San Miguel Photography Adventures (SMPA)
Workshops + Cultural Excursions

San Miguel Photography Adventures (SMPA) offers immersive photography experiences that blend technical skill-building with meaningful cultural engagement. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, our workshops and excursions provide unique opportunities to enhance your craft while connecting with one of Mexico’s richest traditions.

Three-Day Live-Event Workshops

These immersive workshops are built around cultural celebrations and festivals. On Day 1, you’ll join a two-hour prep session to learn the significance of the upcoming event and gain hands-on guidance using your camera in fast-paced environments. Day 2 is the main event—a live celebration, featuring Aztec, Apache, Chichimeca, and other dance traditions held in San Miguel or a nearby town. On Day 3, you’ll regroup to review your images, receive editing tips, and get personalized advice to continue developing your skills beyond the workshop.

Photography Excursions with Aztec Dancers

Join a unique photography experience rooted in cultural exchange. You’ll be welcomed into a cultural experience where tradition, movement, and meaning come together. The dancers share their time, stories, and ceremony—not as a performance, but as a way of life. You’ll share a meal, learn from one another, and create photographs that reflect connection, not distance.

SMPA was founded through a partnership between photographer Scott Umstattd and members of the indigenous dance community in and around San Miguel de Allende. This collaboration ensures that dancers are compensated and respected, while participants gain a deeper appreciation for Mexico’s cultural richness.

Join us to elevate your photography skills and engage with the vibrant traditions that make San Miguel de Allende a unique destination.