2025 Wildlife Photography Workshops & Walks
Sat 15th & Sun 16th November 2025, Otter Trekking & Photography on the Wharfe - £165 (4 max)
2026 Wildlife Photography Workshops & Walks
Saturday 10th Jan 2026, 7.45am - 10am: Winter Wetlands Sunrise - £45 (5 max)
Friday 30th Jan 2026, 3.30pm - 5.30pm: Wetland Murmurations - £45 (6 max)
Saturday 14th March 2026, 10am - 4pm: Wildlife Photography Workshop Beginners - £90 (5 max)
Mon 27th & Tues 28th April 2026, Otter Trekking & Photography on the Wharfe - £165 (4 max)
Saturday 15th May 2026, 10am - 4pm: Wildlife Photography Workshop Next Step - £90 (5 max)
Monday 18th May 2026, 9.30am - 4pm: Orchids, Butterflies & Flycatchers - £90 (5 max)
Wednesday 3rd June 2026, 6.30pm - 9pm: Malham Golden Hours Wildlife Walk - £45 (6 max)
Friday 12th June 2026, 7pm - 9.30pm: Yorkshire Coast Puffins at Golden Hour - £45 (6 max)
Saturday 13th June 2026, 9.30am - 9.30pm: Yorkshire Coast Puffins & Sea Bird Masterclass - £145 (4 max)
Friday 19th June 2026, 7pm - 9.30pm: Wetland Golden Hour Walk - £45 (5 max)
26th - 28th June 2026, Owls in the Wild Weekender - £165 (4 max)
Friday 3rd July 2026, 6pm - 8.30pm: Butterflies & Bees in Flight - £45 (5 max)
Monday 7th September 2026, 8am - 2pm Kingfishers & Dippers in the wild - £90 (4 max)
Beginners’ Wildlife Photography Workshop
Skill Level: Beginners with digital camera and zoom lens ideal
Location: Burley in Wharfedale and local areas, West Yorkshire
Terrain: Good paths, muddy, uneven
Ever wanted to capture wildlife photos that leap off the screen instead of disappearing into the blur?
This workshop is designed for beginners who want to turn missed shots into memorable moments. With a maximum of just 6 people, you’ll get personal support every step of the way.
We’ll start in the studio with clear, practical demonstrations and simple explanations that cut through technical jargon. You’ll also have written guides and handy settings checklists to take away (emailed afterwards). Most importantly, you’ll spend plenty of time outdoors with your camera in hand, putting new skills into practice as we explore how to:
Choose the right camera settings for different wildlife encounters
Master autofocus for sharper, more reliable results
Use creative composition tricks to make your photos stand out
Whether you’re hoping to take better pictures of your garden birds or gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime safari, this workshop will give you the tools, techniques, and confidence to capture wildlife at its best.
Otter Trekking & Photography Workshops
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced
Location: Ilkley & surrounding areas
Terrain: Good paths, muddy, rocky and slippery in places
Additional: 50% gift voucher refund if no otters seen throughout (2 day event only)
Building on the success of the otter trekking days, this weekend is designed to increase not only the scope for encountering these elusive mammals but also learning more about photographing them in their natural environment, unperturbed.
Starting with an insightful talk and presentation sharing over 6 years of watching local otters, you’ll be introduced to some key otter spotting fieldcraft along with essential photography settings, tips and tricks for photographing one of our most exciting mammals. The weekend will then progress with various walks in active territories based on up to date sightings and feedback to improve our chances of an encounter.
While there is never any guarantee that we will see any otters, we will be exploring the best locations for sightings and you’ll be walking away armed with new knowledge and skills to enjoy your own otter adventures in the future.
Of course there’s always plenty of other wildlife to be spotted and enjoyed too. Kingfishers and Dippers enjoy hunting and breeding along the banks of local stretches, while Mandarin, Goosander, little egrets, sand martins and much more provide endless entertainment.
Gain essential insights, key field-craft skills for spotting and watching otters responsibly
Learn in a practical environment with a small friendly group, led by award-winning professional photographer
Wildlife Photography Next Step Workshop
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Location: Burley in Wharfedale and local areas, West Yorkshire
Terrain: Good paths, muddy, uneven with inclines
Ready to take your wildlife photography beyond the basics?
This workshop is designed for those who already have a basic grasp of camera settings and want to push their skills further. With a maximum of just 6 participants, you’ll benefit from personalised guidance as we dive deeper into the art and technique of wildlife photography.
We’ll begin in the studio with advanced demonstrations, providing clear explanations of complex settings and concepts. You’ll also receive written guides and setting checklists to refer back to. Most importantly, you’ll spend plenty of time outdoors, practicing new techniques in real wildlife scenarios.
On the day, you’ll learn how to:
Master advanced lighting and exposure techniques for every lighting situation
Unlock the full potential of your camera and autofocus systems
Refine your compositions for greater impact and storytelling
Apply advanced field techniques for capturing better wildlife moments
Advanced camera settings & controls, expert focussing techniques, lighting & composition secrets masterclass, creating award winning wildlife images and developing meaningful wildlife projects. Whether you’re looking to elevate your photos of local wildlife or preparing for epic wildlife adventures, this workshop will give you the deeper knowledge and sharper skills to capture professional-quality results.
Wetland Photo Walks
Skill Level: Beginners with digital camera and zoom lens ideal
Location: Leeds or Ripon areas
Terrain: Good paths, muddy, uneven with inclines
Looking for a chance to sharpen your wildlife photography skills in the field, guided by an experienced, award-winning eye?
The Wetlands Photo Walks are designed to give you hands-on practice in dynamic, ever-changing wild environments. Limited to just 5 participants, each walk offers a supportive, small-group experience where you’ll learn by doing – with me on hand to share demonstrations, tips, and feedback in real time.
Wetlands are true hotspots for wildlife throughout the year. They attract a dazzling variety of birds and often surprise us with rare or unexpected visitors. From frosty winter sunrises alive with wildfowl, to golden-hour raptor hunts, to the breathtaking spectacle of starling murmurations, every walk is different – and that’s the joy of it.
Whether you’re new to wildlife photography or eager to build confidence in the field, these walks are the perfect way to practice camera settings, autofocus, and composition in real-world situations, while capturing unforgettable moments in nature.
Winter Wetlands Sunrise (near Leeds)
What could be more magical than greeting the sunrise over a frozen wetland, camera in hand?
On this small-group photo walk (5 max), we’ll step into the stillness of a crisp winter morning, learning how to work with changing conditions. Alongside practical tips and demonstrations, you’ll have plenty of time to practise and refine your own shots, with my guidance and feedback throughout.
Winter flocks of lapwing, curlew, wigeon and teal often take centre stage, while kingfishers can be bolder with fewer fishing spots available. Goldeneye, grebes and even elusive snipe may also appear – their shapes reflected in the still, pristine waters. You’ll leave with stronger skills for capturing wildlife in the early light, and unforgettable photos from one of the most atmospheric times of year.
Wetlands Murmurations (near Ripon)
Ever seen tens of thousands of starlings move as one? If you have you’ll know how magical it is to experience
This evening photo walk (5 max) takes us into the wetlands ahead of golden hour, where you’ll get hands-on support with exposure, composition and autofocus to catch both fleeting details and wide, dramatic scenes. I’ll share my own responses to the changing light and wildlife activity, giving you real-time inspiration for your own shots.
We’ll look out for seasonal highlights such as goldeneye, egrets, swans and barn owls as daylight fades – before keeping our fingers crossed for a spectacular starling murmuration at dusk. A truly unforgettable chance to practise your photography in a living, moving canvas of sky and wings.
Wetlands Golden Hour (near Leeds)
Golden light, abundant life, and endless photo opportunities – wetlands in late summer are alive with drama.
In this small-group walk (5 max), we’ll explore the wetlands as the breeding season draws to a close. I’ll be on hand to demonstrate in-the-moment approaches to lighting and framing, while you get plenty of practice capturing both the beauty and the action of this bustling season.
Expect thousands of ground-nesting birds and their young, bitterns booming in the reeds, young grebe families on the water, and raptors like kestrels, peregrines, marsh harriers and owls all taking advantage of the abundance. It’s also the time when juvenile starlings gather in huge flocks – creating surprise midsummer murmurations to end the day in style.
Yorkshire Coast Puffins, Gannets & More…
Skill Level: Beginners to advanced, all cameras welcome
Location: Yorkshire Coast, Flamborough & Bempton areas
Terrain: Muddy, uneven paths with inclines
Few wildlife encounters are as unforgettable as standing on the cliffs in summer, watching puffins return to their burrows with beaks full of sand eels.
Our Summer Yorkshire Coast Puffin workshops give you the chance to capture these charming seabirds at their most photogenic, while also experiencing the drama and richness of one of Britain’s most spectacular coastal environments.
Working in small groups, I’ll guide you through the camera settings, techniques and creative approaches that bring your images to life. Alongside puffins, you’ll encounter the sheer spectacle of the gannet colony – the largest on mainland Britain – as well as razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars clinging to the cliffs. Away from the ledges, peregrines and barn owls hunt, brown hares dart across the fields, and roe deer sometimes emerge at the edges of the meadows.
Whether you choose the atmospheric Golden Hour Photo Walk or the more in-depth Secrets of the Seabird Coast full-day workshop, you’ll enjoy expert support, plenty of hands-on practice, and the thrill of photographing Britain’s coastal wildlife at its very best.
Malham Wildlife Photography Walk: Golden Hour (June)
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced Photographers with DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras
Location: Malham
Terrain: Well pathed, muddy and uneven paths with potentially steep inclines. (2 miles approx)
Malham’s iconic scenery makes postcard worthy photos fairly straightforward process in the golden hours. But what about capturing the life within that landscape? What about freezing the Peregrine Falcons stooping towards the cove, a Dipper in the bubbling stream, or the Swifts and Swallows slicing through the golden air? That's the real challenge. The best light is fleeting, and the subjects are fast. This relaxed pace photo walk is your guide to nailing those shots.
This is a hands-on, practical session focused on capturing difficult subjects in challenging light. I'll be sharing my personal fieldcraft and technical secrets for this specific area, helping you build skills for all your future outings.
You will learn:
The "when and where" for Malham's key species: We'll cover the habits of Peregrines, Redstarts, Wheatears, and Dippers.
My "go-to" camera settings for low-light action and birds-in-flight.
How to "read" the landscape to find Woodpeckers, listen for Curlews, and anticipate where a Little Owl or Barn Owl might appear.
You will get to:
Practice advanced techniques like tracking, panning, and high-ISO shooting with my direct, one-on-one feedback.
Watch live demonstrations of how I spot and set up for a shot in rapidly changing light.
My goal isn't just to show you the sights. It's to give you the technical confidence and fieldcraft to see, react, and capture the incredible burst of wildlife activity that makes Malham's golden hour so magical.
Malham Orchids, Butterflies & Flycatchers Photo Walk
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced Photographers with DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras
Location: Malham Tarn
Terrain: Well pathed, muddy and uneven paths with some inclines. (3 miles approx)
Beyond the Landscape: Finding Malham Tarn's Wildlife Jewels. Malham Tarn is stunningly unique, but its real photographic treasures are the diverse species that live there. The challenge isn't just taking the photo—it's finding the subject. How do you spot a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary among the grasses? Or distinguish the call of a Pied Flycatcher?
This one-day, small-group workshop is the solution. It's a practical, in-the-field session where I'll share my fieldcraft secrets for this specific location. We’re moving beyond the obvious to find and photograph the special orchids, butterflies, and exciting migratory birds (highlights include Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Northern Wheatear & Redstarts) that make this area a wildlife hotspot.
We will focus on the "how-to" of finding, identifying, and shooting:
Discussing key behaviours and specific habitats for all our target species, so you know exactly what to look (and listen) for.
You will get hands-on practice using these techniques in the field, with my personal guidance to help you spot subjects and nail your settings.
I will demonstrate my own search patterns and how I approach a subject ethically, whether it's a static orchid or a fast-moving Pied Flycatcher.
You'll get key checklists for species and settings, so you can return with confidence on your own self-initiated trips.
My goal is to give you the fieldcraft and technical confidence to capture the full story of this amazing location, from its tiniest orchids to its most exciting avian visitors—like the Osprey we saw hunting last year.
Owls in the Wild, Weekender
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced Photographers with DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras
Location: Burley in Wharfedale Studio & Various West/North Yorkshire locations
Terrain: Well pathed, muddy, slippery and uneven paths with some inclines.
Photographing wild owls is one of the most rewarding achievements in wildlife photography. They are master hunters, active in challenging light, and rightly protected. A truly great wild owl photograph isn't just about luck; it's a hard-earned reward built on deep fieldcraft and profound respect for the subject.
Finding and photographing wild owls, ethically, is the ultimate challenge. This 2-day, small-group workshop is designed to give you the deep fieldcraft and technical skills to plan your own rewarding encounters with British owls that are ethical and sensitive to these iconic birds. We will blend in-depth classroom learning with practical fieldwork to cover the habits and habitats of the five UK owl species (Barn, Little, Tawny, Short-eared, and Long-eared). This is a hands-on course blending practical fieldwork with essential classroom theory. There’ll also be an optional opportunity for some photography editing and guidance based at the studio.
You will learn to:
Think like an owl-watcher: Understand the specific habitats, prey, and behaviours of all 5 species.
Master the ethics: Learn the vital fieldcraft for sensitive, respectful encounters that put the bird's welfare first.
Prep your gear: Master the low-light camera settings, auto-focus modes, and silent-shooting techniques essential for success.
You will get to:
Explore real habitats: Put theory into action with me as your guide, scanning for field signs and likely roosts.
Practice your technique: Get one-on-one coaching on composition, exposure, and photography in the field.
My goal isn't just to help you get a lucky shot. It's to give you the skills and confidence to find, understand, and respectfully photograph wild owls for years to come.
Get in touch for a full itinerary.
Butterflies & Bees, Stunning & In Flight
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced Photographers with Compact, DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras
Location: Burley in Wharfedale
Terrain: Well pathed, muddy, slippery and uneven paths with some inclines.
Want to take more stunning photos of bees and butterflies? Capturing sharp, dynamic images of insects in motion is notoriously tricky, this immersive, small-group workshop offers a practical guide for better insect portraits and in flight shots.
It's a practical, hands-on session where I'll personally guide you through the fieldcraft secrets and camera settings needed to capture unique shots, fast-moving wings and nail critical focus.
We will focus on real-world application, not just theory. You will:
Get significant time behind the lens with one-to-one coaching.
Watch live demos of tracking techniques and setup.
We will discuss the why behind every choice—from anticipating behaviour to adapting your settings for changing light.
Take home key checklists and notes to ensure the skills stick.
My goal isn't just to help you get a good shot during the workshop; it's to give you the technical skills and fieldcraft knowledge to replicate your success time and time again.
Kingfishers & Dippers in the Wild
Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced Photographers with DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras (longer lenses ideal)
Location: Ilkley and/or Surrounding Areas
Terrain: Potentially muddy, slippery and uneven paths
Have you ever wanted to find and photograph kingfishers and dippers, not just from a hide, but by understanding their world? This workshop is designed to do exactly that.
Timed with their peak activity on our local waters, this small-group experience moves beyond static setups. The goal is to give you the skills for a lifetime of meaningful encounters, empowering you to find these stunning birds for yourself on future explorations.
We cater to every learning style to ensure you get the most from our time together:
You will see demonstrations of how to read the river, spot subtle field signs, and observe the birds' behaviour firsthand.
We’ll discuss key strategies, listen for the birds' distinct calls as I share my proven tips and secrets.
We'll break down the "why" behind specific camera settings and fieldcraft techniques, helping you build a solid framework of knowledge (and I’ll share some of my top tips in an illustrated handout afterwards!).
This is a hands-on workshop. You will be actively doing—walking the riverbank, practicing your fieldcraft skills, and applying advanced camera techniques in real-world scenarios.
Under my guidance, you'll gain a deep, long-lasting insight into the lives of these iconic birds.