Macro Wildlife Photography Classes
Macro Wildlife Photography Classes in Florida, Costa Rica and Online
Macro wildlife photography classes taught one-on-one by an award-winning photojournalist published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, TIME, CNN, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The New Yorker, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Smithsonian Magazine and many more.
Private sessions in Florida, Costa Rica, and live online.
Call or text 786-540-9194 | wildlifewithronen@gmail.com
Private 1-on-1 Focus
Small group classes also available
Florida, Costa Rica and Online
All Skill Levels
Beginner to advanced
My eyelash viper photograph featured by the Discovery Channel on World Snake Day. Photo: Ronen Tivony
A Hidden World Is Waiting for Your Lens
Look closer. There is a whole world of wildlife most people never see. A tiny treefrog resting on a leaf. A dragonfly glowing in the morning sun. A jumping spider with more personality than any portrait subject. These small wonders live inches from your feet, and most photographers walk right past them.
My private macro wildlife photography classes teach you to find, light, and photograph the small wonders of the natural world. Every session is one-on-one and built around your camera, your skill level, and your goals. I am Ronen Tivony, an award-winning wildlife photojournalist and University of Florida Certified Florida Master Naturalist.
My images have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, TIME, CNN, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The New Yorker, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Smithsonian Magazine, the Discovery Channel, and many other major global media companies. In these classes, I hand you the exact techniques behind those published photographs. Small group macro classes are also available for friends, camera clubs, and photography organizations.
What Is Holding Your Macro Photography Back, and How We Fix It
Your Close-Ups Come Out Blurry or Harshly Lit
Macro photography breaks the rules you learned everywhere else. At high magnification, depth of field shrinks to millimeters, the tiniest movement blurs your frame, and direct flash turns a beautiful frog into a shiny, harshly lit snapshot. Many photographers buy a macro lens, get frustrated by soft images and ugly light, and put it back in the bag. The problem is not your talent or your gear. Macro simply demands a different approach to aperture, shutter speed, focus, and especially lighting.
The fix: In your first session, we build a reliable macro workflow together. You will learn how to choose an aperture that balances sharpness and background softness, how to manage shutter speed and flash to freeze motion, and how to diffuse your light so it wraps softly around your subject. We practice on real subjects in real conditions, with immediate feedback on every frame. Most students see a dramatic improvement within a single session.
You Cannot Find Anything to Photograph
You have seen stunning images of tree frogs, mantises, and jewel-like spiders, but when you walk outside, you see nothing. Finding macro subjects is a skill of its own. Small wildlife hides in specific microhabitats, moves with the seasons, and follows daily activity patterns most photographers never learn to read.
The fix: This is where my Florida Master Naturalist training changes everything. I teach you to read habitat like a naturalist: which plants host which insects, where frogs shelter by day, when spiders build fresh webs, and how weather shifts activity. In Florida we work productive wetlands, hammocks, and gardens I have scouted for years. In Costa Rica we photograph rainforest icons like red-eyed tree frogs and eyelash vipers. You leave knowing how to find subjects anywhere, including your own backyard.
Your Photos Are Sharp, but They Lack Impact
Getting close and getting sharp is only half the craft. Many macro photos are technically fine but fail to move anyone: cluttered backgrounds, awkward angles, no eye contact, no story. Publishable macro work is about composition and moment, not just magnification.
The fix: I bring a photojournalist’s eye to the small world. You will learn to work the angle until the background falls away clean, to get down to your subject’s eye level, to place the catchlight, and to wait for the behavioral moment that turns a record shot into a photograph people stop and stare at. These are the same standards I apply to images that run in international media.
What a Private Macro Wildlife Photography Class Looks Like
A Macro Photography Class in the Field
Every class begins before we meet. In your pre-session consultation, we discuss your camera system, your experience, and what you want to achieve, so I can plan the right location and lesson for you. In the field, we start with your setup: lens choice, flash and diffuser, camera settings. Then we hunt. As we find subjects, I demonstrate the approach, then coach you through your own frames, reviewing images together on the spot and adjusting in real time. A full day includes multiple habitats and lighting situations, from natural light in open shade to full flash setups. You finish with follow-up support by email for image review and editing questions.
More Than Photography: The Naturalist Advantage
As a University of Florida Certified Florida Master Naturalist, I teach the biology behind the pictures. You will learn why the anole displays on that fence post, why orbweavers rebuild their webs at dusk, and why a rainy summer night in Florida or Costa Rica is a macro photographer’s dream. Understanding behavior lets you anticipate moments instead of chasing them. It also makes every session richer, because you come home understanding the small lives you photographed, not just carrying pictures of them.
Macro Techniques: Flash, Diffusion, and Focus Stacking
Lighting is the single biggest upgrade in most photographers’ macro work, so we spend real time on it. You will learn off-camera flash positioning, how to build and use effective diffusers, and how to balance flash with ambient light for natural-looking results. For static subjects, I introduce focus stacking, the technique of blending multiple frames for front-to-back sharpness, along with when a single well-placed plane of focus is the stronger choice. Everything is taught hands-on, on your own equipment, at your pace.
Private One-on-One or Small Group: Which Is Right for You?
Private instruction is the heart of these classes, and it is the fastest way to improve. You get my full attention, a curriculum built entirely around you, and the freedom to slow down on whatever challenges you most. Small group classes are a great fit for friends who want to learn together, camera clubs, and photography organizations. Groups are kept intentionally small so everyone still gets hands-on attention. If you are unsure which format fits, reach out and I will give you an honest recommendation.
Online Macro Photography Classes from Anywhere in the World
Not in Florida or Costa Rica? Online macro wildlife photography classes bring the learning to you. We meet live over video for one-on-one sessions covering gear selection, camera settings, lighting setups you can build at home for a few dollars, and detailed reviews of your macro images. Screen sharing lets us edit your photos together, so you learn a complete workflow from capture to final image. Online sessions also work beautifully as preparation before an in-person field day.
What You Might Photograph: Florida and Costa Rica Macro Subjects
Subjects vary with season and weather, and every class is planned around what is most active at the time, but here is a sense of what typically turns up.
Common Florida Macro Subjects
Halloween pennant and blue dasher dragonflies, zebra longwing and monarch butterflies, jumping spiders, golden silk and spiny orbweavers, green and squirrel treefrogs, green and brown anoles, eastern lubber grasshoppers, hammertail robber flies, and native coastal wildflowers.
Common Costa Rica Macro Subjects
Red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, glass frogs, blue jeans poison dart frogs, leaf-cutter ants on the move, morpho butterflies, and a wide range of rainforest insects and amphibians found around Boca Tapada and the Osa Peninsula.
Why Photographers Choose These Macro Wildlife Photography Classes
Macro work trusted by global media. My close-up wildlife images have been published by the Discovery Channel, CNN, The Guardian, MSN, and Conde Nast. You are learning the exact techniques behind photographs that international editors chose to run.
An award-winning photojournalist as your teacher. Decades of wire-service photojournalism, a Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society, and years of teaching photographers of every level shape how I coach: clear, direct, and focused on results.
A naturalist, not just a photographer. My Florida Master Naturalist certification from the University of Florida means you learn where small wildlife lives, how it behaves, and how to anticipate the moment, knowledge that keeps paying off long after our session ends.
Truly personal instruction. No fixed curriculum and no group to keep up with. Every private session is designed around your camera, your goals, and your pace, with immediate feedback while you shoot.
Ethics first, always. I teach low-impact field techniques that protect fragile subjects and habitats. Great macro photography never comes at the animal’s expense, and that standard runs through every class.
Three formats, one teacher. Florida field sessions, Costa Rica rainforest sessions, and live online classes mean you can learn wherever you are, and combine formats as your skills grow.
Macro Photography Class Rates and Booking
A private macro wildlife photography class is an investment in skills you will use for the rest of your photographic life. Because every session is one-on-one, availability is genuinely limited, and Florida’s best macro seasons book up.
| Full day private class in Florida Up to 8 hours, hands-on in the field | $700 |
| Half day private class in Florida Up to 4 hours | $395 |
| Online one-on-one session 90 minutes, live from anywhere | $150 |
| Costa Rica private and group wildlife macro photography workshop Rainforest sessions, standalone or added to a trip | Contact for pricing and availability |
| Small group classes Friends, camera clubs, organizations | Custom quote |
Every class includes a pre-session consultation and follow-up support by email for image review and editing questions. Discounts are available for multi-session packages and for adding a macro day to any of my wildlife photography workshops.
Frequently Asked Questions About Macro Wildlife Photography Classes
How much does a private macro photography class cost?
Private macro classes start at $150 for a 90-minute online session. In Florida, a half-day private field class is $395 and a full day is $700. Costa Rica private and group wildlife macro photography workshops are quoted individually, so contact me for pricing and availability. Small group rates in Florida depend on group size. Every price includes a pre-session consultation and follow-up email support, and multi-session packages are discounted. Compared with large group workshops, private instruction costs more per hour but teaches you far more per hour, because every minute is spent on your specific needs.
Do I need a macro lens to learn macro photography?
No. A dedicated macro lens is wonderful, but you can start with extension tubes, a close-focusing zoom, or the gear you already own. Part of your first session covers affordable paths into macro, so you can learn the craft before spending money on new equipment. When you are ready to buy, I will help you choose the right lens and flash for your system and budget, with no brand agenda.
Are macro photography classes suitable for beginners?
Yes. Because every class is private, I start wherever you are. Complete beginners leave with a solid foundation in exposure, focusing, and lighting for close-up work. Experienced photographers use the time for advanced skills like flash diffusion, focus stacking, and composition refinement. There is no group pace to keep up with, which is exactly why one-on-one instruction works so well for macro.
What is the best time of year for macro photography in Florida?
Florida is a year-round macro destination, which is one of its great advantages. Insect and spider activity peaks in the warm months from late spring through fall, when dragonflies, butterflies, orbweavers, and treefrogs are everywhere. Winter still offers plenty of subjects on mild days, along with wildflowers and reptiles. Summer, when bird photography slows down, is actually prime season for the small world. Rain and humidity bring frogs out in numbers, so some of the best sessions follow summer storms.
What subjects can you photograph in a macro class?
In Florida, common subjects include dragonflies, butterflies, jumping spiders, orbweavers, treefrogs, anoles, grasshoppers, and native wildflowers. In Costa Rica, we photograph rainforest icons such as red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash vipers, glass frogs, poison dart frogs, and spectacular insects. Subjects vary with season and weather, and I plan every session around what is most active at that moment.
What should I bring to a macro photography session?
Bring your camera, your closest-focusing lens, charged batteries, empty memory cards, water, sun protection, insect repellent, and closed-toe shoes you do not mind getting damp. If you own a flash, diffuser, or tripod, bring them. Do not worry if your kit is minimal. I bring demonstration gear, and part of the class is showing you what actually matters. You will receive a full checklist during your pre-session consultation.
How do online macro photography classes work?
We meet live over video for a private 90-minute session. Depending on your goals, we cover camera settings, gear recommendations, home lighting setups, and detailed reviews of your images. You can share your screen so we look at your photos and editing together in real time. Online sessions are ideal if you live outside Florida, want to prepare before a field session or a Costa Rica trip, or want ongoing coaching as your portfolio develops.
Is a private photography class better than a group workshop?
For learning speed, yes. In a private session, every minute of instruction is aimed at your camera, your questions, and your weak spots, and we move exactly at your pace. Group workshops offer shared energy and a lower price, and my small group macro classes keep numbers low enough that everyone gets hands-on time. Many photographers do both: a private session to build skills quickly, then group outings to practice them.
How do you photograph small animals without disturbing them?
Ethically, patiently, and with knowledge. I teach low-impact techniques: keeping respectful working distances, never baiting or chilling subjects, avoiding damage to plants and webs, and limiting time with any individual animal. As a Certified Florida Master Naturalist, I build habitat protection into every session. The goal is always a photograph of natural behavior in a natural setting, and you will find that ethical fieldcraft actually produces better images.
Will I come home with photos I am proud of?
That is the entire point of private instruction, and the answer is almost always yes. Because I scout locations, plan around active subjects, and coach you frame by frame, students routinely make their best-ever macro images during their first session. More importantly, you come home with a repeatable workflow, so the improvement continues every time you go out on your own.
More Ways to Learn Wildlife Photography with Ronen
Private Wildlife Photography Instruction and Tours. One-on-one field sessions focused on birds and larger wildlife across Florida’s best locations, from the Everglades to Fort De Soto Park.
Florida Bird Photography Workshops. Small group workshops at Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Orlando Wetlands, Fort De Soto, and more, timed for nesting season and peak activity.
Online Wildlife Photography Critique and Portfolio Review. Live virtual consultations to review your images, sharpen your editing, and strengthen your portfolio.
Costa Rica Photography Adventures. Rainforest wildlife photography in one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, with macro days available as add-ons.
Wildlife Photography Gift Cards. Give a private macro class or workshop to the photographer in your life.
Book Your Macro Wildlife Photography Class
Macro wildlife photography classes open a world that is hiding in plain sight. Somewhere within a short walk of where you are sitting, a tiny drama is unfolding: a spider tending her web, a treefrog waiting out the afternoon, a dragonfly hunting in golden light. Learning to photograph that world well is one of the most rewarding skills in all of photography, and it is far easier with an experienced teacher beside you. Private sessions are limited by nature, and Florida’s peak macro months fill quickly.
Call or text 786-540-9194 | wildlifewithronen@gmail.com