Yellowstone Photography Workshops - private, daily and year around

Improve your wildlife photography skills with Yellowstone area based professional photographer, writer and wildlife advocate, Deby Dixon.

These private workshops are for the beginner to advanced photographers, I only ask that you know the basic settings of your camera, in order to maximize time.  Participants will receive as much or as little photography instruction as they want.  Emphasis will be placed on exposure, composition, location and ethics.  We will follow the rules of the national park service and do our best to take excellent images without disturbing the wildlife.   Take the Yellowstone Pledge:  https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellowstonepledge.htm

Photography workshops run from about 1/2 hour before sunrise (time depends on what area of the park we will cover that day), until about 3 to 4 p.m. in summer.  Participants who are staying in Gardiner or at Canyon, Mammoth or Roosevelt, can have the option of a split day with about a 4 hour break before going out in the evening.

For booking of private workshops, please contact me at debydixon@mac.com for available dates and booking.  

COST

Private photography workshop, $750 for one person, or for one photographer and one closely related non-photographer for the first day.  An additional $50 each for a third, non-photographer.  Each additional day is $625.   Half-day workshops are not recommended (experience has taught me that three to 5 day workshops get the most benefit) but are possible for $500.  Half-day will go from sunrise to about 11 or 12, or 3:30 to sundown.  

Non-private photography workshop, $625 each for 2 to 3 photographers (groups traveling together)  Larger groups, up to 7 (minimum of 5) possible for $795, due to cost for a driver and chartered large van.  

DAY OF THE WORKSHOP

• Pickup at your Gardiner motel or accommodations, or meet in the parking lot near the Chamber,  just before sunrise on day of tour.  Can arrange pickup at other locations, such as Madison, Norris, Tower or Canyon, for $25.00.  

• We will begin the day, very early looking for wolves, and then begin exploring other wildlife subjects to photograph.  Please be open to photographing all wildlife as we can not predict when certain animals will make themselves available.

• Your workshop will run until mid to late afternoon, or possibly later, depending on sightings.  Let Deby know if you need to finish your day by a certain time.

•  Food - please bring your own lunch and drinks

INCLUDED IN YOUR WORKSHOP

Instruction on photography, as much or as little as your prefer, helpful hints on composition and the best places to get the right shot, advice on finding wildlife and information about Yellowstone and its wide variety of wild creatures.  We will talk about the behaviors and habits of the wildlife in order to enhance your ability to find the animals on your own.  Deby is very knowledgeable about Yellowstone, after spending nearly everyday in the park for the past 11 plus years and she knows the best places to find the wildlife and get great shots.

CAMERA GEAR

Deby is a Nikon shooter, currently using the mirrorless Z6ii and the Z9, with a variety of lenses, including the Z 70-200 2.8, Z600 6.3 and the PF 800.  She has used the Canon R5 as well.  She recommends a DSLR or mirrorless camera (two if possible) with 400mm, 500mm or 600mm lenses and a 1.4 teleconverter.  For longer lenses, you might consider bringing a tripod or monopod for stability.  She will have a couple of small bean bags to use if needed and can possibly help with a monopod. 

WHAT TO BRING

Bring big smiles and luck for a wonderful day in the park.  Bring your lunch and drinks - please let me know if you need cooler space.  Temperatures vary, sometimes by 50 degrees, so be sure and pack layers.  The sun might be shining one second and it could snow the next.  Wear good, sturdy shoes, no sandals.  Bring cameras, scopes, binoculars and it never hurts to throw in a charging cord.  I do have binoculars and a high quality scope.

TO SECURE YOUR DATE

Contact me at debydixon@mac.com for availability and booking.  Payment is due in full to secure date.  

Payment is due at the time of booking to reserve your date.  You will have 7 days to cancel your tour, from date of payment, ONLY if the tour is booked 30+ days in advance, for a 90% refund.  

Tours booked less than 30 days in advance are not eligible for the 7 day refund.  However, you may rebook within 18 months of your date of cancellation, for a 10% fee.  You may only rebook your tour one time and the date(s) must be agreed upon by both parties.  

**Use or possession of Marijuana is not allowed in the national parks, on federal land.  Firearms not allowed on tours.