Nature and conservation

This Summit workshop allows participants to learn and photograph alongside the best nature and wildlife storytellers in the industry. 

A Peak Photography Experience

The Nature and Wildlife Workshop, also called Photography at the Summit, is the longest-running workshop in the Summit Series. It brings together a faculty of top international photographers and editors — many from National Geographic — and combines it with the beautiful setting of the Grand Tetons. Our faculty offers a wide-variety of photography knowledge, so a student may go shoot in the morning with an expert nature photographer, review their work in the afternoon with a professional editor, then go over their editing process with a tech expert.

This workshop provides participants the opportunity to learn from, photograph alongside, and network with the very individuals who are uniquely positioned to help them with their career development. While many nature workshops provide you with an opportunity to shoot outstanding nature photos, we take it one step further by truly offering you a chance to both expand your portfolio and to expand your network. Included in the instructional sessions will be lectures on conservation photography, freelance photography, and marketing and software/technology.

 

*Summit Workshops is an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service*

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Deposit

Due upon registration
$ 500
  • Deposit holds your spot in the workshop
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Full Tuition

Nature & Conservation Workshop
$ 2795
  • Workshop Tuition

You will learn

Wildlife Photography
Landscape Photography
Conservation Photography
Storytelling
Lightpainting
Night Skies
Macro Photography
filmmaking

You should take this workshop if...

You are passionate about nature and wildlife photography and want to learn to use images and storytelling to inspire action.

You want to learn and grow from the best nature photographers in the industry, all members of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).

You want to be put in front of stunning scenery, vibrant fall colors, and iconic wildlife and photograph it all alongside instructors excited to help you grow as a photographer.

You want to network with industry professionals and like minded photographers.

2023 WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Workshop Faculty

Michael Forsberg

Workshop Faculty

Melissa Groo

Jim Richardson - Summit Photography Workshops
Workshop Faculty

Jim Richardson

Workshop Faculty

Katie Schuler

dave_showalter_bio
Workshop Faculty

Dave Showalter

Allen Murabayashi - Summit Photography Workshops

Allen Murabayashi

Workshop Faculty

Mariah Lundgren

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Faculty / Staff

Matt Stirn

Workshop Faculty

Michael Forsberg

Mike is a senior fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers who has focused his career on North America’s Great Plains, its prairie wildlife, and watersheds. His work has appeared in National Geographic and Outdoor Photographer, and his books on On Ancient Wings and Great Plains – America’s Lingering Wild have been turned into documentary films for PBS. Mike is co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse Project, and currently serves as faculty with the University of Nebraska.

Workshop Faculty

Melissa Groo

Melissa is a wildlife photographer, writer, speaker, and educator. She’s a contributing editor to Audubon magazine, writes a column on wildlife photography for Outdoor Photographer magazine, and is an Associate Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers. She speaks and writes extensively on issues of ethics and conservation in wildlife photography, and leads workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Melissa was Chair of the Ethics Committee for the North American Nature Photography Association from 2014-2018. Her work has been published in numerous books and magazines, such as Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, and Natural History. Melissa is represented by National Geographic Image Collection and has a long-term gallery at Audubon Greenwich in Connecticut.

Workshop Faculty

Jim Richardson

Jim has work appearing regularly in National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler in addition to Geographic books. Jim is on assignment for Nat Geo projects almost full time and for good reason. Richardson, a onetime newspaper photographer in Kansas and Colorado, brings amazing story-telling techniques along with detailed research to his pictures. Thirty years ago, he began photographing the area around his hometown in north central Kansas.

Workshop Faculty

Katie Schuler

An advocate for the planet’s most at-risk species, Katie operates at the nexus between science, empathy, and storytelling. More than a decade of filmmaking across six continents has afforded Katie expertise in the field and in the editing room. Using her signature storytelling flair, Katie’s films explore how we live alongside nature, garnering accolades, accruing millions of views, and inspiring meaningful conservation victories. Her production company, Coral & Oak Studios, has partnered with many of the most recognizable names in wildlife filmmaking, including National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC, HBO, and PBS. Katie’s film, Pangolin, is the winner of six best short awards including Jackson Wild’s 2017 Best Short category. Since its premiere, Pangolin has been translated into four languages, reaching over 75 million people while serving as an important tool for conservation. Two of her latest films, Where Life Begins, and Nigerians Fight to Protect the World’s Most Trafficked Mammal, have won awards at festivals in 2019. Katie is a National Geographic Explorer, a graduate of the Corcoran College of Art and Design, a Henry Luce Fellow, and a member of the International League of a Conservation Photographer’s Emerging League.

Workshop Faculty

Dave Showalter

Dave Showalter is based in Colorado and focused on the American West. Dave has published two books – Sage Spirit, The American West at A Crossroads by Braided River (2015); and the award-winning Prairie Thunder by Skyline Press (2007). Dave’s photographs and articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Audubon, Conservation Biology, Outside, Outdoor Photographer, National Parks Magazine, High Country News, Wilderness, Colorado Life and elsewhere.

Allen Murabayashi

Allen Murabayashi is the Chairman and Co-founder of PhotoShelter, the worldwide leader in photography portfolio websites, photo sales, marketing and archiving tools for photographers. Allen previously served as a founding employee and Senior Vice President of Engineering at HotJobs.com.

Workshop Faculty

Mariah Lundgren

Mariah is a conservation storyteller, filmmaker and photographer. She is dedicated to telling stories within the Great Plains and the American West. She loves giving voice to the voiceless and telling stories that will help people better understand our natural world.

She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a BS in Environmental Studies, and a minor Fisheries & Wildlife. She is the producer & project manager for the Platte Basin Timelapse project; a long-term documentary project using time-lapse and traditional photography and multimedia storytelling to educate about the Platte River Basin and what it means to live in a watershed today. This project has taught her the art and importance of storytelling and science communication. She is also a photographers assistant with Michael Forsberg who is Senior Fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers and is represented by National Geographic Creative.

Owner / Director

Chris Steppig

Chris is the owner and director of Summit Workshops. Summit was his first job out of college and nearly 20 years later, this is home.  He is in charge of all workshop operations, scheduling, logistics, faculty, social media, marketing and sponsorship. Chris has a passion for conservation, travel, and education and the workshops are a dream platform to help others reach new heights as not only photographers but as people.

Chris is an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The iLCP is a U.S. based non-profit whose mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. This affiliation provides a tremendous opportunity to help deliver great content and also be an advisor on matters large and small.  He is also a professional advisor for Outdoor Photographer magazine.  Through collaboration and great communications with the editor of the magazine, there have been countless articles written by Summit Alumni in the magazine over the years.

Faculty / Staff

Matt Stirn

Matt is a photographer, writer, and archaeologist based between Boston and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Focusing on stories related to archaeology, history, culture, and conservation, Matt’s images and writing can be found in Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, National Geographic, GEO, BBC, Archaeology Magazine, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, and more. Matt is a National Fellow at The Explorer’s Club, currently directs multiple archaeological projects in the Rocky Mountains, is involved in several excavations in Greece and Italy, and worked as the Photographer In Residence for the British School in Athens, Greece where he specialized in photographing artifacts. Along with his wife Rebecca, Matt has both lived and worked in Greece and is passionate about sharing it with fellow photographers and travelers.

Workshop Itinerary

Day one
  • 11am:  Check-in / Introductions
  • Class: Faculty Presentations and Instruction
  • Small Group Sessions With Faculty
  • Afternoon/Evening Shoots With Faculty
Day two
  • Class: Techniques in Shooting Outdoors
  • Class: Building your Nature Photography Skillset
  • Portfolio Reviews
  • Morning and Evening Shoots with Faculty
  • Photographers’ Social
Day three
  • Early Morning Shoots
  • Class: Faculty Presentations and Instruction
  • 1:1 Sessions With Faculty
  • Afternoon/Evening Shoots With Faculty
Day four
  • Early Morning Shoots
  • Class: Faculty Presentations and Instruction
  • 1:1 Sessions With Faculty
  • Afternoon/Evening
Day five
  • Early Morning Shoots
  • Class: Image Critique, Faculty Roundtable and Career Discussion
  • Closing Reception

What to know

  • Each day you will have the option to sign up for separate outings with different instructors. We encourage participants to read up on the faculty and think about who they would like to shoot with. We also suggest branching out and trying a bit of everything!
  • While there is no steep hiking required on this workshop, some outings will involve carrying heavy lenses/gear on flat trails.
  • There will be lots of gear to check out and rent on a daily basis.
  • The workshop classroom is located at The Virginian near downtown Jackson.
  • The workshop hotel is The Virginian, call and mention the Summit Nature Workshop for the discounted group rate.
  • Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, a rental car is required for this workshop.
  • The daily drives consists of early morning shoots, then to Workshop HQ, back to town, and then lastly back to Workshop HQ for the nightly presentation. 
  • Make sure to pack clothing options for all days. They are long days so you may change at least once a day so pack extra for that. Jackson in the fall usually gives you a mix of all weather. The most important thing is to bring WARM clothes for the morning shoots that start before sunrise. This includes many layers, hats, gloves, and anything else to keep you warm dealing with your cold, metal equipment.
  • You may also want to bring a few more formal options (if you desire) for the welcome and closing receptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

No! Summit Workshops is available to any photographer, regardless of what brand of camera you use. We often have camera gear available to borrow, free of charge, but you are not required to use that gear or any specific brand. 

Tuition includes activity fees, location fees, all instruction, planning and logistics. It does not cover hotels, travel, and most meals. 

Our Sports Workshop is for shooters of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. We all learn from and help one another, that is what makes the Summit Community so special. 

With few exceptions (like a medical reason), having proof of COVID-19 vaccine is a requirement on our Summit Workshops.

Lodging

Discounted rates have been secured for students at the The Virginian Lodge in Jackson. This is where the workshop hotel and where the faculty and staff will be staying! We will send you the booking link upon registration and hope you’ll take advantage of this discount at the workshop hub! 

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