NJ Night Skies Weekend Adventure Trek
2026-04-17 15:30 - 2026-04-19 12:00 (America/New_York)
Have you ever looked up at the night sky, and wished you could capture stunning images of the stars?
Astro photography is a fascinating and fun photographic venture. But it can also be extremely challenging. Knowing where to go and when, what gear to bring, and being able to see, focus, and change camera settings in the dark can be intimidating and frustrating to a beginner. But, capturing great images of the night skies is easier than you think! You just need a few key pieces of gear, and a good understanding of some basic camera settings, and you are off to discovering a whole new world!
Join us for our Night Skies photography workshop in South Jersey, where we potentially plan on photographing the stars, star trails and Milky Way above 2 different lighthouses and a WW1 military bunker! (plans are subject to change). We will be fully immersed in shooting and editing images from Friday before sunset until Sunday afternoon!
The workshop begins on Friday April 17th at 3:30pm and runs through Sunday the 19th at noon. There will be a pre-trek class being held via Zoom on Wednesday April 8th at 7pm. During the class we will review everything you need to know to come away with great images, including what gear to bring, what settings to use for a variety of shooting scenarios, where we’ll go, what we’ll see and more!
We can work with whatever gear you have, but, a camera that can be set fully manually (both exposure and focus), a sturdy tripod and a fast wide angle lens will give the best results. Your camera needs to have the ability to shoot at an ISO as high as 6400 or higher for best results, but 3200 ISO would still work.
There will be hands-on, detailed instruction given throughout the event, but photographer’s should come with a good understanding of how to use their own camera, and be able to change aperture, shutter speeds, ISO and focus without struggle-in the dark. Although we will make as many settings as we can before heading out, the majority of the time you will be operating your gear in the dark(with the help of a faint flashlight), and you should be comfortable doing so. You should also be comfortable with being out -with the group, for up to 4 hours or more in the dark, potentially in chilly weather. This date was chosen to coincide with a New Moon, so the moon’s brightness will not adversely affect the visibility of the stars.
Friday night we will be out photographing as long as the conditions are suitable and the group has energy, then return to our hotel for much needed rest. We will sleep in and rest until lunchtime on Saturday, and are not currently planning on photographing any sunrises-unless we are still out:) We will try our best to capture sunset on both Friday and Saturday nights.
Hotel suggestions will be given upon registration. Hotel and meals are not included in the cost of the workshop. We are planning on carpooling together to locations. Passengers should come prepared to share gas expenses with their driver.
We will still be out shooting even if it is cloudy, but will reschedule if high threat of rain.
Space is limited, and will likely sell out. If you are interested in joining us, don’t wait to register! A detailed informational email will be sent upon registration to help you prepare. Meeting/hotel location TBD
If you attended this event in previous years, contact me for an Alumni discounted rate. Also, if you are unable to make it for both nights and would like to join us for Friday or Saturday, contact me and we can work out details! I’d like to make this an opportunity for anyone who would like to join us to be able to do so.
In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be rescheduled.
Note: Save $20 by paying by VENMO or CASH app! Just contact me to register. Valerie@ValerieHoffmanPhotography.com

Spring Blooms Photo Trek-Date Change!!!
2026-04-23 10:00 - 13:30 | Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, United States
In April, Longwood Gardens comes alive with spring bulbs and tulips in rainbows of color. Watch as spring color seemingly explodes to paint the landscape in vibrant hues. Tulips, daffodils, dogwoods, wisteria and more herald spring’s arrival indoors and out. Breathe in the fresh spring air and relish the beauty as we photograph in the Idea Garden and Flower Garden Walk, where more than 240,000 tulips burst into bloom!

This Photo Trek will focus on creative composition and learning to see more creatively. Our focus will be on composing gorgeous images of the grand landscape, as well as getting up close and personal with the amazing details before our eyes.

Among the many techniques discussed will be how to creatively compose images to bring out the character of the subject, learning to see and use light creatively, using fill flash and diffusers to control harsh light, the use of circular polarizers to deepen color saturation and more, in-camera multiple exposures and other creative techniques!

Great for all levels of photo enthusiasts with any camera gear.

Recommended Gear: DSLR with fully charged batteries and lots of memory. Tripod and cable release. Circular polarizer. Lens hoods. Macro lens or close up accessories-helpful, but not necessary. Knee pads. You will receive an email prior to the trek with detail on what to bring and all the details. A pre-trek zoom session will be held the week prior to go through teaching techniques and all the details.
This workshop is being held during the week to maximize photography apart from the huge weekend crowds. Trek is rain or shine. In the event of rain, we will spend our time photographing inside the gorgeous conservatory.

Group is kept to a small number of participants in order to allow for plenty of personal assistance. A minimum number of participants is needed to run this trek.

Cost of workshop does not include admission to Longwood Gardens. Timed Tickets are necessary to enter the garden-for members as well as non-members during Spring Blooms. Please secure your timed ticket as soon as you register for this trek. DO NOT WAIT until the last minute! Longwood tickets sell out quickly!
