Denali Photo Guides Photo Guide Denali Park, AK · Full time

Apply for Photo Guide

Denali Photo Guides offers unique instructional photography tours just outside Denali National Park, Alaska. Our mission is to provide a tour that guests and guides enjoy equally by expressing their passion for photography and wilderness. Denali Photo Guides does not offer a generic or typical tour. Our small group size, which is limited to 4 participants, enables us to provide individualized attention to each and every guest. Live the dream and get paid to do what you love.

Photo Guides are responsible for crafting an unforgettable and unique Alaskan experience for our guests from around the world, recognizing that this may be their trip of a lifetime. Guides continue our tradition of exceptional quality, providing friendly, knowledgeable service with dedication and commitment to our mission: To provide a tour that guests and guides enjoy equally by expressing their passion for photography and wilderness.

 

We strive to locate and hire high-quality individuals to create a tight-knit and caring team. To that end, employees need to be team players who naturally cultivate a positive experience for guests and staff alike. As employers, we do everything we can to help you have a fun summer working in a friendly atmosphere. Denali is our home; we love it, and we want to enable other passionate people to live and work in the most beautiful place on earth.

 

Being an employee of Denali Photo Guides means that you are part of a unique team offering an exceptional product. Employees should be efficient, organized, courteous, and amicable. Because of the unique responsibilities required, all applicants must possess strong communication skills and excellent focus. It is important to have outstanding professional and interpersonal skills. Guides should remain calm and courteous in a busy and demanding day-to-day operation.

 

EXPECTATIONS

In general, a photo guide’s schedule is irregular. Guides are expected to be available on short notice at any time unless arrangements for time off have been made. Tours are typically 3 to 4 hours, and we expect guides to go the extra mile for our guests, even if it means spending a little extra time with them. Our number one goal is an exceptional guest experience resulting in 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor; each and every tour requires enthusiasm and passion to ensure the guests’ expectations are exceeded. Guides receive at least 1 day off per week. Schedules change every day based on demand, which is unpredictable. We will work with you to maximize your schedule and time off, offering you time and opportunities to get out into the park and explore Alaska when possible.

 

Denali Photo Guides are stewards and ambassadors for Denali National Park, wildlife, and wild spaces. It is of utmost importance to embody these ethics in our behavior and help our guests understand what appropriate conduct in the wilderness is.

 

Our small group sizes enable us to provide individualized attention to every guest – meeting them at their level so they can get more out of their experience. Managing small groups with a technical focus demands a broad skill set from our guides.

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

·      Possess a broad photography, interpersonal, and social skill set that is necessary to manage our small group sizes with technical focus.

·     Be an expert photographer who can adapt and handle any piece of gear, including cell phone cameras, outdated point-and-shoot cameras, or brand-new equipment, that may come with guests on any trip. Be able to figure out settings and help guests make adjustments to capture better images, learn, and go home with some great photographs.

·     Introduce different gear, filters, and techniques to guests.

·     Present technical information clearly and precisely. Providing individualized attention to each guest—meeting them at their level so that they can gain value and improved photography skills from their experience. Supporting beginners and advanced photographers alike.

·     Offer insight into post-processing techniques and provide suggestions and practical tips for photo editing once the tour has ended along with ways to continue progressing in photography.

 

TOUR SKILLS

·     Get along well with people and adapt to different personalities and group social dynamics. Communicate positively and effectively with guests, co-workers, and supervisors.

·     Listen to and manage guest expectations, needs, and desires for the tour, including the ability to reset expectations and adapt to the reality of current conditions.

·     Ensure guests are not bored or overwhelmed. Be attentive to guest needs without “hovering”. Provide excellent customer service.

·     Develop a comprehensive knowledge of the area, including ideal photography locations. Adapt quickly to changing light, weather, and conditions to get participants to the best locations with the most dynamic lighting during the time allotted for the tour.

·     Provide engaging and informative commentary about the area, Alaskan lifestyle, culture, and natural history of Denali.

·     Stay alert for wildlife and follow National Park Service ethics when photographing animals.

·     Encourage guests to write reviews on TripAdvisor and other social media.

·     Upsell camera equipment, merchandise, or other items.

·     Provide images and content for marketing (all image rights are retained by you—we only use web resolution versions of images and do not sell your images unless a separate agreement is made). Engage with and create content for the company’s social media. Create video content for our YouTube channel.

 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

·     Maintain excellent attendance and punctuality at work.

·     Manage timing—visit various prime photography locations and allow enough time at each location. Be punctual for all pick-up times and be able to manage several different pick-up locations.

·     Ensure the safety and well-being of all participants throughout the tour. Drive safely!

·     Dress appropriately. Employees should wear closed-toe non-slip shoes. Personal clothing worn at work must be clean and free of holes, tears, or rips. Employees must look sharp and be clean upon arrival at work.

·     Follow instructions accurately and work with minimum supervision.

·     Keep work areas and gear organized and clean. Keep vehicles clean and tidy.

·     Work long hours, various shifts, split shifts, and on holidays and weekends.

 

 

REQUIREMENTS

·     Minimum age of 21 years old.

·     Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

·     Valid First Aid & CPR certification. Up to $15 of the class fee is reimbursable with a receipt. Online certification may be obtained here: https://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/courses/standard-cpr-aed-first-aid/

·     Leave No Trace certification, which may be obtained at no cost here: https://learn.lnt.org/courses/101

·     Ability to be legally employed in the United States for the entire work season (May through September). Priority is given to applicants who are available for the entire season.

·     Functional cell phone with WiFi-enabled calling.

 

 

EMPLOYEE PERKS

·     Housing and all utilities are provided. Employees have access to a kitchen, bathrooms, showers, and laundry. Shared spaces may occasionally be utilized by visitors.

·     Employees earn $10 for each 5-star review (with their name mentioned) on TripAdvisor or Google.

·     Tips can be expected.

·     Opportunity to take local tours for free or at a deeply discounted price.

·     Discounts on train and motorcoach travel.

·    Affordable accommodations for friends & family on site. 

 

OTHER INFORMATION

We are located about 14 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist hub, our property is on a creek and in a mountain valley with amazing access to the wilderness right at your doorstep! Just across the road from our property are two restaurants and a fun pub where other seasonal employees socialize and hang out. There are gift shops and restaurants near the park entrance area.

  

Due to our remote location, employees are expected to be independent, self-sufficient, and adaptable. Although we are located on the highway system, there are no major towns nearby. There is access to medical help and supplies nearby. By car, our location is about 4 hours north of Anchorage and about 2.5 hours south of Fairbanks. There are some small markets with limited offerings about 15 miles north of us, and one grocery store in the town of Healy, about 25 miles north of us. For other services, you will need to go to Fairbanks or Anchorage. If you do not have a personal vehicle, we will help you make arrangements to get supplies.

 

You will be responsible for your own transportation to Alaska. We will give you information about the best ways to get here. You can drive from the lower 48 through Canada, you can fly, or take a ferry.

 

 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Denali Photo Guides provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and to all employees without regard to age, race, color, disability, national origin, religion, sex, sexual preference, veteran status, genetic predisposition, or any other protected classification. Employment actions include, but are not limited to, recruiting, job assignment, training, promotion, transfer, rates of pay, and other forms of compensation and benefits.