My husband and I attended Casey's weekend workshop when we were down in the Palm Springs area for our anniversary. We drove over from the Ontario airport which is another good option if flying into Palm Springs is too expensive and you don't want to fight LA traffic. Driving out to Casey's place is an experience in and of itself; you might want to skip the "faster" dirt road and follow the paved road directions if you're in a small rental car like we were! Any questions we may have had were pushed aside once he welcomed us to his home and we got to meet the rest of our group. Casey took us into the park three times to get evening/sunset and early morning pictures. We also shot nighttime pictures of the stars and were shown how to make star trails...very cool! Casey's knowledge of the park is unrivaled and he provided interesting information about the park as we drove to the various sites. He took time with each of us to help with camera settings and composition. He was encouraging of our efforts and provided feedback for improvement. He was equally attentive to the amateurs, like me, in the group as to the ones who were more experienced. He even took the time to give my husband, who was attending as a "non-photographer", some pointers on taking pictures with his iPhone. Our last day, Casey gave us instruction in Lightroom, which I had never used but was excited to try. I had my laptop along and was able to follow along in editing some of my pictures on the spot. He provided a PDF with the workflow he uses and also a link to some presets that make the editing process a breeze. I had some questions after I got home and he quickly responded to my email. Overall, this ranks up there as one of our favorite activities we have done on vacation. We enjoyed Casey so much we are making plans to join him on an Iceland Photography Workshop next year. Go for Joshua Tree National Park (which is so unique), go for the boost in photography skills, go for the camaraderie with other photography enthusiasts, and for sure go for the amazing banana bread that Casey bakes himself! read more

What a privilege to be a part of the Joshua Tree Milky Way workshop in May. So far it's the photo highlight of '18. If you're looking for an experienced professional with extensive local knowledge of the intricacy's of the park and astrophotography, Casey and his workshop are for you! In addition to the wealth of technical information he has to offer, his calm and patient teaching style makes for a relaxed learning atmosphere. He is there to answer all questions and offer tips on most any camera gear used. We started shooting in the park at sunset at a location off the beaten path and moved on to some well known rock formations. This was followed by a killer dinner, awesome Mahi Mahi tacos for me, at the local "Saloon" which is an experience in itself. After a few hours of rest, we headed back into the park to shoot the Milky Way over Arch Rock. All I can say is that it was a jaw dropping experience to be in the splendor of the park in the dead of night surrounded by silence, millions of stars and one spectacular rock formation. The group size of six is a perfect number to allow Casey to give individualized attention to all. His love, respect and detailed knowledge of the park was infectious. The following morning was topped off by a tutorial in processing the photos in Lightroom. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable and you don't want to miss Casey's killer vegan banana bread for breakfast. If you have the time, I highly recommend staying a day or two extra to continue to shoot and build on the techniques learned in the class. Many thanks to Casey for making this moment in time a treasured memory! read more

I signed up for the sunset photography tour at Joshua Tree National Park with Casey and I am so glad I did. Casey met us at the visitor Center at Joshua Tree and from there my husband and I joined him for a wonderful four-hour photo tour of JTNP. Although my husband is not a photographer, he was most welcome to join us at no extra charge. Casey knows the park very well and stopped at some of the most photogenic places. He offered many tips on composition, settings, angles, panoramic shots. He demonstrated many shots with his iPhone to give me an idea on composition. He is very personable and easy to talk to and offers such good advice. I found him to be a very good teacher. I enjoyed this session with him so much that I decided to take the Astrophotography session with him as well. This was over a two-day period. Again, my husband, who is not a photographer, was welcome to accompany us at no extra charge. We opted for the bed and breakfast option rather than the camping option. We stayed at a very nice place in Joshua Tree. It was fun going out to the park in the middle of the night to try and capture the stunning night sky. Next day Casey walked us through how he goes about post-processing in Lightroom. It was very informative and very helpful. He also sent us a link to his processing techniques and also a link to many worthwhile apps. I would highly recommend his sessions and, in fact, when I am back there next winter, I will definitely be going again. read more

Found Casey's workshop through a Google search on night in January. So I signed up for it, being pretty new to the astrophotography world. Flew out to Vegas and made the drive down to Joshua Tree in May (2018). Casey is a very warm and welcoming person. We were greeted right away and introduced to the other workshop attendees. After a breif session going over gear, we headed out to Joshua Tree National Park. Started with a golden hour/sunset session with some of the landscapes, and then had a wonderful meal at the campsite. BTW- all camping gear was provided! How cool is that?! As someone who tends to fly to these locations, that's a huge bonus! After dinner, we set up the cameras and Casey went over with every one of us how to properly find focus in the dark. Then we were free to shoot and practice until the Milky Way rose. We then shot the Milky Way over one of the rock formations, where Casey taught us panorama techniques. After we were finished, we took a nap to wait for sunrise. We finished the workshop with a tech session on how to use lightroom. I was highly impressed, as I typically don't use lightroom; growing up with photoshop. And I gotta say, I'm a convert! Casey does very well in communicating how to use the program. Overall, this was a great experience and well worth the time, travel, and money. I would do it all over again!! in fact, I hope to do so. read more

Last year I took Casey Kiernan's astro photography workshop during the perseid meteor shower. There were about 8 of us all together in the group which made the workshop the perfect small group size to get help from others as one on one instruction from Casey. You are required to bring your own digital camera as well as laptop computer, equipped with Lightroom for post editing. I brought my Fuji X-T10 digital camera and 14mm wide angle lens. We all met inside the Joshua Tree National Park and shot from about 9pm-2am. Casey helped us set up our cameras with the right settings. We learned how to take long exposure night shots, as well as star stacked shots. Afterwards we learned Casey's editing techniques in Lightroom (post editing is key in achieving the star shots that you want)! I was super pleased with the photos I was able to capture of the Milky Way, and even shot a passing meteor! I would highly recommend this workshop for anyone that is a professional photographer or amateur. I learned so much and continue to shoot astro photography with the techniques I learned. It's a pricy workshop but worth every penny! read more

I recently had the pleasure of attending Casey's Milky Way class in Joshua Tree National Park, and it was an incredible experience! Casey is a seasoned pro who shared his extensive knowledge and passion for night time photography with our group. From the moment we started, Casey made sure everyone felt comfortable and excited about capturing the beauty of the night sky. His explanations were clear and easy to follow, even for those of us who were new to astrophotography. The hands-on guidance and tips he provided were invaluable, helping us to capture stunning shots of the Milky Way. Joshua Tree National Park was the perfect backdrop for this class, and Casey knew all the best spots for optimal viewing and shooting. His enthusiasm was contagious, making the entire experience not just educational but also a lot of fun. I would highly recommend Casey's Milky Way class to anyone with an interest in night time photography, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills. It's a fantastic opportunity to learn from a true professional in a breathtaking setting. Five stars all the way! read more

The Milky Way workshop was an amazing experience. After meeting at Casey's home and having dinner at a local saloon, we drove into Joshua Tree. The first stops were for evening landscapes where Casey instructed on composition and lighting. Then we headed to the campground where we would learn star trail technique and photograph the milky way. Casey is knowledgeable and patient--his experience with both the area and the night sky made this evening a success. The final, edited compositions are beautiful! Because of prior travel arrangements, I did not attend the morning photo editing portion of the workshop, but Casey provided me with all the information I needed to successfully edit my photographs. Just a note on the earlier reviews regarding non response. I feel this may have been a technical error that has been corrected. Casey promptly responded to all of my emails, both before and after the class. Joshua Tree in the evening is an amazing experience. If you love photography, no matter what your skill level, this is well worth your investment of time and money. read more

My husband and I booked a workshop with Casey as a part of our February Honeymoon activities. We drove over from Palm Springs for a sunset session. The weather was unseasonably cold, but Casey told us to dress for it, and we came prepared and were in and out of the car which helped us stay warm. Casey was an amazing guide through the park and a great teacher. He knew all the best photo and vista spots, helped my husband figure out the settings on our new camera, and drove us in and out of the park, using his park pass which was an added bonus. Casey also provided us some great recommendations for the local area, I would recommend arriving an hour or two early to explore the shops in Joshua Tree before going into the park, and asking him for dinner recommendations! This was one of our favorite activities on our trip - I would highly recommend! read more

I chose Casey's workshop for my first time experience in night photography. It was absolutely excellent! We started as his home were we got to know the participants, then headed out to the park for the evening. Casey's team had everything one could need, camping and sleeping equipment, great food, etc. Casey himself is a great guy and I enjoyed his personal manner and companionship. The instruction and opportunities provided by Casey's team to shoot were outstanding, and the coaching I received really helped. I got some great photos that I was pretty proud of. You shoot till your tired then head to bed- or not! Back to Casey's home in the morning for breakfast and processing. I learned so much for a very reasonable price. I have told many friends about this workshop and I intend to do another. I can't recommend this workshop enough! read more

I had the opportunity to attend the Milky Way photography workshop in August of 2017 and it was the most incredible experience. Not only do you get step by step instructions on how to set up your camera but you also get an editing tutorial the next day. Casey then sends you an email with everything that was covered. I got some some of the most amazing photos I've ever taken. When i got home I had some follow up questions while editing my images and Casey responded immediately. I look forward to attending another session soon and continue to look back on this experience. From beginning to end the communication was on point and I highly recommend this to anyone beginners and experts. read more

Casey is an excellent teacher who enjoys sharing his expertise. He is kind, easy going and patient. One night is just not enough to soak in Joshua Tree and the Milky Way! The editing would have been easier to understand if I had more experience in Lightroom but I immersed myself since we returned home and have edited all my daytime landscapes and am working on the Milky Way panoramas. He gave great tips on composition and cropping. We learned enough to take shots of the Milky Way where ever we go and that was our goal. We have plans to return for a private session with Casey for great sunrise, sunset, and those beautiful night sky shots in various locations. read more

I took the Milky way class, and it was spectacular! I'm going back for the flower and Sunset class. Casey knows excellent locations in Joshua tree for the best shots. As I am a green horn, Casey helped me a great deal with the camera setting selections, and how to be subtle in Lightroom, so the final print was realistic and believable. I'm going to Ice Land. I've got to see the Aurora Borealis in person, and capture it through my camera's eye. I'll let you know how that turns out. Based on past experience under Casey's tutelage, it should be an unforgettable experience I'll be able to share with the Grandkids! read more

I took the Milky Way workshop June 14-15 2018 and it is hands down one of the best photography workshop. Casey is one of the most humble instructors I have had the privilege of learning from. The workshop is well designed and provides many opportunities to take photos. Casey takes the time to explain everything and as a novice photographer I felt like I was learning something new every minute! The post editing workshop is worth the price of the course by itself. If your thinking about taking this workshop, stop thinking and do it, you won't be disappointed! read more

I received my Joshua Tree workshop with Casey as a gift from my daughter. A great benefit of the workshop is Casey has totally explored the park in advance and he takes you to all of the premier locations, at the right time of day for the time of year, suggesting appropriate composition and camera settings as appropriate, so you end up with fantastic images. Casey keeps the number of students low so you receive a lot of personal help improving your photography skills. Casey also provides post image processing training in Adobe Lightroom during the workshop. read more

Casey helped me get my "eye" focused on such a vast and gorgeous setting. I drove the park ahead of time and it seemed like sensory overload, but Casey focused the subject matter down and chose the most unique spots in the park. We even saw a shooting stat as we walked the desert and it was spectacular. I highly recommend the workshop. You learn new techniques and also some characteristics of your camera you were unaware of! Casey also explained some of the plants and history of the park itself. Time well spent indeed! read more

I went on this workshop (Milky Way; overnight) in 2017. I have been on other photography workshops and what sets this one apart is the small number of participants which allows for a lot of one-on-one time. Casey is knowledgeable and just a genuinely nice person. Very pleasant experience. NOTE: Drove to Joshua Tree from LA. This was a big mistake. Traffic is a nightmare and it doubles or triples the time to get there. Highly recommend that you fly into Palm Springs and drive from there. read more

Had a great time! I've always wanted to learn astrophotography, and came across this workshop. It's well worth the drive to Joshua Tree. Casey was very knowledgable and helpful when it came time to start shooting. Not only did he help set everyone up, but showed us all how to edit the photos with adobe software. Not only that, but he knew where all the good spots were. I certainly got some great shots, and am looking forward to doing more astrophotography. I highly recommend this workshop! read more

I booked the Joshua Tree night photography workshop as a birthday present for my dad, as an activity we would do together. He knew all the best spots in the park, and I learned tons about my camera and just general tricks of the trade like composition. The next morning when we edited our photos, he made the most delicious banana bread live ever eaten! I'd never heard of Lightroom before this trip, but now use it on a regular basis for photo editing. Super nice guy, would totally recommend! read more

Fantastic experience! From knowing where and when the best photo opportunities were, to hands on instruction with settings and angles of view, this workshop was first rate. Finally the post work instruction and coaching in Lightroom made for remarkable images and useful knowledge to take away for future use. Casey was extremely knowledgeable and patient with the group that included a wide range of photographic knowledge and experience. Very worthwhile. I strongly recommend it! Ken read more