2024 Grand Teton Winter Wildlife & Landscape Photo Workshop

With Matt Suess

December 1 - 6, 2024

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Join me this winter as we chase amazing light photographing both the wildlife and the mountain landscape. We will have an incredible experience together all while improving your photography skills.

The Tetons in the winter = dramatic light, more chances for wildlife, and less tourists...

...What's not to like?

Join me for 6 amazing days exploring and photographing the snow covered Teton Range this winter.

Be a part of a small group of photographers I am putting together to photograph one of my favorite National Parks during the winter.

I've been photographing the Tetons since 2012 and have been leading on average 3 workshops a year there since 2015. So suffice it to say that I have an intimate knowledge of the landscape and animals that make their home in the Tetons.

I'll be able to put us in the right spot at the right time to photograph this spectacular scenery with my years of experience in the Park.

Join me this winter during my winter wildlife & landscape photo workshop where we will be spending all day out in the field photographing this majestic area.

This time of year presents us with abundant wildlife with them out from the high country and not hidden from dense summer foliage as they forage for food.

Elk will be migrating from the Park to the National Elk Refuge, home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. Bighorn sheep winter there as well and we'll be photographing them too.

Moose should still have their huge antlers as they roam the southern part of the park.

Bison, coyotes, trumpeter swans, river otters, and foxes are all possibilities for us in addition to other wildlife.

Each full day of the workshop we will start by photographing the predawn light with backdrops featuring the snow capped Tetons, old wood barns, the famous Snake River, and the Teton Valley. We will stay out photographing throughout the entire day to maximize our photography potential.

All throughout the day we will be photographing wildlife, the landscape, and other scenic possibilities. If the clouds are right, we will experiment with solid neutral density filters and long exposures.

And I'll be sure to put us in the perfect spot for our sunset shoot that evening.

🏔️ A Great Time of Year for Landscapes & Wildlife 🦌

Grand Teton National Park is one of the most beautiful and majestic landscapes in the world, with the Teton Range rising more than 7,000 feet above the valley. Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park has some of the more dramatic scenery in the Rocky Mountains. It is sure to be an inspiration for any photographer looking to create beautiful images.

This workshop is scheduled for early winter in December, when the Park features dramatic snow capped mountains, wildlife, and less tourists.

In addition to the beauty of the Park, the town of Jackson will also be decorated for the Holiday Season and we will spend an early evening one night photographing around town.

Must Be in Good Physical Condition

Each workshop client needs to be in decent physical condition. Expect hikes on level ground up to 1/2 mile or so.

This workshop takes place in the winter and it will be cold, especially when we are out photographing sunrise and sunset. I'll have recommendations on some great cold weather clothing to get so you will barely notice the cold. The average max temp this time of year is 26.5F with the average min temp at just 1.8F. The average snowfall this time of year is 39.5" with an average snow depth of 16".

More info on clothing and gear will be provided after registration.

This workshop is designed for any skill level, yet a DSLR/Mirrorless or equivalent camera with interchangeable lenses AND a sturdy tripod are required, as well as a basic working knowledge of your camera.

Most clients who take my workshops are beginners to advanced amateurs and even pros. My workshops are filled with hands-on instruction & demonstrations. I encourage & help find and develop each clients' unique personal style of photography.

You can read my cancellation policy and terms on my Workshop Registration Page here. All participants are required to sign it.

Lodging is not included. Please make your reservations at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa at Jackson. 

Spouses & companions are certainly welcome on this trip - even non-photographer spouses/companions. However in order for spouses/companions to join us during travel and at locations, they need to be fully registered. Matt will be sure to provide tips on getting the best cell phone photos if that is the only camera they have with them!

At this time of year sunrise is at approx. 7:40am and sunset is at approx. 4:45pm, which gives us approx. 9hrs of daylight.

We will be at our locations photographing just before sunrise and ending our day just after sunset.

During mid day when the light isn’t great we will be taking a break for a few hours to recharge batteries, download images, and rest up for the evening sessions.

However we are ultimately at the mercy of Mother Nature and I will be diligently studying weather forecasts during our time together with the numerous weather resources I always use when planning for the best light.

So our day-to-day schedule is absolutely always subject to change immensely based on the light/photography potential on any given day, thus this itinerary is intentionally planned to be extremely loose and variable during our time together.

There have been numerous times on my workshops where we ended up not taking the scheduled mid-day break to instead chase the light. And our efforts were always rewarded with amazing photographs...

So in other words, be prepared for the unexpected!

Be sure to arrive in Jackson before 3pm on Sunday, December 1 to allow time for hotel check-in and to get ready for our evening group dinner. Ideally it is best to arrive on Saturday, November 30 should there be any weather delays with your flight.

We will meet for a group dinner (meals not included) at 4:30pm where we will discuss our week ahead of us and go over any last minute details. Following dinner we will take a leisurely stroll around Jackson Square photographing the Holiday scene.

Plan on meeting at approx. 7:00AM before sunrise (sunrise is at approx. 7:45AM). We will be out all day photographing landscapes & wildlife, with a possible lunch break in Jackson Hole or we will eat packed lunches out in the field.

We will end each day following our sunset shoot (sunset is at approx. 4:45pm.)

Plan on meeting for sunrise at approx. 7:00AM before sunrise. We will photograph as long as the light is great up till 10am when the workshop will end.

If flying out of Jackson that day, try to plan for flights after 2:00PM to allow time for hotel checkout and car rental return.