Imagine diving into an unforgettable adventure through the heart of India, guided by acclaimed NYC photographer and filmmaker Esteban Toro.
Experience the Holi Festival: Episode Filmed for Sony, The New York Times, and the World Photography Organization
This exclusive expedition offers a rare opportunity to document the vibrant Holi Festival, explore iconic landmarks, and sleep under the stars in the desert, all while learning invaluable photography and filmmaking techniques.
Whether you’re a professional with high-end gear or a passionate creative capturing moments on your phone, this adventure is designed for everyone who loves traveling and creating stunning visual stories.
- Exclusive Access: Gain entry to locations that are typically off-limits to the public, allowing you to capture unique and extraordinary images and videos.
- Expert Guidance: Learn from Esteban Toro, a seasoned traveler and acclaimed photographer and filmmaker, who will share his expertise in both photography and post-processing.
- Luxury and Comfort: Enjoy stays in 4-5 star hotels and savor delicious meals and refreshments, ensuring you are well-rested and energized throughout your journey.
- Creative Community: Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for travel and visual storytelling. This expedition is a perfect blend of learning, adventure, and camaraderie.
- All-Inclusive: From meals and water to local guides and transportation, we’ve taken care of all the details so you can focus on your creative pursuits.
This expedition is open to all creatives, from those using smartphones to professionals with advanced gear. Whether you’re looking to build a standout portfolio, learn new techniques, or simply enjoy a remarkable travel experience, this journey is tailored for you.
Join us on this enchanting adventure and let your creativity soar as we explore the wonders of India and the vibrant spectacle of the Holi Festival. Secure your spot today and get ready for an experience of a lifetime!
About Esteban Toro
Esteban Toro, based in New York City, organizes his work into five distinct pillars: Photography & Filmmaking, Public Speaking, Education, Technology, and Fine Art.
Esteban’s journey as a traveler, photographer, and filmmaker captures the essence of the world, from vibrant festivals to serene landscapes. His work has been showcased at New York Fashion Week, Xposure, Photo Paris, and the NXT Museum in Amsterdam. His solo exhibition, ‘Spirits of the Earth,’ explores humanity, beauty, and our connection to the planet. Through his books, ‘Memorial (2016)’ and ‘The Art of Light (2023),’ and his documentary series, ‘Aperture: A World of Stories,’ he empowers creatives.
As a public speaker, Esteban has inspired audiences at Adobe, B&H, Dell, Nvidia, HP, CineGear, and Sony events. He is a passionate educator, teaching at the School of Visual Arts in New York and leading workshops on five continents.
In technology, Esteban represents Adobe globally and is a global BenQ ambassador. He collaborates with Dell, Nvidia, Sony, HP, and BenQ to share his expertise through films, interviews, articles, and educational content.
Esteban’s fine-art photography has been celebrated in solo and group exhibitions, including at Xposure and the NXT Museum. His work is displayed in 120 YellowKorner galleries worldwide and in his own fine-art gallery. Esteban’s captivating work continues to inspire audiences and fellow artists around the world.
Join Esteban on this extraordinary journey and elevate your visual storytelling to new heights.
Traveling to India is the dream of many travel photographers and filmmakers. Walking through the streets with your camera in hand is one of the biggest challenges you can take on. India is chaos, color, moments, landscapes, portraits; it is seeing humanity in its most genuine form.
Our group in India will have a maximum of 12 people, ensuring you have a personalized experience with guided visits to each location we will explore.
Traveling to India on your own is not an easy task. We have already found all the people and locations for our workshop. When traveling with us, all you have to focus on is framing; we take care of the rest.
During our trip, you will have exclusive experiences that, if traveling on your own, you would hardly find. All the chosen locations, villages, and people we will meet have been selected exclusively for photographers and filmmakers.
10 days starting from March 9th in New Delhi, to March 18th in New Delhi (with hotel included until noon)
During our expedition we will have a comfortable bus that will take the group to all the locations. We will have bottles of water and snacks available during the expedition.
DAY 1: March 9, 2025
Welcome to India!
Arrive in New Delhi and settle into your luxurious 4-5 star hotel. Join us for a welcome dinner where you’ll meet fellow creatives and Esteban Toro, your expedition leader. Get ready to immerse yourself in a journey of creativity and discovery.
DAY 2: March 10, 2025
New Delhi – River and Streets
Start your adventure by exploring the bustling streets and serene riversides of New Delhi. Capture the essence of daily life and the unique charm of the city through your lens and camera.
DAY 3-4: March 11-12
Agra – Taj Mahal
Travel to Agra and spend two days marveling at the magnificent Taj Mahal. Enjoy exclusive access to prime photography spots, allowing you to capture this iconic wonder in its full glory. Esteban will share his expert tips on composition and lighting to help you create stunning images and films.
DAY 5, 6, 7: March 13-15
Holi Festival in Vrindavan and Mathura
Experience the exuberance of Holi, the festival of colors, in the birthplace of Lord Krishna. With special access to hard-to-reach locations, you’ll have unparalleled opportunities to document this vibrant celebration. From the joyous chaos of Vrindavan’s streets to the spirited festivities in Mathura, every moment will be a feast for your camera and video equipment.
DAY 8: March 16
Jaisalmer Desert – Sleeping Under the Stars
Journey to the golden sands of the Jaisalmer Desert. Spend a magical night under a blanket of stars, capturing the serene beauty of the desert landscape. Esteban will guide you in night photography and videography techniques, ensuring you make the most of this breathtaking experience.
DAY 9: March 17
Jaisalmer City – Exploring the Fort
Wake up to a desert sunrise before heading into the city of Jaisalmer. Explore the ancient fort and its vibrant surroundings, capturing the essence of this historic city through your lens and camera. Enjoy a photoshoot with local subjects, learning how to bring out the best in your portrait photography and filmmaking.
DAY 10: March 18
Return to New Delhi – Expedition Closure
Return to New Delhi for the closing of our expedition. Reflect on your journey and the incredible portfolio you’ve built. Celebrate with a farewell dinner, sharing stories and images with your fellow travelers.
End of the Workshop.
When does the India 2025 expedition take place?
Our expedition in India will take place from March 9th, 2025, to March 18th, 2025.
Esteban, why during that time? Couldn’t be another time of the year?
We chose this time specifically to coincide with the Holi Festival, which occurs in March. This festival offers a unique and vibrant cultural experience perfect for photography and filmmaking. Additionally, the weather during this period is generally pleasant, enhancing your travel experience.
Do I need a visa to enter India?
Yes, you do need a visa to enter India. The Indian visa costs approximately $30 USD. You should start the process at least a month in advance through the official Indian government website. We will assist you with this process if needed.
What is the price of the workshop?
$5,000 USD if you make your reservation before September 15th, 2024
$5,500 USD if you make your reservation before December 31st, 2024
$6,100 USD if you make your reservation before March 8th, 2025
You can book your spot with a deposit of $1,500USD, non-refundable, and make payments toward the total cost based on your booking date.
Students of previous international workshops are eligible to a $200USD discount.
What does the price include?
- 10 days of photography and filmmaking workshop where you will learn travel, documentary, landscape, portrait, photographic & film techniques, composition, and narrative with Esteban Toro and a local producer.
- All meals during the 10 days, starting with dinner on March 9th and finishing with breakfast on March 18th.
- All western hotels (high standard) with double accommodation and high cleaning standards to ensure the greatest experience and comfort during our trip, starting with the night on March 9th and finishing with the night on March 17th.
- Domestic flights: New Delhi-Jaisalmer-New Delhi.
- Transportation in a private vehicle during the workshop.
- All temple entrances, Taj Mahal, boat rides, and all transportation with the group according to the itinerary.
- Accommodation in the Jaisalmer desert, including a camel ride through the sand dunes.
- All photoshoots included in the itinerary arranged with locals, including technical and compositional advice by Esteban.
- Group reviews where you’ll receive feedback on your work created during the workshop.
- Bottled water.
- Snacks inside the car during our trips.
What does not include this price?
What does the price NOT include?
- Indian visa ($30 USD approx.).
- Airplane tickets from your destination to New Delhi and from Delhi to your final destination.
- Liquors and alcoholic beverages.
- Souvenirs or personal purchases.
- International calls from hotels.
- Damages caused during your stay to the hotels we visit. It will be your responsibility.
- Tips and additional transfers that you do on your own.
- International travel and health insurance.
- All services not mentioned in the INCLUDED list.
What camera equipment should I bring for the experience?
- Any camera, regardless of the brand.
- Lenses: Any lens is useful for our expedition. However, if possible: a wide-angle 14-24mm, an intermediate zoom 24-70mm, and a telephoto 70-200mm.
- Tripod (You can’t leave it at home!).
- Remote controller.
- High-capacity and speed memory cards that you can rely on.
- Laptop (optional).
- Hard drive (necessary).
- A good and comfortable backpack to carry your camera, one lens, batteries, and a bottle of water for photo walks.
If you need help buying extra equipment, we can help you with that!
Don’t worry about what to take with you. All the information about clothes, how to protect your equipment during Holi, and other recommendations will be provided in our workshop welcoming letter three months in advance so you can prepare your luggage!
Do you have a brand-new phone with you? You’re welcome to take pictures with it. It will allow you incredible freedom to enjoy the trip and take good snaps. You can enjoy the whole adventure only with your pocket camera. We are totally phone lovers.
Who is this experience for?
It does not matter how advanced you are in photography. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, Esteban will always be there to guide you. He will check your progress according to your photography knowledge. If you have any doubts about your camera, framing, composition, light, narrative, or even all of the above, you can always resolve them with him. His experience as a professor has given him incredible patience to solve any doubt, even “the most silly one” (but there are no silly questions).
Direct Deposit
Bank Transfer
Zelle/Venmo
Once you decide to join us in our photography experience, we will have to start booking many things to guarantee you the best prices and quality. Because of that, we need a minimum non-refundable deposit of $1,500 USD to book your seat with us. We have a maximum availability of 12 people for India. This is an exclusive experience, which implies that many of the seats will be taken before you finish reading this sentence. Join us now!
The outstanding balance can be paid 60 days before the expedition starts according to the payment dates mentioned above. Anyway, we know it takes time to scroll up and check it again, so you better spend that time celebrating that you’re joining us in India. That’s why we put the prices here again:
- $5,000 USD if you booked your spot before September 15th, 2024
- $5,500 USD if you booked your spot before December 31st, 2024
- $6,100 USD if you booked your spot before March 8th, 2025
Does this price include the airplane tickets to India?
No. The airplane tickets to/from Delhi must be purchased by you. We can gladly help you to get the best discounts, so please do not hesitate to ask us for that.
Do I need to be athletic to assist the experience?
You don’t have to worry about your physical condition. We will do photo walks, but we will spend many hours taking pictures in the same place and waiting for the best light. We will always be thinking about the comfort of the group, so we will frequently stop and wait for the others. Also, we will always look for the best way to move from one place to the other to make the greatest experience for everybody, no matter their age or physical condition.
What language will be spoken during the expedition?
All our tours will be guided in English. No worries, amigo!
When will you have another photo expedition to India?
These photo expeditions are unique. We might come back to India in the future, but so far, we don’t have any other planned than the 2025 experience.
I have another question, who do I ask?
Please feel free to contact the team at any time you need.
We will call you back with all the detailed information you need to answer all your questions. You can send us an email at contact@estebantoro.com or get in contact by phone at +1 917 280 2554 / +1 917 232 4413
The trip of your dreams: It is worth doing!
