Santa Fe Tours
2-Hour Photography Class While Touring Downtown Santa Fe, Smart Phones Welcome!
5

2-Hour Photography Class While Touring Downtown Santa Fe, Smart Phones Welcome!

By David Hoptman
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 14-90
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Italian
More


  • Photo Walking Tour, photo-editing, portraiture, and foundational talk to start the class.
What's not included
  • Taxes: ($7.00 per traveler)


Start:
  • East San Francisco Street & Lincoln Avenue, E San Francisco St & Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
    We meet at the corner of the Santa Fe downtown plaza on Lincoln and E. San Francisco st. just across the street from Haagen-Dazs. Arrive by 11:25 am. Start time 11:30 am. Photo-Tour finishes at 1:30 pm.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 308768P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 308768P2

    From
    £58.95
    per adult (price varies by group size)
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • David Hoptman
      85
      Santa Fe, United States
      Joined in May 2021
    • kimtJ6397JX
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magical!
      The trip with David was a special experience - he teaches you new ways of seeing, in order to become a better photographer. His knowledge of the area and the beauty of the places he led me to will stay with me a long time.
      Written 22 August 2024
    • 382helend
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very enjoyable time
      We enjoyed our time with David. He took us to some interesting areas for photography and also discussed the history of the area. We came away with some new ideas regarding composition and editing our photos.
      Written 13 June 2024
    • LeonaC138
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A Magical Experience
      Today was such an amazing day that I’ve waited for… for a very long time. There was this picture that was captivated in my heart… and I knew I would not be happy until I had the chance to see this place. Well today, we were able to explore and learn from the artist, David Hoptman, a true inspiration!! I would recommend this workshop for those looking to understand and see the magic of a photograph!!
      Written 18 December 2023
    • Denise W
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beauty, Photography, and Fun
      David is knowledgeable and generous. He takes you to two beautiful sites outside of Santa Fe and wants everyone on the trip to improve their photographic ability. He takes the time to work with each person on the trip. Additionally, he has everyone on the trip share their photos so we can learn from each other. It was a wonderful afternoon!
      Written 6 December 2023
    • Jacqueline H
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Outstanding
      This was one of the best one-on-one teaching experiences I have ever had. David taught me photography skills I am excited to use in future photos.
      Written 9 October 2023
    • L2394GXrobyns
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful Photo Workshop - well worth the time and investment!
      Wonderful experience with David Hoptman at Chimayo. He's a wonderful guide and photographic artist. His tours are small so you really get a hands own experience. He suggested I take his composition tour the day before which really aided in equipping me with the basics of how to capture a great image on my iPhone. The trip to Chimayo was a treat. I highly recommend doing both experiences. Skills to take back home with you and your friends and family will be impressed with your images of this beautiful part of the country!
      Written 16 September 2023
    • robinbE3238MH
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Creative Enlightenment
      David is a creative artist, versed in many mediums which makes his experience with and approach to photography that much more interesting and creative. This is not a “high level” “technical workshop”, but more of an artistic one. How to “be present and in the moment” how to see the world around you and how to best try to capture the emotion and feeling of what you see. He is passionate about his art and that makes him a good teacher. He takes time to explain his thoughts on photography and how to best capture a meaningful and powerful imagine. He is thoughtful and kind and listens. I highly recommend this workshop (half day) but will stress, come to this workshop with an calm, open mind to be present, surround yourself in the beauty of the scenery around you and let David lead you through a journey of photographic discovery.
      Written 28 August 2023
    • Bryan G
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Two hour study of photo composition
      OK, he's not warm and fuzzy, but he's a true artist committed to teaching the art of photography and seeing progress in each individual.
      Written 13 August 2023
    • Janacina K
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day with a professional!
      I highly recommend taking a class with David. He is an amazing instructor and has a great sense of humor. I admit, I was a bit intimidated when I first met him since he really knows what he is doing. He is so patient and kind. He gives great feedback. I really learned a lot from him. We spent the entire day with him and wished I would have had time to book another trip. Since my class I think more about forms and composition - looking at the picture I took before I move on. Thank you David for helping me continue to improve my skills. Sorry it took me many months to write this review. If I am in Santa Fe again, I will make time to take another class with you. It was such an enjoyable day.
      Written 22 June 2023
    • Road42078544231
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Super
      David did a super job. I would highly recommend this trip for amateur photographers as well as experienced photographers.
      Written 10 June 2023
    • 180eileeng
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great walking photography lesson
      We learned so much about composition and what makes a picture interesting. David was a great teacher.
      Written 30 April 2023
    • C4128BIkevins
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Enthusiastic, patient, knowledgeable and a great teacher
      We have done previous photography tours elsewhere but came away from this tour with a significantly improved understanding of how to bring beauty & appreciation to our scenery photography. David was patient, knowledgeable & re-enforcing. Would highly recommend!
      Written 18 April 2023
    • Adventurer506985
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Raise your game
      As an amateur photographer, I rarely get a chance to focus exclusively on my photography, let alone with an expert guide. David has thoughtfully laid out a series of teachable moments at multiple locations, designed to provide excellent photographic opportunities as well as teach the fundamentals of composition and editing. This was a great trip, and an amazing learning opportunity.
      Written 1 April 2023
    • Road196350
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Shots you won’t get on your own!
      This was an interesting workshop and David is a great instructor. He shared his ideas and suggestions for taking better shots and improving composition. Anyone who would like to improve their skills - for every day photos or grand vistas - will find this to be money and time well spent. David also shared some history of the area and people, the stop in Chimayo is quite a unique place. Be sure you also take the shots you want to take, not just the suggested ones! It’s a beautiful area and I’m so grateful that I found David’s tour. You won’t regret it!
      Written 23 December 2022
    • Hongying L
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      A photo workshop that started an exciting week.
      David's photo workshop started us on an exciting vacation. He's very patient and effective. He allowed us to make mistakes and helped us see what we could do to improve. By doing that he made the techniques easy to understand and memorize. I also like the way he showed us how to edit a photo with Snapseed. Instead of overwhelming us with too many options, he showed us the key techniques that made a real difference. I enjoyed our visit to Chimayo too, It's such a charming village. We came back with many good photos and a nice portrait David took for us. After the trip, I spent two days to edit the photos and received a lot of praises in my social media circle. When I visited art galleries and saw landscape typical of New Mexico high desert, I found myself appreciate the artists more. I'll always remember the nice trip with David.
      Written 11 December 2022
    See all 85 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles68 reviews
    Excellent
    66
    Very good
    1
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Jeffrey H
    Houston, TX4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2021
    I really learned a lot from this two-hour session with David. He is an excellent photographer and teacher as well. He offered wonderful insights on composition that I think will be beneficial in my painting as well as my photography.

    I really liked his teaching methods, and the camera roll from our session highlights well several of the concepts that we discussed.

    I brought my digital camera and cell phone and he helped me to capture some great photos of Santa Fe and the surrounding area.

    I really appreciate this lesson and it has inspired me to capture some of the moments and places that I may have taken for granted in the past. Thanks David!
    Written 17 June 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank You, Keep it rolling
    Written 21 June 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    JudeCHB
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022
    Within a few minutes of meeting David, he promised that within an hour we would look at the world differently through the lens of our camera..

    My husband brought his 20+ year old Minolta Dimage 5, and I had my Nikon D3500. However, this class was not about f-stops and aperture settings, it was about composition. So our cameras stayed in their cases in favor of the cameras on our phones for this class.

    David’s resume is as impressive as it is long, and he generously shared his experience with us. Within an hour, as promised, we were seeing the world differently, embarrassed to show any of our ‘pre-David’ photos with him.

    We now take much better pictures, regardless of the camera, and this is solely due to two wonderful hours spent strolling downtown Santa Fe with an exceptional photographer and teacher. Thank you, David!
    Written 5 June 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    OhiOkie
    Oklahoma City252 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I can’t recommend this enough! Maybe you’ve wanted to take a photography class before but never did. Maybe you like to take at least one tour when visiting a city for the first time. If one or both of those statements are true … book this class with professional photographer David Hopton. You’ll learn forms, portraits, landscapes and more while getting a unique view of the area around the Santa Fe Plaza. I finished this class about 45 minutes ago, and my brain is already going wild with seeing things in a different view, taking better photos, and smiling inside at how much better I’m looking at my visit to Santa Fe! 😊
    Written 6 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Linda N
    Kerrville, Texas, United States11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a relaxing and informative lesson with David on photo composition, editing and more. Even my husband, who doesn’t take many photos, enjoyed learning from David’s knowledge and relaxed manner of teaching. We’re starting a 4 month RV trip to Alaska and these helpful tips will make a huge difference in our future photos. Thank you, David!
    Written 17 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Fading_Goalie
    Ottawa, Canada29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    David was friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating (we got the time wrong but as he was in the area we started the tour early). Whenever possible I try to take a photo tour with a professional photographer whenever I visit a new city. Not only does it give an insider’s view of one’s hometown and good spots for some different photos, it is also an opportunity to brush up on your technical skills. This workshop was different from the typical photo tour with an emphasis on composition and creativity using only our iPhones. We very much enjoyed the different approach and picked up some handy tips including the use of an editing app that we will use moving on. Thanks David for an enjoyable couple of hours. We highly recommend this workshop.
    Written 19 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Max
    Soap Lake, WA7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Solo
    The 2 hr walking photo tour around Santa Fe was very informative and useful. Small group of 4 so you felt like you got individual attention. David is detail oriented and has a great eye for composition, form and style. Loved the day!
    Written 30 May 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Connector546234
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021
    David is a great teacher. He was patient, positive and so helpful in ensuring my friend and I understood the concepts he was teaching us as well as the technology. We had such a wonderful time. While we both have a background in photography, we found the information David shared to be a great help. We're so glad we took his photography lesson! Plus he shared some historical information about Santa Fe and a great restaurant recommendation we went to for lunch.
    Written 3 October 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Karen P
    24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2023 • Family
    Our photographer, David is a professional/ICONIC photographer. His works and things he's accomplished is mind blowing. He takes his class very seriously, so make sure you're paying attention!! My whole family is A.D.D and the other lady in our class was too. 😆 We probably drove David a little crazy...but all in all, we learned quite a bit. He teaches us to slow down and really take notice of our surroundings; how there's art everywhere. We were taught some editing skills..but that's actually the LAST thing you do. We are taught how to work our cameras to get the right shots so editing is minimal. On the con side; we didn't really do much walking around the whole square, learning about the history. The 2 hours goes by fast and there's not a lot of time for that. The focus is photography...BUT... it's still worth it. Just don't expect to get a walking tour of the city while learning photography. Bottom line, we LOVED it! It was me, my husband and teenage daughter. I don't think it's for young kids unless they're very artistic and can focus.
    Written 20 June 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Lori
    Sedalia, MO9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Keep in mind that this is a photography class, do a sightseeing on your own. David covers fundamentals and composition. I brought an expensive digital camera and ended up using my phone as a 'sketch pad' and only used the camera a few times with great results. Well worth the time. Great learning experience in beautiful Santa Fe!
    Written 10 April 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Erica D
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2022
    This class packs a lot of content into two hours. David is very passionate about his work and shares his philosophy and experience with clarity and generosity. He has thought through the content in detail so that you can immediately apply it while still recognizing the multiple layers involved in the craft. This gave me the chance to improve my everyday picture taking while also making me want to spend more time with it as a hobby. David showed me what was "incorrect" about an image he had taken, and then demonstrated what he would do to improve it, including how to compose an image so that visual "distractions" are eliminated. It gives one the chance to slow down and think about the act of looking and how visual information can be clarified and focused in a particular way for the viewer. Being introduced to digital editing that is accessible to the average person was wonderful. I already can see how the pictures I take and "like" can now be improved tremendously. You will come away from the class with a lot of information and inspiration.
    Written 15 May 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    2-Hour Photography Class While Touring Downtown Santa Fe, Smart Phones Welcome! provided by David Hoptman

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