Join us on a bird and wildlife photo workshop or photo tour to some of the best locations in Florida.

Are you ready to travel to several of Florida’s best birding locations? We will be spending seven days with incredible photo opportunities. Florida’s unique wildlife and climate make it a nature photographer’s paradise. Expect to shoot thousands of bird photos and other wildlife along with some incredible landscapes. Escape the winter cold and visit sunny Florida!

In February, the tropical storms and the summer rain have passed. This is the dry season in Florida. The lower water levels mean the wildlife is more concentrated and easier to find and photograph. 

Florida has incredibly tame birds. It is common to have some species just a few feet away so we should be able to get full frame photos.

We will be visiting several A+ locations, some of the best in the state. Each area is handpicked to provide the best photographic opportunities at a wide variety of habitats. This includes classic locations along the East Coast. West Coast and Central Florida including Merritt Island, Fort Desoto and several relatively unknown locations.

We will also visit an incredible swamp in Central Florida. This location has several nesting owls, nesting herons, frequent bobcat sightings, armadillos, and several species of birds. We will also be visiting several secret locations; for example, eagle nests, nesting barred and great horned owls, rookeries, and osprey nests. We will spend a lot of time visiting my top Roseate Spoonbill locations including some active nests and some great opportunities for flight photos.

Note: This bird photography tour will not overlap the areas covered on my Southern Florida photo tours and workshops.

Since we will be shooting a high volume of pictures, please bring a lot of memory/flash cards. We also recommend you bring a portable external hard drive to back up your images. We still recommend a 400+ mm lens. Many companies rent lenses if you don’t already own one. Please contact us for suggestions. 

When:
February 10 - February 16, 2025 (1 space left)

Itinerary:

The itinerary will be dependent on the weather, tide levels and the amount of rainfall. We will be pre-scouting several locations before the trip starts. I will review recent wildlife reports, monitor tides and water levels. Each day is paced to maximize photo opportunities. The schedule will be flexible to maximize getting the best light.

Day 1:
Meet at the Sarasota Hotel at 3 p.m. The hotel has a free shuttle from the airport. We will discuss plans for the upcoming week. Afterwards we will leave for an afternoon photo session and photograph until sunset.

Day 2:
We will start the day photographing at sunrise at world famous Fort Desoto. Later that afternoon we will visit another amazing area that has incredible photo opportunities.

Day 3:
Morning shoot at a secret wildlife location. Afterwards we will be visiting in and around the town of Lakeland which has several great birding hotspots including nesting sites for eagles and owls.

Day 4:
Sunrise shoot and then head to a new location on the east coast. We will have an action-packed afternoon photographing until sunset.

Day 5:
Sunrise shoot photographing silhouetted birds in flight including nesting herons. The rest of the day will be spent visiting a local rookery and boardwalk where we will photograph nesting birds including spoonbills. This is also a great location for photographing birds in flight.

Day 6:
Sunrise shoot along the ocean at one of John’s favorite locations then drive to Orlando. We will have an action-packed afternoon photographing until sunset.

Day 7:
We will have our early morning photo session and then check out of the hotel by 11 a.m. We will then head back to Orlando Airport for late afternoon flights.

Getting There:
We will be using two different airports to maximize photography time and not have to backtrack.

Arrival: Sarasota International Airport (SRQ)
Departure: Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Skill and Fitness Levels:
Anyone with an interest in photography from beginner to professional. The participants should have a love of nature and enjoy the company of other people in a small group setting. This trip will involve some short flat walks. Some of the walks will be up to 3 miles.

Participants should be in good health and self-sufficient.

What’s Included:

Six nights lodging (Sarasota, Lakeland, Orlando, and Titusville). Lodging is double occupancy. If you prefer your own private room (single occupancy), it is an additional $300. Please select the Single Room option on the shopping cart.

Professional instruction on nature photography and wildlife behavior.

Permits, admission and entrance fees.

Transportation from hotel to the field locations. There is a free shuttle to and from the hotel. No need to rent a car.

After the Tour: 
You will be invited to zoom classes exclusive to past tour participants at no additional cost. Topics will be Lightroom, Photoshop, Wildlife Photography and Landscape Photography.

Not Included:
Food and drinks. We will eat at local restaurants. Each participant is responsible for their own food tab. 

All Flights

We will help you create beautiful images and teach you skills and techniques you can use to take your photography to the next level. When the tour is over, you will have a solid understanding of nature photography and your camera.

Price: $4495 per person

Deposit: $1000
Balance Due: six months before start date

Payment:
Payment can be made by check to Slonina Photography. We also accept credit cards through our online shopping cart.

Cancellation Policy:

Click here to see Testimonials.

Tour Guides:

John Slonina (leader), Jenny Bowlden (co-leader)

Two professional nature photographers who have been photographing for several decades. During the workshop, you will receive information on photography techniques and the natural world. Understanding nature not only increases your appreciation of it but also helps you become a better nature photographer.

We hope you can join us at this incredible place.

If you have any questions, please contact us.