Workshops

Learning the craft of photography from Jody MacDonald reinvented photography in my mind. It is not her hobby, it is not her job, it is her passion and a vivacious feeling that she chases. Every photo she takes is for a longing in her soul to know and learn more about this magnificent world we live in, the people that inhabit it, and the stories they carry. Whether in the middle of an African jungle or swimming with elephants in the Andaman Islands, Jody will find the story underneath the adventure and always make friends along the way. Saying yes to a workshop with Jody was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only did I learn so much about an art that I am so passionate about in one of the most vast and beautiful places in the world, but I also gained eight new best friends. When you join MacDonald in this escapade she calls life, you can be sure of two things: 1). She’s no joke. I don’t think she has an amygdala, aka she is not scared of anything or anyone, so adventure means…. ADVENTURE. 2). She is the most humble yet knowledgeable master of her craft. No price could cover just a day spent with Jody.

The High Himalayan Photography workshop with Jody was truly an Incredible experience! As an adventurer and photographer, Jody is the real deal, a master in her craft. The lectures she gave during our trip were packed with great advice and interesting ways of looking at a picture that were beyond the tired, old photography tips we’ve all heard before. She was also incredibly open to talk about anything, from her work experiences to jaw-dropping personal adventures.

I’ve had the opportunity to join several of Jody’s workshops, and each one has been a truly transformative experience. Traveling through Africa after months of COVID quarantine was life-changing and gave me a real sense of freedom, while motorbiking through India pushed me beyond my comfort zone in ways that were both challenging and deeply rewarding. The hands-on guidance while setting up shots shifted how I see things photographically, and learning to navigate discomfort in unfamiliar environments strengthened my resilience—both as a photographer and as a person. I am forever grateful!

I so fortunately participated in Jody’s travel and adventure photography workshop in Ladakh, India. This experience was so far beyond what I could have imagined… genuinely life-changing. It was a perfectly unique and authentic blend of adventure, culture, and creative growth… from off-road motorcycle rides through the Himalayas, camping with the Changpa nomads, and learning and practicing photography… we were physically and creatively challenged and it was perfect. Jody brought us into her world, sharing her mentality around photography as an art and a lifestyle. Her passion and style of storytelling are infectious/inspiring. She welcomed us into her creative mindset, and I can’t stress the value of being able to shoot with her. Being able to observe as she finds the spot or the moment, or how she interacts and gains access to a subject, was invaluable. She also reviewed a range of her own photography work, explaining how she got the shot, the stories behind them, and what makes a great shot over a good shot. She also offered photo reviews, providing constructive critiques of our photography that helped us improve, define our styles, and stand out. For anyone seeking an adventurous and profound photographic journey, I cannot recommend Jody's workshops highly enough. It's a proper adventure that will transform the way you see the world and your place within it."

My photo workshop with Jody in Africa was nothing short of spectacular. Let's just start with the location was absolutely amazing. You can't go wrong with a safari in Africa. The positive aspects to this were tremendous from not just the location standpoint but the instruction and the overall experience that I had with Jody. Her teaching style is very unintrusive. She let me do my own thing and then critiqued as she saw fit. She was also very open and understanding with some of my not so brilliant questions. I was by no means a professional photographer at that point and I'm still not but my learning curve was exponentially increased with the help of Jody. Her knowledge was far greater than I expected and it showed in every aspect of this trip. The variety of what we were able to shoot was also immense from people both individual and groups to landscape and the animals, oh the animals!! She also curated a wonderful group of people which made the trip that much more exciting. I continue to follow Jody and her work and I'm always following what she's doing. Jody MacDonald is an absolute force in the world of adventure photography. I feel truly blessed to have been part of that expedition."