For my upcoming group trip with friends, I was going to arrange for a sunrise photo safari in the Val d'Orcia area of Tuscany with this photographer, whose rate last year was 15 Euro per person, minimum group size of 4, 10 Euro for each extra person over 4.
http://www.jaroslawpawlak.com/
Now his rate has gone up to 70 Euro per person, so I'm trying to determine if we have other choices. Does anyone know of another photographer offering something like this?
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
His rate last year seems ridiculously low, probably was just starting out and wanted to have experience at it before charging more normal rates. You sure last year's rate was not per hour/per person and now this year it is per tour/per person.
Don't think you are going to find other options so inexpensive.
I also am not sure unless you have no transportation that you cannot do it yourself, since it is sunrise you will be going to 1 location (likely Belvedere Farmhouse) and depending on the light maybe hitting a couple of other well known spots all within a mile or so.
I did it myself and could easily do it again and also feel like I could now lead a tour there after doing it.
a few tips: you want a long lens (longer than usual for landscapes) and be on location before sunrise BUT also after the sun rises.
Not sure I can think of many other locations in the world where the chance of perfect conditions is after the sun is over the horizon but in this region if conditions are right and fog in the valleys form overnight then it will evaporate off in the morning but only once the sun's first rays hit it and warm the valley.
Watch the dew point, if the dew point and temperature meet at any point overnight, the fog will be present!
Posted by
OP
Wisconsin
454 posts
I agree that 15 Euro per person was ridiculously low, and no, this was not per person per hour, it was per person for the entire session. And it's not low because of he was brand new last year but is now more experienced. From Trip Advisor, I can see that he's been offering this sunrise photo safari in Tuscany at least since 2013. I'm the only person in my upcoming travel group who has a serious interest in photography a hobby, but at the price of 15 Euro, others were willing to go along just to see the sunrise, important because of the 4 person minimum. They would have snapped pictures with their iphone cameras. I am happy to pay 70 Euro for this experience, but at that rate, I can't expect my friends to join me, and thus won't meet the minimum group size.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32222 posts
Vickie,
I agree with the others that €15 PP was ridiculously low and he may have been offering a bargain as he was just getting started. A rate of €70 PP is not unreasonable, especially if he's going to be providing transportation.
I've done a photo workshop in the Val d'Orcia region so have some experience in that area. Unfortunately, the Instructor that conducted my workshop is no longer doing that (AFAIK).
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Yeah ; if you have no transportation the rate he is now charging seems fair
and if you have your own transportation do it yourself.
Not sure where you are staying but if staying in Pienza the area they would go to is a short drive away and all of the sites are basically roadside or just off the main road between Pienza and San Quirico (closer to San Quirico)
These are not places only known to select few.
Who knows maybe he got in trouble for leading tours without insurance and now has it at great expense to him, maybe before he provided no transportation and now does, etc...