apart by our commitment to offer the finest in outdoor photography and related travel. That means we spend more time at the places we visit than other nature/photo/adventure travel companies for a more in-depth photo exploration of the wildlife, wild places and people we encounter along the way.
Taking part in a Joseph Van Os Photo Safari is a concentrated and productive photography experience. Unlike many companies that offer trips "suitable" for general travelers, nature enthusiasts and photographers combined, our trips are designed exclusively for nature and outdoor photography enthusiasts. Our trips give you more time in the field to work on your photography while observing nature, rather than dashing from place to place with numerous short stops throughout the day. Our trip itineraries revolve around creating opportunities for photography, unlike the many tours where the photographer must search for time in the itinerary to squeeze in a few quick shots, while the trip attempts to cater to clients with divergent interests.
Our groups are frequently out with the sunrise as well as the sunset to capture
photographic images in the sweet low light—the best time of day to take
pictures. We often take midday breaks, when the light is harsh, so we 
can
recharge before returning to the field. Our groups visit national parks,
wildlife reserves, private ranches, tribal lands, deserts, rain forests, remote
islands, wildlife migration stopovers and areas of significant cultural
interest. The pace of our trips is customarily relaxed—you can't do your best
photography if you're being rushed. We usually work out of vans, boats and small
busses. When the shooting will take place from inside a boat or vehicle we go
the extra mile to arrange for as much space as possible in these transports,
within the bounds of reasonable logistical and cost considerations, to offer
optimum photography—everywhere we go!
We don't cut corners. From the time you contact our office until we bid you
farewell, you will receive the attention, service and great accommodations upon
which our world-class reputation is based. Our Photo Safaris are "all-inclusive" from
meals, accommodations, in-tour transportation, entrance fees, leader services
and other items essential to a successful trip. We are in the
"trip-of-a-lifetime" business—a company that offers unsurpassed photography
opportunities, excellent leaders, great food, comfortable lodging, and above
all, a lot of fun!
Fellow Travelers
If the idea of an "organized group tour" conjures up visions of a wild west
cattle drive, then joining a Joseph Van Os Photo Safari will demonstrate one of
the exceptions to the rule. Our company enjoys a wonderful relationship with
hundreds of repeat clients on an annual basis. From amateur to professional
photographers, these discerning travelers know that we have looked after all of
the complicated tour logistics and planning, so they can concentrate on enjoying
themselves and the great photo opportunities we provide.
Our groups are small in size and are normally limited to enrollment of 16
members with an average of 12-14 participants joining each trip. This group size
allows for flexibility in our plans if interesting and unexpected photo
opportunities present themselves. Photo Safaris attract people interested in
maximizing their photography while traveling. Because of this, our groups
comprise like-minded individuals sharing ideas and experiences regarding nature
photography, camera equipment, photo marketing, the environment, wildlife and
more. And while trip members come to us with diverse backgrounds and
photographic skill abilities, we find all are spirited individuals who share a
love of nature and a desire to communicate that love through photography.
Typical groups include trip members from their late twenties to early seventies.
Leadership You Can Count On
Experienced, professional leaders who are experts in photography and logistics
lead Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris. They are the single most important factor in
the success of our photo tours. We are justifiably proud of them and believe
they're the best in the business!
All of our leaders are top working professional nature photographers whose
willingness to share tips and technique assures your success in the field. These
are exceptional people: fun to be with, attentive to detail, and excellent
communicators whose enthusiasm is infectious. Our leaders have that special
knack for making your Photo Safari pleasant and productive whether you are a
beginning photographer or a professional.
As professional photographers and guides, our leaders are in an ideal position
to find new and unique photo opportunities for our clients. They understand the
needs of traveling amateur and professional photographers and they routinely
suggest changes and additions to our tours that address these varied needs.
Their years of experience in the field ensure our trips run as smoothly as
possible, with levelheaded action taken to correct problems. You can travel with
them with confidence.
• Read about our photo tour leaders
Consistency—You Get What You Pay For
Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris is the best-known and most highly regarded
photography tour company in the world. And no wonder: for two decades our trips
have been honed to a high degree of quality and consistency, because we have
done the homework—invested the time, effort and resources it takes to provide
the very best possible photo trip with few compromises. Our tours have been built
from the ground up with outstanding photography and attention to
logistical details in mind. Our trips are copied—often. It shows that other
trip operators know a good thing when they see one. As many other companies
attempt to offer programs to similar destinations as we do, sometimes for lower
prices, it poses this question: Why would a client choose to travel on a trip
with Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris? Answer: Because our trips are acknowledged as
the best!
On a Joseph Van Os Photo Safari you always know what you're getting and you get
what you pay for. When you compare our consistently well-planned, hassle-free
trips to the competition—the components of the photography, the number of
shooting days, the all-included meals, the premium quality of food, lodging and
transportation, the office efficiency, trip leadership and the access to the
photo subject—you'll find our Photo Safaris are usually copied in name only.
Access & Innovation
Access—if you size up all the special ingredients that go into the creations
we call Photo Safaris: our expert leaders, helpful office staff, good food,
lodging and transportation—our one secret ingredient, the one that ices our
cake, is access. From the company's outset, the team at Joseph Van Os Photo
Safaris logged in an extraordinary amount of dream time, envisioning innovative
photo shoots for our trip participants to visit "impossible" locations and surmounting
"hopeless" logistical obstacles to bring those dreams to reality.
Now, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris is the undisputed leader in new destinations
and concepts in photo travel. Why? Because we are a company run by and for
photographers. Photography is our passion, driving us to provide new ways, and
the best possible access, to some of the most productive photo destinations in
the world.
Our full-time office staff is ready to answer your questions and provide you
with access, personal attention and travel assistance from start to finish.