Florida Wildlife Photography Workshops & Tours FAQ | Lenses, Locations & Best Seasons in Florida

What are Florida’s best wildlife photography locations?

Workshops are held at the state’s premier spots for wildlife and bird photography, including:

• Workshops are held throughout Florida at the state’s premier spots for wildlife and bird photography, including:

  • Everglades National Park (alligator, spoonbill, wading bird diversity)

  • Wakodahatchee Wetlands (rookery action, close bird encounters)

  • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (winter birds, space coast species)

  • Fort De Soto Park (migrations, shorebirds, sunrise/sunset)

  • Orlando Wetlands Park (cranes, limpkins, year-round avian diversity)

  • St. Augustine Alligator Farm (23 crocodilian species, nesting bird rookeries)

  • Myakka River State Park (4,000+ alligators, wood storks, river landscapes)

  • Big Cypress National Preserve (barred owls, red-cockaded woodpeckers, swallow-tailed kites)

  • Honeymoon Island State Park (300+ bird species, shorebirds, migrations)

  • Green Cay Wetlands (250+ species, American bitterns, painted buntings)

  • Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (old-growth cypress, 200+ species, rare orchids)

  • J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (245+ species, pelicans, spoonbills)

  • Circle B Bar Reserve (1,300 acres, accessible alligators, 200+ bird species)

  • Bok Tower Gardens (painted buntings, red-headed woodpeckers, winter migrants)

  • Shark Valley (close alligator encounters, wading birds, observation tower)

  • Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (sea turtle nesting, loggerhead photography)

Is lodging included in multi-day tours?

Lodging is not included in the base instruction fee; however, we offer all-inclusive photography packages for your convenience. For an additional fee, we can arrange lodging as part of a complete workshop package, allowing you to focus entirely on your photography.

If you prefer to book your own accommodations, I am happy to provide a list of recommended hotels that are strategically located near our sunrise shooting locations to minimize travel time.

If you prefer to book your own accommodations, I provide a curated list of recommended hotels for each tour. These are strategically chosen for their proximity to our sunrise shooting locations to minimize travel time and maximize your time behind the lens.

What should I bring to a Florida wildlife photography workshop?

Essentials:

• Camera + telephoto lens (200–600mm suggested)

• High-capacity memory cards, spare batteries

• Water, sunscreen (SPF 30+), insect repellent, and weather-appropriate clothing

• Comfortable shoes for walking and standing in the field

• Portable rain cover for camera in summer/rainy months

• Snacks and lightweight backpack

I don’t have a 600mm lens, can I still join?

Absolutely. While long lenses are ideal for bird photography, many locations like Wakodahatchee allow for close encounters where a 70-200mm or 100-400mm lens is perfect. If you need more reach, I can provide lens rental recommendations.

Florida Rain Gear & Weather Protection

What gear do I need for the Florida rain?
Florida is famous for its sudden afternoon thunderstorms and tropical humidity. Because some of the best “moody” lighting occurs during overcast or drizzly conditions, we don’t always stop shooting when the rain starts. To protect your investment, I recommend the following:

• Premium Protection: For those using professional setups (like a 600mm f/4), the Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia series is the gold standard. It features a dedicated eyepiece and allows you to keep your hands inside the cover to adjust settings.

• Budget-Friendly / Emergency: Op/Tech USA Rainsleeves are affordable, lightweight, and easy to keep in your back pocket. They are essentially heavy-duty plastic sleeves designed specifically for DSLRs and Mirrorless systems.

• The “Low-Tech” Essential: Always carry a large microfiber towel and a few silica gel packets in your camera bag to absorb moisture and prevent lens fogging after we transition from the Florida heat back into an air-conditioned car.

Do you offer image reviews and critiques?

Yes, feedback is a core part of the learning experience. We offer different levels of review depending on the length of your session:

• Multi-Day Workshops & Tours: All multi-day workshops & tours include dedicated daily image review and critique sessions. These sessions allow us to look at your work on a larger screen, discuss composition, and refine your storytelling approach for the following day’s shoot.

• 4 or 8-Hour Workshops: During our single-day sessions, I provide real-time field critiques. We will review your images together directly on your camera’s LCD screen. This immediate feedback allows you to make instant adjustments to your settings, angles, and technique while we are still in the field with the wildlife, ensuring you don’t miss the shot.

Whether we are in a formal review session or standing in a wetland, my goal is to help you “see” like a professional photojournalist and move beyond the basic snapshot.

What is your weather policy?

Workshops run in light rain, as these conditions often lead to unique wildlife behaviors and soft, even lighting. However, safety is the priority. In the event of lightning, high winds, or severe weather warnings or park closures we will pause or reschedule the session at no additional charge. 

Do you offer gift certificates?

Yes! A wildlife photography workshop makes an incredible gift. Contact me directly to arrange a custom gift voucher for a specific tour or a general dollar amount.

Will we learn about bird behavior or just camera settings? 

Unlike a standard photography tour, my background as a Florida Master Naturalist allows me to teach you how to ‘read’ the environment. We cover bird behavior, nesting cycles, and lighting patterns, giving you the ability to anticipate the action before it happens.