DECEMBER 2024 WORKSHOP DEPOSIT ONLY

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

First and foremost, expect to have fun learning photography from a pro in a casual yet educational environment.

You will experience Vietnam alongside Justin as he shows you his favorite places to photograph, giving you advice and tips that make you a better visual storyteller and, in turn, a better photographer no matter what photography genre you are interested in in.

The workshop will give you a nice balance of the bustling city life of Hanoi and the scenic landscapes and minority culture of Sapa. You will get daily assignments, in-the-field real-time mentoring, and daily one on one reviews of your work. Mixed in between all this, you will experience Vietnam's local street food and snacks carefully curated by Justin’s wife, Quynh Anh. Q as she goes by, is a true Hanoian and has been eating the local food her entire life, so you’ll get an authentic experience.

WHAT GEAR SHOULD I BRING?

Bring your camera equipment, extra batteries, chargers, memory cards, memory card reader, hard drives (everything you need to take photos), and either a laptop or tablet where you can load, process, and store your photos.

You will be responsible for your gear and for backing up of your files.

We aren’t doing any excessive trekking, but it’s still important to be able to take what you can carry, as you are responsible for carrying your own gear throughout the day. If you like using a tripod, big zoom lenses, etc., that’s fine, but there are no requirements for specific camera gear that you must bring.

WHAT SKILL LEVEL DO I NEED TO BE?

It doesn’t matter how good you are, this workshop isn’t a competition, and I teach based on each person’s skills.

You will get more out of this workshop if you know the basics of photography, aperture, shutter, and ISO, and how to use your camera, but it’s not 100% necessary.

WHAT ABOUT CLOTHING?

I don’t like to assume certain temperatures are hot or cold for others, so here are the average temperatures in March for Hanoi and Sapa. Please note that Sapa is a bit colder, and both places are humid.

· Average temperature for Hanoi during December is High / Low(°C) 22° / 15° or High / Low(°F) 71° / 59°

· Average temperature for Sapa during December is High / Low(°C) 13° / 6° or High / Low(°F) 42° / 55°

. Bring a raincoat, wet weather protection, and weatherproof boots if you don’t mind getting muddy in the fields.

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY AND LIABILITY?

Every person is responsible for their safety and the protection of their gear. We will stay at reliable places and visit safe parts of town, and while overall Vietnam is a safe country, things can happen anywhere, so use common sense with yourself and your gear.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers you in case of any accidents or issues, as we are not responsible for this.

While we are in Sapa, life is very rural there. Villages have dirt roads, we will be on the occasional off-road pathway, and they can get slippery. Participants should be able to be on their feet for extended periods. It should be noted that many locations in the villages aren’t handicapped accessible. We also recommend weatherproof footwear with good grip in case it rains; we want to avoid anyone falling. We won’t be doing any major trekking, but it’s still important to note you will be on your feet for extended periods. While in Sapa, we won’t be close to any major medical facilities, so if you have pre-existing medical conditions, you should be aware of this ahead of time and come at your own risk.

HOW DO I RESERVE MY PLACE?

A $3000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. Unfortunately, we can’t confirm your booking until we receive this.

Once we receive the deposit, you will receive a liability waiver, and full itinerary, and a detailed PDF package with everything you need to know.

FOOD, WHAT TO EXPECT AND DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

Vietnamese food is focused on local and fresh and heavy on meat dishes. Our group meals in Hanoi will be at authentic restaurants where the locals go. Curbside spots, and plastic stools, not fancy, is what I’m trying to say, but it’s the best food Vietnam offers.

It’s not always vegetarian-friendly, but we are, so if you are vegan or vegetarian, don’t worry; we have you covered. Justin is a vegetarian as well so you’ll be eating some meals in Hanoi separate from the group with Justin, but in Sapa, we will eat all of our meals together and the hotel we stay in, as it is vegan/vegetarian-friendly.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Justin Mott Workshops does not accept responsibility for any injury, loss, illness, or other reason that causes you to cancel your tour with us. This is why we recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance for your trip. However, we will refund 90%, (bank and admin fees) of your deposit if you cancel 90 days before the start date of the workshop or if we can fill your slot. The deposit is non-refundable within 90 days of the starting date of the tour.

Within 45 days of the starting date of the workshop, you will receive a notification link with your final balance payment instructions. You will have 7-10 days to make the final payment or risk losing your slot and deposit.

We reserve the right to cancel any workshop, in which case 100% of your payment will be refunded.

Participants will incur a bank processing fee for all cancellations.

MISC

If you are on any prescription medication, please bring enough to cover yourself on the trip as finding a pharmacy in the countryside of Sapa is challenging and they most likely won’t have what you need.

Bring stomach medication if you have a sensitive stomach as well as again, no medicine will be distributed by our team.

TIPPING

My wife and I won’t accept tips but if you’d like to tip the producer and technical assistant I’m sure they would greatly appreciate it, but you don’t have to feel obligated to do so.

DATES TO ARRIVE/DEPART

You can come as early as you want and depart as late as you want, but your hotel, food, and transportation are only covered for the listed dates below. Book your flights to arrive in Hanoi at Noi Bai Airport.

Arrival

December 2nd is the official arrival day, and your hotel is covered for the evening of December 2nd and onward. We provide airport pick-up for flights arriving from 7 am-7 pm on December 1st and the 2nd only. No activities are planned for this day, this is meant for you to get situated and you will receive your official printed itinerary. Activities for the workshop kick-off the morning of December 3rd. If you want to arrive before December 1st you need to arrange your own transportation, hotels, meals, etc.

Departure

We have a farewell dinner on December 8th and back in Hanoi and your hotel is covered for the evening of December 8th. We provide airport transfers on December 8th and December 9th from 7 am-7 pm. If you want to stay at your hotel the evening of December 9th or later, or you require a late check-out, you must do so at your own expense.

VISAS

Participants are responsible for paying for and arranging their own Travel Visas. Each country has different policies and relationships with Vietnam, and those policies are constantly changing so it’s best to read up online on your country’s official consulate webpage and best to arrange as early as possible. We are not responsible for participants who aren’t able to obtain a Visa. We can refer you to our VISA specialists for those who want assistance, and we highly recommend you arrange this a few months in advance to avoid any issues.

We’ve also compiled a list of things to do in Hanoi on your own if you plan to come early or stay later after the workshop, check out our article here.

- Dec 2nd: Arrival + Rest + Meet & Greet (alcohol is included) at Mott's residence

- Dec 3rd: Explore Justin Mott's favorite spots for travel photography in Hanoi + Daily review

- Dec 4th: Ancient village + Dong Xuan Market + Daily review

- Dec 5th: Travel to Sapa + Herbal bath + Portfolio review

- Dec 6th: Exploring local life in Sapa + Coaching on site

- Dec 7th: Touring Sapa town + Final assignment

- Dec 8th: Final Review + Travel to HN from Sapa + Farewell dinner (alcohol is included)