2023 will be my 10th year living year-round in West Yellowstone, and my 7th year as a full-time wildlife photography guide. A lot of photography workshops are led by those that only visit the park during the few weeks of their workshop each year. Living here full-time means I spend a lot more time in the park, have a great network of local guides to share sightings with, and have an intimate knowledge of not only the park but the surrounding ecosystem as well.

My workshops are a combination of learning about your gear, photography techniques, and the wildlife of the Yellowstone ecosystem. Photography instruction can be as much or as little as you’d like, and a small group allows for a variety of instruction tailored to your skill level. Our priority is finding wildlife to photograph, so a lot of driving to different areas of the park is involved. As a guide, I will help you find the animals and get in a good position to photograph them. If you aren’t getting the shots you want, I will be there to answer questions and guide you in correcting camera settings. Please note you will get much more out of the workshop if you know what you need the most help with. You should be prepared with questions whether it’s basic camera settings or composition and style.

REQUIREMENTS

By no means are these workshops only meant for experienced photographers. Most people that join me are at the beginner to intermediate level. There is minimal physical activity involved other than walking. Over a day, we may walk a mile or two at most, on easy surfaces. Winter does add the threat of ice, so better stability and footwear are needed on those trips. I have led people anywhere from age 40 to 80 with no issues, even in the heart of winter. 

I spend a lot of my free time inside the park as well, so I will be taking you to some of my favorite spots for wildlife watching. People who have visited Yellowstone many times before are often surprised when I can take them somewhere they've never seen.

A NOTE ABOUT ETHICS

We will not photograph wildlife if it’s unsafe to do so, or if the animal starts showing signs of stress. Being in a national park, the majority of animals are habituated to human presence, meaning they pretty much ignore us (this does not mean they are being fed, or aren’t still 100% wild animals). The welfare of the animal should come before getting the best shots. Although most wildlife will be near the road, we won’t be able to photograph them unless we find a safe place to park. Park rules must be followed by everyone, especially guides.

Trent Sizemore Photography is authorized by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, to conduct services in Yellowstone National Park. I am also up to date on CPR and first aid certification.