Jasper Photo Tours: Sharpen Your Skills with a Pro
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If you’re looking to elevate your photography skills and capture the grandeur of Jasper, Alberta, treat yourself to a Jasper Photo Tour.
Guided by professional photographers Mike and Beth Gere, these small-group tours offer everything from wildlife and night-sky photography to early-morning “golden light” excursions.
Whether you’re a beginner with a smartphone or a pro with a DSLR, you’ll come away inspired — and with better photos than you thought possible.
My Experience with Jasper Photo Tours
On a fall trip to Jasper on the Rocky Mountaineer train, my daughter, Julia, and I signed up for the two-hour Golden Light Morning Photography Tour with Mike.
We were lucky — we had him all to ourselves, which meant a session perfectly tailored to our interests and skill levels.
Julia, a crochet artist, wanted to photograph the miniature train she had crocheted against the sweeping backdrop of Jasper’s peaks. Mike happily accommodated, offering tips on staging, depth of field, and composition for her Nikon SLR.
Here’s how our luminous morning unfolded.
Lake Beauvert
Mike picked us up at our hotel, Lobstick Lodge, at 8 a.m. and drove to a quiet vantage point overlooking Lake Beauvert, with views across the still water toward the super-swanky Jasper Park Lodge.
He began by giving Julia a quick refresher on focal lengths and exposure settings while I wandered the shoreline, iPhone in hand, chasing reflections and texture.
One of my favorite captures from that morning was this twisty tree silhouetted against the mirror flat lake, mountains rising beyond like a watercolor wash.
After her refresher lesson, Julia worked on taking pictures of her crochet train in front of the view.
River Views
We hopped back into Mike’s SUV and wound our way toward a bridge over a rushing stream, stopping often to scout compositions. Although the morning was overcast, the moody light lent itself well to dramatic shots.
Mike showed me how to use my iPhone to blur the rushing water in the photo below.
Burnscapes and Renewal
Many of our stops took us through haunting burnscapes, blackened trunks from the July 2024 wildfire standing stark against a bruised sky.
Mike told us about his experience during the terrible fire that wiped out many homes and businesses in Jasper.
On a positive note, the residents of Jasper are rebuilding. Just over a year later, there’s evidence of the fire everywhere in the form of burned trees and vacant lots, but also a lot of rebuilding, with almost all hotels and restaurants again welcoming visitors.
Wildlife Encounter
On the way back toward Jasper, Mike’s eagle eyes spotted elk grazing in a river valley. He parked and led us down a narrow path bordered by burned trunks, and pointed out a safe vantage point from which to watch a female elk pick her way across the river, her reflection shimmering in the current.
I snap a few photos with my iPhone zoomed to the max, but the results are just okay compared to the shots below that Mike took with his professional camera and large zoom lens. Beautiful!
Looking at Mike’s photos makes me think about taking up photography with a decent camera again! Perhaps one day.
What We Learned (and What You Will, Too)
Even a short two-hour tour left us with a surprising amount of new knowledge — and confidence.
- I finally learned how to use Live Mode on my iPhone to photograph flowing water, then apply loop, bounce, or blur effects.
- Mike showed me how to dial in scene brightness before pressing the shutter, a small trick that makes a big difference.
- Julia’s understanding of exposure, composition, and creative framing sharpened significantly during our session.
Even as a “non-photographer,” I was given thoughtful pointers on framing and lighting. Mike has a gift for meeting people exactly where they are.
Tours on Offer at Jasper Photo Tours
On their website, Mike and Beth offer a well-rounded lineup of photographic experiences, suited to all levels and interests. Here’s a sampling of available tours:
| Tour Type | Duration & Price* | What You’ll Do |
| Intro to Photography (2 hrs) | CA$210 | A beginner-focused workshop covering fundamentals, ideal for novices |
| Night Photography Tour (2 hrs) | CA$210 | Shoot in Jasper’s Dark Sky Preserve, learn long exposures, star trails, aurora opportunities |
| Wildlife Photography Tour (3 hrs) | CA$315 | Head to prime wildlife zones, with more time to wait, stalk, and capture animal moments |
| 8-Hour Icefields Tour | All day | Venture along the Icefields Parkway, glacier views, sweeping landscapes |
* Prices as listed on Jasper Photo Tours’ “Book a Tour” page in Canadian dollars.
Mike and Beth keep groups intimate, no more than three photographers per tour, ensuring personalized instruction. And non-photographer companions can tag along for free.
Our Evening: Night Skies & Jasper SkyTram
Inspired by Mike’s encouragement, Julia and I decided to continue our photo adventure that evening by signing up for the Jasper SkyTram Night Sky Experience.
Jasper SkyTram offers special night-sky excursions on Saturday evenings in September and Friday/Saturday evenings in October, timed perfectly for sunset and stargazing.
As the sun dipped, the peaks blushed gold and pink. We walked around the boardwalk encircling the restaurant at the top of the SkyTram to capture dozens of shots of the spectacular view. Here are just a few.
Once darkness fell, we joined astronomers from the Jasper Planetarium, who had set up telescopes along the boardwalk. We gazed at the moon, stars, and almost glimpsed Saturn before the clouds rolled in.
Inside the tram-top restaurant where we retreated to warm up with hot chocolate, I noticed several large night-sky and aurora images taken by Mike Gere.
In Jasper, everyone seems to know everyone. When we mentioned to one of the astronomers that we’d taken a photography tour that morning, he smiled knowingly. “Ah, with Mike? He’s up here shooting right now.” He pointed to the icy path leading away from the boardwalk and around the side of the mountain.
Why I Recommend Jasper Photo Tours
- Tailored instruction – Small groups mean lessons match your pace and interests.
- Access to hidden gems – Explore early-morning and off-the-beaten-path locations.
- Creative learning – Deepen both technique and storytelling through your lens.
- Welcoming to non-photographers – Companions are free to join and still learn.
- Dark Sky advantage – Jasper’s pristine night skies make for stunning astrophotography.
If you’re visiting Jasper, whether as a dedicated photographer or a curious traveler, I can’t recommend Jasper Photo Tours enough. You’ll leave not only with better pictures, but also with a deeper appreciation for the rhythm of light, landscape, and creativity itself.
Practical Info
- Website: Jasper Photo Tours
- Guides: Mike & Beth Gere
- Location: Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
- Group Size: Max 3 photographers + free companion
- Best Season: May–October for landscapes; October for Dark Sky stargazing
- Book Early: Spots fill quickly during fall foliage and aurora season.
Final Reflection
As someone who usually points and shoots with an iPhone, I didn’t expect to come away from a morning photo tour in the mountains feeling so creatively charged.
But that’s the beauty of Jasper Photo Tours; they meet you where you are and help you see and appreciate the world in front of you.
For more about photography tours, check out my post about the photography tour I enjoyed in Rome a few weeks before traveling to Jasper:
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