WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY SLAM
Join us for the Wildlife Photography Slam on July 12, 2025 - a full-day immersive workshop with three of the industry’s most inspiring wildlife photographers. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls with OM System Ambassador Lee Hoy, sharpen your in-field techniques and composition with Tamron Ambassador Alyce Bender, and explore the art of visual storytelling with award-winning conservation photographer Sean Fitzgerald.
SCHEDULE
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - Lee Hoy: The Top Six Mistakes Wildlife Photographers Make
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Alyce Bender: Tips and Tricks for Capturing Portfolio-Worthy Wildlife Images
12:30 PM -1:15 PM – LUNCH – Rudy’s BBQ
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM - Sean Fitzgerald: Storytelling with Wildlife Photography
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM – Panel Discussion with Lee Hoy, Alyce Bender & Sean Fitzgerald
REGISTER EARLY & SAVE!
$115 Early Bird Pricing | $145 Regular Pricing
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
LEE HOY:
Lee Hoy is an OM System Ambassador and passionate photography educator who has led global workshops since 2018. With over 270 days per year in the field and a love for wildlife, landscapes, the night sky, and macro photography, Lee brings deep knowledge and a charismatic style that connects with people worldwide. As a lifelong learner from a family of educators, teaching comes naturally to Lee. His workshops are designed to sharpen technical skills and inspire personal growth through photography. Lee offers an OM-System-specific mentor program for wildlife photographers at www.leehoyphotography.com.
The Top Six Mistakes Wildlife Photographers Make
This presentation will address the biggest mistakes that beginning, intermediate, and even advanced wildlife photographers make. After spending over 270 days a year leading workshops in the field, he’s seen almost every mistake a wildlife photographer can make. Learn to avoid repeating these mistakes, improve your wildlife photography skills, save money, and capture visually compelling wildlife images.
ALYCE BENDER:
Alyce Bender is a professional nature photographer, writer, educator, U.S. Air Force veteran, and Tamron Americas ambassador. Her passion for the natural environment compels her to connect others with nature through education and experiences that promote conservation, creativity, and ethical photography. Her work has been featured in group and solo shows across the U.S. and in domestic and international publications from the U.K. to Japan. When leading tours, Bender aims to help photographers expand their personal vision and naturalist skills. When not in the field, she offers a variety of educational and mentorship programs – learn more at https://www.abenderphotography.com/
Wildlife Photography - Tips and Tricks for Capturing Portfolio-Worthy Wildlife Images
In this class, we will delve into wildlife photography. Topics covered will include finding wildlife, dressing for the occasion, in-field techniques, thoughts on composition, suggested gear, and maintaining ethical wildlife photography practices. This will give participants a broad base of understanding for wildlife photography, enabling them to go out into the field and capture images of animals everyone is sure to love!
SEAN FITZGERALD:
Sean Fitzgerald is a Texas-based nature, conservation, and travel photographer primarily in editorial and commercial assignments, stock, and commercial fine art. He is a frequent contributor to Texas Highways magazine and has been featured in many other publications, including the New York Times, Outdoor Photographer, Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Backpacker, Bicycling, Ranger Rick, Texas Monthly, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and D Magazine. Many clients have used his images, ranging from Barbara Streisand to Devils River Whiskey. He was recently named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the International Regional Magazine Association. He twice won the Wildlife in Focus photography contest. He focuses his conservation work on endangered and threatened Texas ecosystems, including Texas prairies. He is a past president of the North American Nature Photography Association and a member of the American Society of Media Photographers. He also helps lead national advocacy efforts for visual artists on copyright reform and public land access. For more information, go to www.seanfitzgerald.com.
Storytelling with Wildlife Photography
Photographers can move hearts and minds by telling a broader visual story about an animal’s behavior, habitat, or challenges for survival. Learn how to research and “storyboard” a subject, effectively use equipment and lighting, and make conscious choices about story elements in single and multiple images, and how to create images and use images for art, publication, and advocacy.