Since I spend so much time traveling to lead photo tours and workshops, I’m asked this question often: When is the best time to book flights?
It is a fair question, and the honest answer is that there is no single rule that works every time. Airfare has become increasingly unpredictable, and today there can be real advantages and disadvantages to both booking early and waiting a bit longer. Add in global instability, shifting fuel costs, and economic uncertainty, and the picture becomes even less straightforward.
That said, here is the general guidance my staff and I have found most useful:
Advantages of Booking Early
Booking earlier can offer a few clear benefits. First, there is the peace of mind that comes from having your flights secured and one more detail checked off your list. In some cases, booking early may also mean a better fare, particularly if prices continue to rise due to broader political or economic pressures. It also usually gives you the best selection of flight times, seat choices, and more efficient routing.
Disadvantages of Booking Early
At the same time, booking too far in advance is not always the best strategy. Data often shows that the lowest fares appear within a “golden window,” rather than many months ahead, so purchasing six or more months early can sometimes mean paying more than necessary.
There is also the possibility that prices will drop after you purchase, leaving you to track fare changes and negotiate with the airline for a credit or reimbursement. Early booking can also reduce flexibility if your plans shift, or if the airline changes its schedule. Flight times can move, aircraft can be swapped out, seating can change, and partner-airline connections may be affected, sometimes resulting in longer or less convenient itineraries.
The General “Sweet Spot”
As a rule of thumb, the timing that tends to work best is:
Domestic flights: about 1–3 months in advance
International flights: about 2–5 months in advance
The biggest exception is peak travel periods. If you are traveling during holidays, majo
r vacation seasons, or other especially busy times, it is usually wise to book well ahead.
Our Practical Take
Even with all the data, booking flights can still feel a bit like a gamble. Over the past year and a half, my team and I have spent so much time adjusting flights, or dealing with airline schedule changes, that any savings from booking very early have often been offset by the inconvenience.
Because of that, we have become more cautious about locking in flights too far ahead. These days, we often find ourselves booking in that 1–3 month window, depending on the destination and time of year.
In the end, there is no perfect formula, but a thoughtful balance of timing, flexibility, and tolerance for risk usually leads to the best outcome.
A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of welcoming a team from Epson to the studio for a behind-the-scenes shoot as part of an upcoming marketing campaign. It was a fun and energetic day, with cameras capturing the workflow, the environment, and the small details that make the studio tick. Having an outside team document the process offered a fresh perspective on the work that happens here every day.
During the visit, my long-time photo editor teamed up with Epson’s long-time marketing manager of professional imaging to review a selection of images from the studio. Together they carefully chose the photographs they felt would best showcase the qualities of Epson Hot Press Bright Paper. The process sparked plenty of great conversation about tonal depth, texture, and the subtle details that come alive when the right image meets the right paper.
We thought it would be fun to share the fruits of that collaboration with you. There’s always something special about seeing photographs move from screen to print, and it’s especially rewarding when the results are this beautiful. No matter how many times it happens, there’s still a bit of excitement in holding a finished print and appreciating the craftsmanship that brings an image fully to life.
February in Japan has quietly become a bit of a tradition for me. I keep telling myself I’ll skip a year, and somehow I end up back there again with a camera in hand. The snow monkeys are the main reason. Watching them soak in steaming hot springs while snow falls around them is one of those scenes that never loses its appeal. Pink faces, white snow, and rising steam create images that practically compose themselves. The monkeys are wonderfully expressive and endlessly entertaining to photograph.
From there we head north to Hokkaido. In Kushiro Shitsugen National Park the red crowned cranes gather across the winter fields and wetlands. At sunrise they bow, leap, and call to one another in slow, deliberate movements. Mist and soft golden light fill the landscape and every moment feels carefully choreographed. It is quiet, beautiful, and incredibly rewarding for photographers.
Nearby we spend time with whooper swans drifting across icy lakes and wetlands. Their bright white feathers and long necks create elegant shapes on the water, and the reflections can be spectacular in calm conditions. It is one of those locations where every direction offers a new composition.
Then we travel to the Shiretoko Peninsula where the drift ice brings in one of the most impressive birds in the world, the Steller’s sea eagle. These birds are enormous, powerful, and unforgettable to watch in flight. From the boat we photograph them soaring, circling, and diving down to the ice to grab fish. It is dramatic wildlife photography at its finest.
Japan is an incredibly welcoming and beautiful country to explore, and it is a place I return to again and again. This November I will be leading another journey in Kyoto during the height of autumn color. Temples, gardens, and vibrant foliage make it one of the most visually stunning seasons in Japan and a wonderful place to explore with a camera.
