Wildlife Photography Workshops

Improve your wildlife photography, from absolute beginners to advanced. 

With wildlife photography there is no silver bullet "best settings" and every species (and environment) requires a different approach. Gain essentiaal insights and key camera skills on a variety of practical and insightful wildlife photography workshops. All are delivered under experienced professional guidance, shared in a practical, friendly and easy-to-follow manner.

Want to get better photos of wildlife and nature?

Join award-winning (BWPA, IGPOTY, RPS IPE & more) professional Rich Bunce Walking Photographer for an inspiring introduction to Wildlife Photography.

Master the settings of your camera and learn creative approaches to wildlife photography from a British Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner. Rich's nature photography has been published nationally and internationally, with his wildlife footage being used in TV documentaries too. 

These workshops are relevant for people of all experiences and abilities with a maximum group of 4 ensures you'll get personalised guidance and advice. 

2025 Dates

• Fri 14th March: Wildlife Photography for Beginners (£90) * One Place Left *
• Sat 5th April: Wildlife Photography - the Next Step (£90) * SOLDOUT *
• Sun 18th May: West Yorkshire Wildlife Golden Hour Walk (£35)
• Fri 23rd May: Fantastic (Mini) Beasts Shoot-Edit-Print Workshop (£145)
• Fri 13th and Sat 14th June: Owl Photography Weekend (£145)
• Sat 15th and Sun 16th November: Otter Photography Weekend 

Private Wildlife Photography Lessons

Fast-track your wildlife photography skills on a private lesson. Lessons are flat rate so you can bring a friend at no extra cost. They can either be based around the Burley in Wharfedale Studio where we can head out into the variety of local wildlife habitats including moorland, farmland, and riverside adventures. Alternatively, we can explore other exciting habitats and nature reserves further afield. 

Half-Day Private Wildlife Sessions (£145 flat rate): 3-4 hours  
Full-Day Private Wildlife Sessions (£260 flat rate): 6-8 hours  

You might also want to check out:

Wildlife Photography at Malham  - Which is timed for peak Peregrines and migrant birds like Redstarts, Northern Wheatear, Flycatchers and more! 

Bempton Cliffs (Various Dates) - Wildlife spectacular with around half a million nesting birds, including puffins!

Wild Otter Photography Workshop (Weekend)

Duration: 2 days
Cost: £260 (50% voucher refund if no otters encountered)
Locations: Ilkey & surrounding areas
Terrain: Varied, usually pretty good access with some slopes and potentially muddy, uneven paths
Other Info: Group Maximum of 3 ensures detailed and specialised tuition
 

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

Schedule: Various locations near Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Please get in touch for full itinerary details

Fantastic (Mini) Beasts & how to photograph them (Shoot-Edit-Print Workshop)

Location: Burley in Wharfedale
Skills: All experience levels welcome
Additional: A3 Profesional Fine Art Print of a chosen photo

Open up new photographic possibilities and discover new universes on this practical mini beast workshop! 

This one day practical workshop will introduce the mesmerizing world of insects, butterflies and other exciting bugs, revealing  a plethora of great photo opportunities!

Join award-winning nature photographer Rich Bunce in a small friendly group exploring two exciting habitats (woodland & moorland) as Rich share key tips and settings for not just great photos but print-worthy ones! 

After a good few hours we’ll head back to the studio to select, edit and print a favourite shots from the morning.   

I'll be sharing the tips and tricks I've learned from nearly 20 years of digital editing experience to help you get the best from your own shots.

We'll finish the workshop by creating an A3 print of your favourite photo using a professional-grade printer on thick, fine-art cotton paper giving your photo a professional quality finish.

Workshop Breakdown:

• Fieldcraft species & location skills
• Camera Settings & tips
• Lighting techniques
• Creative & stunning Compositions
• Editing skills (including focus stacking)

A Macbook Pro with Adobe Software installed is available for hire on this workshop.

Wild Owl Photography Weekender

Building on the success of the Owl talk & walk events , this weekend is designed to increase not only the scope for encountering one of our most iconic and stunning species of birds but also learning more about photographing the our 5 native species of owl their natural environment, unperturbed. 

Starting with an insightful talk and presentation sharing over 10 years of watching owls near and far, you’ll be introduced to some key owl watching 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 owls we will be exploring the best locations and aim to experience as close to 5 species of owl as we can. Regardless you’ll be walking away armed with new knowledge and skills to enjoy your own owl adventures in the future. 

• Gain essential insights, key field-craft skills for spotting and watching British owls in their native habitat responsibly  

• Learn in a practical environment with a small friendly group, led by award-winning professional photographer

Wildlife Photography Beginner's Course

This practical workshop starts out at Rich's studio in the beautiful surroundings of Burley-in-Wharefdale, less than 30 minutes from Leeds, Bradford, Skipton and Harrogate, and five minutes' walk from the village railway station. 

We start off with an introduction, where you will receive tips and advice on optimal settings and different approaches to creatively capturing nature, utilising Rich's many years of experience in wildlife photography. 

After that, the group heads out to a local nature reserve with hides in which you can put what you have learnt into practice capturing stunning images of the varied and fascinating wildlife to be found in the area, all under the guidance of award-winning photographer, Rich. 

Wildlife Photography, The Next Step…

10am - 5pm, Walking Photography Studio (Burley in Wharfedale) & Surrounding Countryside

Boost your wildlife photography to new heights with this next level, wildlife photography workshop.  

This practical one-day masterclass workshop is designed to help people familiar with basic camera settings get more from their camera and move their wildlife photography to a new level. 

Practical, relaxed environment in a small, friendly group...

• Advanced camera settings & controls

• Expert focussing techniques

• Lighting & composition secrets masterclass

• Creating Award Winning Wildlife Images

• Developing meaningful wildlife projects

• Editing advice & tips

If you’re familiar with general camera settings and looking to take next level wildlife photographs this practical workshop is designed to help.

Photographing Kingfishers in the Wild

Specific hides can offer great encounters for kingfishers, though they can be expensive and not for everyone. This workshop offers a different approach. Focussing on seeking out kingfisher habitats that allow you to enjoy the spectacle of kingfisher behaviour day after day.

We'll spend the day looking at fieldcraft techniques and  camera skills that will enable you to go out and start creating magical encounters of your own, in your own local patches. 

The Fast & The Furious! Red Squirrels in the Yorkshire Dales

Join me and a small group of like-minded folk as we explore one of the most enchanting corners of the Yorkshire Dales.

Capture the fast & the furious! Capturing these small, high-octane bundles of cuteness on the woodland floor is far from easy. Luckily, I'll be sharing my top tips and experience to ensure you have the best chance to capture some eye-catching folio-worthy red squirrel shots.

One-to-One Full Day Lessons 

Whether you want to gain new photography skills to prepare for a forthcoming wildlife trip, such as a safari, or you would love to level up your wildlife images in general, a one-to-one lesson is the perfect way to learn.

Book award-winning photographer Rich Bunce for a full day's tuition to help you get the most from your camera to improve your wildlife photography and any specific aims you have in mind. Rich will tailor the workshop to your exact needs, ensuring you enjoy a productive day with your camera.

Lessons last around six hours and can take place anywhere from the Yorkshire coast in the east to Lancashire in the west. If there is any specific type of images you are interested in, ask Rich and he can use his extensive and up-to-date knowledge of wildlife hotspots across the north to find the perfect location. 

Call 07828117810 for more information. 

One-to-One 3/4 Hour Lessons

Whether it's better photos of wildlife visiting your garden or a specific species you want to locate and photograph, Rich's experience, knowledge and connections can help you achieve better photos of your favourite creatures! 

Call 07828117810 for more information.