Yellowstone & Tetons Winter Photo Workshop

Jan 2027 - Coming Soon!

Embark on the ultimate 11-day wildlife photo safari on our Yellowstone and Tetons Winter Photo Workshop. With 6 participants and 2 instructors with a private snowcoach, everyone is guaranteed quick access to their gear when animal sightings happen. Capture breathtaking snowy landscapes, vibrant hot springs, and awe-inspiring wildlife. Then, extend the adventure with 4 unforgettable days in the Grand Tetons, featuring dramatic mountain vistas and more wildlife encounters. Learn from renowned pros, whose deep knowledge of the region will ensure you're in the perfect spots to capture the action.

Tuition

Price TBA
All-Inclusive

Max Group Size

3 Students per Instructor
Max 6 Students

Instructor(s)

David Swindler
2nd TBA

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Experience the Serengeti of North America with the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states! Winter is one of the best times to capture the wildlife and landscapes in Yellowstone.
Capture your best shots with instruction from pro instructors. With many years of guiding photo workshops in Yellowstone, they intimately knows the behavior patterns of the wildlife.
Enjoy transport in a private snowcoach and a comfortable van. Workshop is capped at 6 participants and 2 instructors for plenty of individual attention and space for gear.
Learn many new photography skills while in the field along with post-processing and image critique sessions.
The workshop is all-inclusive with lodging, meals, and ground transportation.

Yellowstone Tetons Winter Photo Workshop

Yellowstone and Tetons Winter Photo Workshop

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather and current conditions in the park. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography. Since our dates at the Snow Lodge get assigned to us later in the year, there is a small chance the workshop dates may shift slightly.

Day 1: Arrive at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) no later than 1PM where we pick up participants from the airport and transfer to hotel in Jackson. We'll hold a mandatory orientation session, review the latest wildlife reports and discuss our final itinerary before heading out for a quick sunset shoot followed by dinner.
Days 2-3: We spend the next 3 days exploring Grand Teton National Park. The locations we visit and the mix of landscape vs wildlife will depend on weather conditions. The Tetons are often a great place to capture Moose, Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Red Fox, Swans, Bison and more.
Day 4: We head out early for our final sunrise shoot in the Tetons before returning for breakfast. We check out of our hotel and start the drive over to Gardiner, MT. We'll stop for lunch in Bozeman and then make the scenic drive through the Paradise Valley. After checking in to our hotel, we head out for a quick evening shoot.
Day 5: We will focus on the Mammoth and Lamar Valley sides of the park on these days, photographing both landscapes and wildlife. This is also the best area of the park to find wolves! We will photograph the Mammoth thermal features as well. We will be stopping all along the way for wildlife and landscape photos.
Day 6: Today we travel via private snow coach through the northern section of the park, looking for wildlife and scenic photo ops. Most snowcoach tours will pack 14+ people into one vehicle, but we will be comfortable with only 6 workshop participants. This way we have plenty of room for gear, warm clothes, and quick exit/entry for our photo ops. Scenic viewpoints abound and we'll end the day with sunset at Old Faithful. Overnight at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
Day 7: We continue our journey via private snowcoach deep into the interior of Yellowstone, visiting West Thumb Geyser and Hayden Valley. Overnight at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Photo Workshop Wolf

Itinerary (continued)

Day 8: Today we travel back to Mammoth via private snowcoach and visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone along the way. Expect lots of stops for wildlife and landscape photos! Overnight in Gardiner.
Days 9-10: We are back in the Lamar Valley and Mammoth side of the park looking for wildlife and landscape photography opportunities. Our itinerary will be flexible depending on current conditions. Overnight in Gardiner.
Day 11: After breakfast, we pack up and drive back to the Bozeman Airport, arriving no later than noon. You can schedule your return travel for anytime this afternoon or evening via the Bozeman (BZN) airport.

What to Expect

Our goal is to capture the best images possible and have a lot of fun together. This means starting well before dawn and ending well after sunset. However, we will usually take a longer lunch break to rest and recuperate.

This workshop is unique with a very small group and 3:1 participant to instructor ratio! We want EVERY participant to have fast access to their gear without being held up by a large group. This is essential when speed is of the essence for either shooting or exiting the vehicle to get the shot. We also want to ensure you have plenty of room for your gear and warm clothing. Compare that to your typical Yellowstone workshop where you could have one instructor and up to 12 participants in a single van! Rest assured you will have the best vantage points at all times without being held back by a large group or overcrowded vehicle/snow-coach.

Expert wildlife and landscape photographer David Swindler will be leading the workshop. With intimate knowledge of the park, we'll find the best spots for wildlife. When time permits, we'll hold image critique and post-processing sessions.

A few months before the workshop, we'll hold a zoom meeting with all participants and also email you detailed information on how to book your flights along with checklists for clothing and gear to bring. You will be flying into Jackson Hole, WY and flying out of Bozeman, MT.

Temperatures can be very cold in Jan but this is also what makes the photography so good this time of year with frost-lined trees, foggy meadows, and snowy landscapes! We will make sure you have the right gear to comfortably photograph in these frigid conditions.

Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop Hot Springs

Pricing - 11 Days

Price TBD

All Inclusive

Trip Includes:

10 Nights Hotel Lodging in Gardiner, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Jackson
Single Occupancy Adds TBD
All Meals, Snacks, and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
All Ground Transportation to/from arrival and departure airports.
Van and Private Snow-Coach Transportation
All Permits and Park Fees.
In-Field Photography Instruction
Post-processing and Image Critique
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Jackson, WY and Bozeman, MT.
Alcoholic Beverages.
Instructor Gratuities.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit. If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged 120 days prior to the credit card we have on file. Since this workshop is done in collaboration with other parties, no loyalty discount is offered. See the full Terms and Conditions.

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Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop Frosty Bison

Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Photo Workshop

Yellowstone Winter Photo Workshop Action Photo Tours Hot Springs

Trusted by Over 900 Reviews

David Swindler

Founder - Photography Instructor

David Swindler is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer. Among others, he has been recognized by the International Photography Awards, Siena International Photo Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and National Geographic. He received a degree in chemical engineering and worked in the semiconductor industry specializing in optics and photolithography. In 2014, he left his day job to follow his true passion. He has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the world and has extensive experience photographing a wide variety of subjects and conditions. As the founder of Action Photo Tours, he finds great satisfaction in helping others learn photography, especially in the wild desert environment near his home in Kanab, UT. David is an expert in night photography and loves to get out and shoot the starry night skies.

Gallery Awards and Media Coverage

Having guided photo tours for years, David is very familiar with many different types of cameras. He is a master with light and composition. But most importantly, his dedication to his clients is what really sets him apart! But don't take our word for it - read what others are saying: Trip Advisor.