Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is your COVID policy?
Q. There are a lot of workshop companies out there. What makes Momenta different?
Q. Your workshops are rather expensive. What am I getting for my money?
Q. Do you offer discounts or scholarships?
Q. What kind of instructors are on your workshops?
Q. Who attends these workshops?
Q. What type of photo gear do I need to bring?
Q. I don’t have any formal training in photography. Can I still attend a workshop?
Q. I went on a group trip once and we had to stick together at all times. Is this what a Momenta workshop is like?
Q. Can my spouse/friend/companion/child come on my workshop?
Q. Can you help me plan a workshop for a group?
Q. Do you have an age limit for students attending a workshop?
Q. How physically fit do I need to be to take one of your workshops?
Q. How safe are your workshop destinations?
Q. What kind of lodging options are available on these workshops?
Q. How will I know if a workshop is filled already?
Q. Do you have cancellation and/or refund policies?
Q. When we are in country, what kinds of transportation do we use?
Q. How do I know what immunizations to get for my trips?
Q. Do single people attend these workshops?
Q. Is it possible to have a single room accommodation?
Q. What is a Project workshop and how are they different from the other photography & multimedia workshops?
A. The safety of our students and staff is paramount to us and we take it very seriously. When we all gather in-person to support the nonprofits who desperately need us, we want to ensure our programs are the best environment for your learning and creativity as well as safety. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public location where people are present; we cannot guarantee you will not be exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses during your visit. Visit the CDC website for the latest guidance. If you have been exposed, are sick, have illness symptoms of any kind or are caring for someone with COVID-19, you should not attend the event. Since our programs are limited to small groups and are first come-first serve, we recommend putting your deposit in for the workshop program to hold your place and purchasing travel insurance. We recommend Travel Insure insurance.
A. Plenty! First, we have a very low student to instructor ratio. You won’t have to worry about fighting for face time with an instructor. Second, we believe in one-on-one daily editing with our students in periods between shoots. We don’t just go over your selections; we look at the whole day’s work to help you get better exponentially. We know our trips are intense, but we mean for them to be.
Finally, our goal is to teach you to be a better visual creator. Plain and simple. We throw everything we have at every trip and find many people come back again and again for ongoing training. We help you in every way we can, from the basics all the way to getting your work published. From the welcome bags to the personal attention each attendee gets before, during and after our workshops, we strive to be a better workshop company than the rest.
Finally, our goal is to teach you to be a better visual creator. Plain and simple. We throw everything we have at every trip and find many people come back again and again for ongoing training. We help you in every way we can, from the basics all the way to getting your work published. From the welcome bags to the personal attention each attendee gets before, during and after our workshops, we strive to be a better workshop company than the rest.
A. Oddly enough, it’s not as expensive as it seems. We keep our profit margin low, invest in quality guides and community organizers, and we pay our instructors professional rates. We try to keep the cost of workshops to an amount on par with trying it on your own. We are able to get group rates you can’t get as a single photographer. We pay fixers, guides, and some meals out of trip funds. Overall, it’s actually quite comparable to individual travel. Of course, Momenta does make a little out of each trip, but that pays costs to initiate the next workshop, hire scouts, pay staff, give scholarships, etc.
In the final analysis, we feel the only way to teach quality photography skills is to send people out to be ready to help guide them along the way. We believe the other guys tend to focus on more of a travel-oriented crowd instead of training people for real world experiences. We try to keep our costs to a point that is both rational for this dedicated group but also allows us to provide the most insightful and comprehensive experience possible.
In the final analysis, we feel the only way to teach quality photography skills is to send people out to be ready to help guide them along the way. We believe the other guys tend to focus on more of a travel-oriented crowd instead of training people for real world experiences. We try to keep our costs to a point that is both rational for this dedicated group but also allows us to provide the most insightful and comprehensive experience possible.
A. Yes. Please see our Discounts, Awards & Scholarship pages for details.
A. At Momenta, we strive to find the best photographers AND the best teachers in the field to make your learning experience more valuable. We realize some well-known photographers might be very good at their job but can’t teach. Every Momenta instructor goes through intense interviews and training to make sure your experience is the best you’ve had on a workshop! Our instructors are all accomplished professional journalists and creators experienced in the subjects they teach. Often we ask past students to come back as assistant mentors on later trips. These individuals have shown a desire to be mentors and we teach them to work with us to train students and mentor local photographers.
Anyone with a passion for photography is invited to come and learn with us. We all have a love for travel and a sense of adventure. We cater to all types of students, regardless of skill level or equipment!
A. Please see our Photography & Computer Equipment resources for a short primer on what you might need.
A. Absolutely! Our workshops range from beginner to advanced workshops. We have weekend training workshops to get you ready for an overseas trip as well as beginning international trips to help you build your skills and portfolio. Contact our offices or look at our various photography & multimedia workshops for more information.
A. No! Herd mentality is not our style nor is it conducive to documentary photography work. You can be certain our workshops are flexible and we will treat you like an adult. Our maximum group size is 15, which is an ideal size to get one-on-one time with our instructors and also be small enough to venture out on your own.
A. Yes! We have to charge full student prices for spouses or non-photographer companions of students due to limited space availability. This could be the start of a great new adventure! Many spouses & companions might enjoy our audio training to assist their photographer partners with creating a multimedia package. Please contact our offices and see if special arrangements can be made for the specific workshop you are interested in.
A. We would be happy to devise a program to suit your groups’ travel interests. We offer a range of logistics and partner workshop solutions to a variety of professionals and organizations. These services are available to any individual or group. Please feel free to contact our offices with details and we will be happy to advise you on your plans and give you an estimate.
A. You must be 18 years old or over to accompany us on international workshops. Our domestic and weekend workshops have a more flexible age policy providing a guardian is accompany an underage student.
A. Our workshops can be undertaken by anyone in a good state of health and fitness. Some of our workshops may require hiking long distances, camping and various degrees of physical activities. We recommend that you read our itinerary thoroughly to recognize any possible challenges. Individuals with special needs, allergies, or physical conditions that might affect their experience are asked to discuss this with Momenta staff prior to registering.
A. Our first concern is your well-being and safety on all workshops. Our staff constantly reviews every aspect of your adventure to ensure your safety and our expert guides are fully conversant with the demands of traveling in remote regions.
A. We are cognizant that comfortable lodging makes long days of photography and editing more pleasant and productive. We search in advance for the best lodging available in each country. Often in more metropolitan areas, it’s 4-star hotels or eco-friendly lodges where available. In remote locals, you can expect simple, clean, yet more basic facilities.
A. When you sign up for a workshop, you will be notified via e-mail immediately with a confirmation. If the workshop is full, your name may be added to the waiting list where available. Most workshops fill up quickly due to our unique, small group philosophy so it is best to get your deposit in quickly. Or you can always call us and we’ll tell you right away!
A. In the event a workshop must be canceled, due to inadequate enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to a future workshop. We reserve the right to cancel the workshop or your reservation at any time.
If you are unable or choose not to attend a workshop you have registered for, a refund schedule will apply not inclusive of an office-processing fee. No partial refunds are made for any unused portions of services for any reasons. Please contact our offices for more details.
If you are unable or choose not to attend a workshop you have registered for, a refund schedule will apply not inclusive of an office-processing fee. No partial refunds are made for any unused portions of services for any reasons. Please contact our offices for more details.
A. We take domestic flights when necessary, in certain countries with poor road systems. Generally, we travel by cars, small vans, mini coaches and trains that are air-conditioned whenever possible. We enjoy this time for students and instructors to get to know one another and to have time to just “talk photo.”
A. Many of the countries we visit have specific immunization requirements for entry, such as the yellow fever immunization for Uganda. We provide suggested health care tips for each workshop. However, we suggest you investigate the CDC’s suggestions for each country where we will be traveling and also consult with your travel doctor prior to your workshop.
A. Absolutely! At Momenta the atmosphere is very warm and social, one where singles quickly become part of a congenial group. This kinship has resulted in many long-lasting friendships. In fact, many students will return to attend workshops with friends whom they first met on a previous workshop.
A. Sure! Most workshops offer single room accommodation options at an additional cost. Please review the workshop information for the cost and availability. We can’t always guarantee a single room for all of our programs, but if you request one, the program coordinator will make every attempt to make appropriate accommodations.
A. Momenta believes local and international outreach is the single most important thing visual professionals can do with their work. We have an entire line of workshops which introduce photographers to nonprofits and produces work for publication after every trip. These “Project” workshops lead to ongoing relationships between photographers and NGOs and help build community while showcasing this noble work.