Vito L. Tanzi
Award Winning Travel, Landscape & Wildlife Photographer | Explorer
How It All Began
I wasn’t always a photographer. Before 2015, I barely gave photography much thought, aside from taking the occasional phone snapshot while traveling.
But the seed was planted much earlier.
When I was a child, my father loved photography. He traveled often and returned home with stories and boxes of 35 mm slides. We would sit together as the room darkened and the images clicked onto the wall, one frame at a time. Different countries. Different faces. Light frozen in moments I had never seen before.
I did not know it then, but those evenings stayed with me.
Years later, before a bucket list trip, my wife handed me a real camera and said:
“You can’t go to the Galápagos Islands with just an iPhone.”
That simple challenge changed everything.
The Galápagos was not just another destination. It was the spark. I returned home inspired and eager to learn. I watched tutorials, practiced constantly, and eventually attended photography workshops with Scott Kelby and other photographers I admired.
Slowly, I stopped simply seeing the world and began photographing it with greater intention, emotion, and curiosity.
A Lifetime of Travel
My perspective comes from far more than brief visits and photographs of famous landmarks.
I have lived in nine countries, worked in twenty-two, traveled to more than seventy-five, and speak five languages. I spent more than twenty-five years living across Europe and the Middle East, building businesses, teaching, writing, and working with people from many different cultures.
I also hold a PhD and a JD. Those experiences taught me how to research carefully, question easy assumptions, and look beyond the obvious.
When I create a travel photography guide, I do not simply tell you where to stand. I try to explain the character of a place, how to experience it, when the light is best, what deserves your time, and what I learned by actually being there.
From Norway’s icy fjords to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, my camera has become my constant companion.
I began with landscapes, architecture, and travel scenes, but over time I also developed a deep connection to wildlife photography.
My aim is to capture the world in a way that makes people want to experience it for themselves.
To me, photography is storytelling. It is about emotion, connection, and wonder. It allows people to experience places they have never visited and rediscover places they already love.
My goal is simple. I want to help you travel with more confidence, photograph with more intention, and experience the world with greater curiosity and respect.
Sharing the Journey
One of the most rewarding parts of my journey has been helping others become more confident photographers.
Through workshops, photo walks, presentations, and one-on-one sessions, I create hands-on learning experiences that are practical, inspiring, and fun.
I enjoy working with everyone from absolute beginners to experienced travelers who want to improve their photography. Watching someone move from uncertainty to confidence behind the camera is one of the most satisfying parts of what I do.
Featured In
My photography, writing, and educational work have been featured by media outlets, brands, tourism organizations, and publications, including:
KelbyOne Community Live Presentation on Travel Photography Tips
Featured on VisitRome.com
Bank of Nova Scotia
…and more.
Awards
European Photography Awards 2025 Gold Medal Winner - Landscapes
New York Photography Award 2025 Silver Medal - People
New York Photography Award 2025 Silver Medal - Environmental
Muse Photography Awards 2026 Gold Medal Architectural Photography -Cityscapes
Muse Photography Awards 2026 Gold Medal Nature Photography -Wildlife
Let’s Connect
📩 Email me at vito@chasinghippoz.com
Best Sellers
✈️ Travel Photography Planning Sessions
One-on-One Trip Planning with a Professional Travel Photographer
Don’t miss the shot. Let me help you plan for it.
Overview
Planning a photography-focused trip can be overwhelming. From figuring out the best places to shoot, to when the light is just right, to knowing which lens to pack — there are a lot of decisions to make.
This one-on-one Zoom session is your chance to get personalized travel photography advice from someone who’s spent the past 25 years exploring cities, coastlines, and wild places around the world — camera in hand.
Whether you're headed to Paris, Patagonia, Tokyo, or Tuscany, I’ll help you make sure your photography trip is well-planned and creatively inspired, so you come home with the images you dreamed of (and then some).
What’s Included
✅ Photography Location Planning
I’ll help you create a customized itinerary of the best photo spots, including off-the-beaten-path gems and iconic views.
✅ Best Times to Shoot
Get expert advice on lighting, golden hour, blue hour, and seasonal conditions for each location.
✅ Gear Recommendations
Not sure whether to bring the telephoto or the prime? We’ll walk through your gear and make sure you’re bringing the right tools for your destination and style.
✅ Hotel and Base Recommendations
Stay where it’s convenient for sunrise shoots and late-night strolls with your camera. I’ll recommend hotels that are photographer-friendly and well-located.
✅ Custom Travel Tips
From sunrise entry times to tripod rules at major landmarks, you’ll get insider tips to save time, avoid tourist traps, and make the most of your trip.
Who It’s For
This service is for anyone who:
Is planning a trip and wants to prioritize photography
Wants expert insight on the best places to shoot and how to get there
Is tired of missing the shot because of poor planning or bad timing
Is a beginner, enthusiast, or professional photographer looking for guidance before a trip
How It Works
Book a Session
Choose a time that works for you and tell me where you're headed.Share Your Plans
You’ll fill out a quick questionnaire so I know your travel dates, interests, and photography style.One-on-One Zoom Call (60 minutes)
We’ll meet via Zoom and walk through your trip together — from location ideas to gear and timing. You'll leave with a custom PDF full of notes and suggestions.Follow-Up Support
Get one round of email Q&A after your session to clarify anything as your plans evolve.
Why Work With Me?
I’ve spent the last 25 years photographing the world — from major cities to remote islands. I know what it’s like to travel and shoot under pressure, and I love helping people get the most out of their trips. This is not just about hitting “popular spots” — it’s about crafting a creative and efficient plan tailored to your trip, your gear, and your goals.
Pricing
$125 / Session
Includes:
60-minute Zoom call
Custom PDF summary with photography spots, gear tips, and travel recommendations
One follow-up email with additional Q&A
Introductory rate available through September 2025
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Let’s make sure you’re ready — so when the light is perfect, you’re in the right place with the right gear.
Questions?
Please email me at vito@chasinghippoz.com if you're not sure whether this is right for you. I'm happy to chat.
Unlock the power of long exposure and take your photography to the next level.
Mastering ND Filters is your complete guide to understanding and using Neutral Density (ND) filters with confidence. Whether you’re a beginner or a hobbyist looking to expand your creative toolkit, this practical, easy-to-follow book walks you through everything you need to know—from gear choices and exposure calculations to creative shooting techniques and real-world examples.
Inside you’ll learn:
What ND filters are and how they work
How to choose the right strength and type of filter
Step-by-step workflows for photographing waterfalls, clouds, seascapes, and city scenes
How to calculate long exposures using apps and charts
Pro tips for reducing noise, focusing with dark filters, and getting tack-sharp results
Packed with clear explanations, inspiring images, and field-tested advice, this guide will help you shoot with intention, slow down your process, and create stunning photographs that capture not just motion—but mood.
Whether you're shooting with a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a smartphone, Mastering ND Filters will help you bring your creative vision to life.
🎓 Adobe Lightroom One-to-One Training
Master Post-Processing. Elevate Your Photography.
Post-processing is the final — and arguably most transformative — step in your photography workflow. Adobe Lightroom is an essential tool for today’s digital photographers, combining powerful editing tools with an intuitive system for organizing and showcasing your images professionally.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your editing skills, I offer customized one-to-one Lightroom training designed to help you create images you’ll be proud to share.
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💻 Why One-to-One Online Lightroom Training?
Over the years, I’ve found that personalized training is the most effective way to learn Lightroom. Unlike group sessions, a one-to-one format allows us to move at your pace, focus on your specific goals, and eliminate the frustration of mismatched experience levels.
Plus, with online sessions via Zoom, you can learn from the comfort of your home — no travel or accommodation needed. It's the most convenient, cost-effective, and time-efficient way to upgrade your editing game.
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🧠 Tailored Topics to Match Your Goals
Our training is completely customizable, but here’s an outline of the modules we can cover — either in full or à la carte.
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🔧 Lightroom Setup – Part 1: Getting Started
Set up Lightroom properly for long-term success. We’ll tackle the fundamentals to create an efficient, organized workflow:
- What Lightroom is (and isn’t)
- How the interface and modules work
- Setting preferences for your needs
- Understanding the Catalog and folder system
- Importing images efficiently
- Adding keywords during import
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🗂 Lightroom Setup – Part 2: Organize Like a Pro
Build a storage system that grows with you:
- Folder structure tips and best practices
- Moving and renaming files within Lightroom
- Reviewing, rating, and filtering images
- Creating Smart Collections and Collection Sets
- Keywording strategies and metadata organization
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🎨 Lightroom Editing – Part 1: Core Editing Skills
Master the Develop module and create consistent, polished images:
- Global adjustments in the Basic panel
- White balance, contrast, vibrance, and saturation
- Cropping and converting to black & white
- HSL panel tuning
- Sharpening and noise reduction
- Creating and saving presets
- Exporting for print, web, or social media
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✨ Lightroom Editing – Part 2: Advanced Techniques
Take your editing to the next level with creative, selective tools:
- Radial and Gradient filters
- The Adjustment Brush
- Advanced masking and luminosity adjustments
- Enhancing portraits (skin, eyes, teeth)
- Spot removal and basic cloning
- Merging for HDR and panoramas
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💼 Session Details & Pricing (USD)
Tailored One-to-One Lightroom Tuition:
- Single Session (2 hours): $199
Before our session, we’ll have a brief consultation to customize your training plan and ensure it meets your exact needs.
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Ready to take control of your editing workflow and bring out the best in your images?
Let’s work together to turn your vision into vivid, powerful photos.
📩 Get in touch to schedule your personalized Lightroom session.