Tuscany Photography Tours Reviews 25

Incredible trip. The amount of photographic scenes and atmosphere were many, but the most important thing was having Leo there to share different composition ideas and perspectives made visiting these iconic places even more rewarding. Leaving a better photographer than when I arrived (and with some amazing images, too!). This was my second trip with Leo, and definitely improve as a photographer every day with his help - and he's a great guy, and draws a great group of people.

I have just returned home after my second tour with Leo. We went to the Lofoten Islands in Norway.
It was beautiful. We were lucky to get several evenings with the Northern Lights. Leo did an outstanding job of helping me capture the shots I wanted. He is very patient and very skilled at his job. I watched him work with others in the group. We were at different skill levels. He adapted to help each of us improve our skills. We had excellent lodging and Leo was always taking us to great locations for photo shoots. He was able to adapt to the many changing weather conditions and always keep us busy. It was great that the group was so small.
I have been on many photo tours, but never one as good as Leo’s. I highly recommend his tours.

I originally met Leo Papera when he co-led a photography tour of Tuscany last Spring. I found him to be an excellent guide and photographer, and an all-around great guy. Based on that experience, I signed up for and recently completed his week-long small-group (four photographers plus Leo) photography tour of Venice. In short, I had a great time and am thrilled with the photos I got. Leo lived in Venice for several years and knows the city like the back of his hand. The locations we visited were great, and Leo’s advice on shooting angles, perspectives and settings was invaluable. On top of that, our hotel was conveniently located near San Marco, meals were great and the company was uniformly fun and excellent. If you’ve ever wanted to photograph Venice, this is the way to do it! Bob Kochenthal

Leo is the best guide that we have ever used. Super attentive, Offers helpful recommendations, and is always displaying his upbeat personality. I'm a better photographer thanks to Leo.

I’ve been on several photography workshops in the past, so I know the difference between a good one and a great one—and this one was great. The Dolomite Mountains were stunning, and the trip was very well organized from start to finish. We were always at the right locations at the right times for the best light, and the lodging choices met every expectation.

It was an active, full schedule, which I really appreciated—we were busy shooting and learning throughout the day. Most importantly, Leo spent all of his time working with us, making sure everyone got the help and guidance they needed.

I came home with wonderful images and an even greater appreciation for photography. I would highly recommend Tuscany Photography Tours to anyone looking for a well-run, inspiring, and rewarding photo experience.

I recently joined a photography workshop in the Dolomite Mountains with Tuscany Photography Tours, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. As someone who is new to photography and not very confident in my skills, I wasn’t sure what to expect—but this trip exceeded every one of my hopes.

The locations were absolutely breathtaking, and the daily schedule was perfectly organized, allowing us to make the most of every moment in the mountains. What made the biggest difference for me, though, was Leo’s guidance and encouragement. He made me feel completely comfortable, spent generous one-on-one time with me, and taught me exactly what I needed to know—without ever making me feel overwhelmed.

I came away with images that far exceeded my expectations, along with a new sense of confidence and genuine enjoyment in photography. I wholeheartedly recommend Tuscany Photography Tours to photographers of all skill levels who want a truly inspiring and well-run experience.

In search of a photo trip for our group of three, I found Leo and Tuscany Photography Tours through a random google search; fortune sure smiled in my direction!

Leo’s knowledge of the various camera models in our group was impressive, and his creative suggestions and advice were always spot on. Leo being a local, we certainly benefitted from his experience and knowledge of the local roads, not to mention the very best spots for shooting - of which there is no shortage in Tuscany.

As a guide and instructor, Leo was passionate about the landscape before us, incredibly patient with folks who weren’t completely comfortable with their cameras, and in possession of a wonderful sense of humor. In looking through the photos on his website, it is clear that he is also an incredibly talented photographer.

The daily schedule was jam packed with sunrise shots, sunset shoots and trips to various local towns - this was a proper landscape photography workshop - and I learned quite a bit. In contrast with other photography workshops, the small group (maximum of five) allowed for frequent exchanges about lens choices, camera aperture/shutter settings and how to frame the shot before us, as well as local history and Italian culture. The group lunches and dinners also made for lots of laughs and good local cuisine.

Thanks to Leo’s encouragement, we all walked away with an impressive portfolio of our Tuscan experience. Our time with Tuscany Photography Tours was the best, and we would highly recommend them.

Incredible trip. The photography was incredible, and having Leo there to share different composition ideas and perspectives made visiting this iconic place even more rewarding. Leaving a better photographer than when I arrived (and with some amazing images, too!).

We had been in Tuscany before and admire this part of Italy. As we like photography, we planned to explore the region on a tour and found the possibility to go with Tuscany Photography Tours. It was a great and enjoyable experience. We found our guide and teacher, Leonardo, very knowledgeable and generous in every aspect of the tour. He guided us to the great places with perfect timing for taking photos, gave us invaluable instructions on composition and technical aspects. He has great expertise in different types of photo equipment and how to optimize its use. Moreover, he shared his knowledge in postprocessing photos, also of a great importance for us.
The workshop was excellent organized with great transportation, stay in a very nice hotel and we enjoyed testy meals in local restaurants. Leo was very helpful in every aspect of the tour.

In summary we learn a lot, had a great time and can highly recommend Tuscany Photography Tours to everyone who has the passion for photography, likes to improve their skills, while you´re having a great time.

My experience with Leo Papera of Tuscany Photography Tours had a terrific impact on my photography skills. I learned to evaluate and photograph landscapes with a new mind set and a new eye.
Leo is a product of Tuscany and he has an immense knowledge of the Tuscan landscape. For six days, we photographed every sunrise, varied landscapes and villages, and every sunset. Leo pushes a grueling schedule if you are up for the challenge but will scale back activities if you prefer.
In addition, the photography tour is a culinary delight. Leo has scoped out the best restaurants for lunches and dinners so camera work is always rewarded with an opportunity for delicious food typical of the region. His clients stay at a very nice hotel in Pienza for the entire tour so there is no lost time moving from place to place.
Leo has an engaging personality. He has an excellent command of English, is a good conversationalist, has a wonderful sense of humor, is very considerate and has unending patience. Most importantly, he is a very effective teacher although he will leave you alone if you prefer to chart your own course.
If a photography tour of Tuscany is on your list, Tuscany Photography Tours is probably the best tour available. I recommend the company and Leo Papera wholeheartedly and without qualification. I really had a remarkable experience!

An Unforgettable Photo Workshop in Tuscany!
The Spring in Tuscany photo workshop was absolutely wonderful! Leonardo takes care of every detail so you can fully focus on learning and capturing beautiful photos. From the moment he picked us up at the airport, everything was smooth and well organized.
We stayed in the charming town of Pienza, in a lovely hotel within walking distance of all the restaurants and shops—a perfect home base for exploring the region. The Hotel served a nice breakfast spread of pastries, prosciutto, fruit, eggs and espressos. Nothing like a Cappuccino to get you going in the morning. Leonardo, a Tuscan native, knows the area intimately and guided us to the most picturesque locations for our photo shoots. He even adjusted our schedule based on the weather to ensure we made the most of the light and scenery each day.
Our days were full, but never rushed. Mornings and evenings were dedicated to the different photo shoot locations looking down into the local valleys to take advantage of the best light, while afternoons took us to mountain top towns for leisurely lunches and photography of the stunning views below. Leonardo shared fascinating stories about each town and always chose amazing local restaurants where we enjoyed authentic Tuscan cuisine and wine.
The experience was tailored to each participant—you could opt out of an activity if needed, and there was a nice balance between structured learning and free time. On location, Leonardo offered valuable guidance on composition and camera settings, helping with both gear issues and technical questions. I learned so much about improving my setup and shooting techniques.
Back at the hotel, Leonardo sat down with each of us individually to review our photos. His insights on editing were incredibly helpful—thanks to his years of experience with Lightroom and Photoshop, I now feel much more confident in processing my images into stunning final pieces.
Overall, Leonardo is an excellent teacher and guide, deeply knowledgeable about both photography and the region. His passion, expertise, and local connections made this a truly immersive and inspiring experience. I came home not only with incredible memories but also with improved skills and gorgeous photos. Highly recommended!

I joined Leo with two other keen landscape photographers for the late spring, Tuscany Tour. Although the weather was not kind for the first few days, Leo still ensured that we were shown some fantastic locations that were not too busy with other photographers. Leo's teaching, especially in relation to composition, was excellent. His teaching about editing using both Lightroom and Photoshop catered for all levels of experience. He also facilitated the blending of our different personalities that made our group cohesive. In addition to all that, he took us to some amazing restaurants. I have no hesitation in recommending that you take one of Leo's Tuscany Photography Tours.
Malcolm

My wife and I had the pleasure participating in the Spring Tuscany Photography tour the first week of May. I highly recommend it. With a small group it was essentially like a private tour. Leo continuously put us the position for great images, easily adapting to the weather as it changed. He is full of knowledge and helped all of us learn along the way. Additionally, he is just a great guy to spend the week with. We had a great time and I would highly recommend taking one of his tours.

I want to recommend Leo to all photographers want to visit Tuscany.
Thank you for your professional and kind teaching during the workshop. The photos, sight-seeing, food, everything was great and exceeded my expectations.

I did the Early Spring Tuscany and Cinque Terre Tour – it was amazing! Leo is a fantastic guide and a truly great guy: fully committed to both the trip and the photography experience. Despite the weather in Cinque Terre not being at its best, we still had a great time. Leo made the most of every moment and showed us everything these charming little coastal towns have to offer. I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, and came back with some great memories and photos. Highly recommended!

Leo was a great instructor, patient guide and truly pleasant Tuscan. I would recommend his tour for anyone who wants to photograph Tuscany, but doesn’t want to deal with travel details. Leo handled this very well. I would gladly join another tour that Leo would lead.

Leonard with Tuscany Photography Tours was fantastic and would highly recommend. 5+ if we could rate higher. Handled a diverse group with different levels of experiences, equipment and interests with the right mix of fundamentals teaching, hands-on camera time and even Tuscany cultural insights. The Best way to experience Tuscany and learn new skills. Can't say thanks enough to a fantastic experience

I did a private tour with Leonardo and my expectations were more than realized. I had 5 days in Tuscany and 3 days in Venice, all jam-packed with lots of photo opportunities. We had great weather (4 foggy mornings!) and blue skies during the day. Leonardo was an exceptional guide and teacher (he even knew how to access all the settings on my Canon R7 even though he shoots Nikon). His knowledge of the two regions kept each day interesting and his choice of restaurants along with food suggestions were great (especially the award winning gelato in San Gimignano). He was always early for pick up times, even at 5am :), and his car was very comfortable.
I would highly recommend any tour with Leonardo.

We thoroughly enjoyed our photo tour with Leo. He rapidly assesses weather conditions to get the best images, even if the weather is unpredictable or unfavorable. His knack for photo composition and camera settings were quite impressive. Knowledge of Tuscany geology, culture, hidden gems: all top notch. Hotel choice and restaurant choices were all enjoyable.

A great tour in spite of some weather hostility. Leonardo is a great guide and knows probably every photo opportunity in every light situation. He's also extremely helpful with composition and other photography techniques. Although I consider myself an experienced (amateur) photographer, I still learned quite a lot from Leonardo.
I strongly recommend this tour with this guide.
Thank you Leonardo for your guidance and insights

Andre Erlich, Paris, France