2025 Florida Bird & Wildlife Workshop

Come join us for a unique experience in northeast Florida.  We have decided to offer this popular workshop following the great annual Florida Bird and Photo Festival.  Next Spring we are moving from Delray Beach to St. Augustine to not only offer our bird and wildlife workshop, but the opportunity to attend the ala carte festival for additional photography sessions with amazing instructors including architecture, portraiture, macro and more.

WORKSHOP DETAILS (April 27 – May 1, 2025):

In Spring, while Florida’s nesting season is in full swing and with the Atlantic coast, inlets, wildlife refuges, rookeries, as well as the wetlands buzzing with the sounds of chicks begging for their share of parental forage, the photography opportunities are endless.  Other birds are just starting their nesting season and can be seen carrying large sticks back to their nest in preparation for their future family.  These areas allow us access—often, just by a few feet—to active nests where we are able to photograph habituated great egrets, cattle egrets, great blue herons, American wood storks, anhingas, double-crested cormorants, tricolored herons, roseate spoonbills, and little blue herons, among others, at very close range. Along with the nesting birds, the wetlands we visit are home to many other species, such as purple gallinules, limpkins, snail kites, snipes, white ibis, glossy ibis and black-bellied whistling ducks.  We turn our attention to the high trees and sky for bald eagles, ospreys, great horned owls and a variety of shorebirds like plovers, terns, stilts, sandpipers, sanderling, skimmers and much more.

In addition to bird photography, there are many other subjects to photograph at most of our locations, including alligators, turtles, snakes, frogs and amphibians, plus a variety of other wetland creatures. Occasionally, we may be visited by river otters or a curious bobcat.  Between all these locations, you will be amazed at all the wildlife around us at every given moment.

Join us to photograph Florida’s best bird shooting hot spots. Great wildlife and exciting habitats, combined with the wonderful climate, make this an enjoyable and productive nature photography experience and a great winter escape.  This is, perhaps, the best possible Florida bird and wildlife shoot—one you should absolutely not miss!

FESTIVAL DETAILS (April 23 – 27, 2025):

The Florida Bird and Photo Festival offers, not only access to leading camera and lens manufacturers with options to try out equipment, but also nearly 100 exciting photography & birding events with field workshops that include photographing birds of prey, birds in flight, horses on the beach, creative processes, historic architecture, portraits, flash, and macro led by renown photography leaders. They also offer classroom sessions including Photoshop & Lightroom, composition, processing, printing, composition, and flash techniques for beginning to advanced photographers.

The festival is an a la carte, so you can register for only the sessions you care to attend.  More details on the festival to come as they are still finalizing the details for 2025.

HOW THE WORKSHOP IS RUN:

This is a true immersive photography workshop, not just a coastal photo tour.  This means that the instructor(s) will be working with you throughout the workshop to help you improve your photography skills.  Their thoughtful, gentle coaching style will encourage you to take your photography to the next level regardless of your starting point.

All of our workshops, classes and lessons include their learning cycle, which is to provide INFORMATION, give opportunities to PRACTICE using the information, and then receive FEEDBACK on your practice. They will provide you with as much, or as little, coaching as you desire.  The daily feedback sessions will include all participants and the feedback, like the teaching, is constructive, instructive and inspiring.  It’s all about the fun of learning by doing.

Participants will learn techniques of photographing all the above subject matter including bird in-flight and intimate landscapes tailored to their individual level of experience.  Instructor(s) are passionate about making great photographs. Their goal is to help you do the same.  They will make sure to maximize photographic opportunities, the itinerary is scouted prior to and will be flexible to make the most of changing weather and lighting conditions.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

This workshop is designed to accommodate all levels of photographic experience. It is important, however, that participants be familiar with their equipment and its operation.

DRESS and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Spring weather can be quite unpredictable, so come prepared for combinations of wet, dry, cool and warm conditions.  Check the forecast and plan accordingly.  Please note:  This workshop is held rain or shine so participants should be prepared to shoot in all types of weather conditions.

Physical requirements:  Appropriate for people in good health and moderate to good shape.  Minimal hiking and walking.

LODGING:

We will notifiy you when the blocs is set and you can contact the lodging facilities listed below directly for reservations. When you do, be sure to mention Nettelhorst Photography Workshop to receive the discounted rates and which days in the block you care to stay.

Participants should plan to arrive in  Northeast Florida no later then early afternoon on Sunday, April 27, 2025 to be sure to make it to St. Augustine for the start of the workshop at 6:00pm

Beacher’s Lodge Oceanfront Suites –

6970 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080

Balacony Suite (Ocean View – Gold Rated)

Block Reserved – April 23-May 1, 2025 @ $188 + tax

All rooms will be based on availability. This is the busy season. Therefore, making reservations sooner, rather than later, is wise. Reserve your room immediately.

TRANSPORTATION and MEALS:

Participants are responsible for transportation to /from and during the workshop.  The two closest airports are Jacksonville International Airport (approx. 1 hr ) & Orlando International Airport (approx. 2 hrs).  Carpooling will be coordinated during the workshop to/from locations as necessary.  Included is an a la carte grab-n-go breakfast each morning, snacks and post-workshop lunch.  All other meals are the participant’s responsibility and all are encouraged to eat together.

PRE and POST ZOOM MEETINGS:

Meet & Greet Gathering: Sunday, March 2, 2025 @ 6-8pm CT

Reunion Gathering: Sunday, June 1, 2025 @ 6-8pm CT

DATE/TIME:  Sunday, April 27, 2025 (6:00 pm ET) – Thursday, May 1, 2025 (1:00 pm ET)

COST:  $1750 / $900* Deposit (5 min / 10 max participants) *non-refundable

(10% dicount for returning participants)

The registration fee covers leaders’ expenses, coaching, instruction, critiquing, continental to-go breakfast and closing luncheon. Lodging, all other meals, travel arrangements, park entrance fees, alcoholic beverages and any other expenses are all the responsibility of workshop participants. Please refer to the cancelation policy in the Terms & Conditions and there will be a $50 administrative fee charged for any cancelation. Full payment is due by March 2, 2025 prior to the workshop start.  It is strongly encouraged that participants purchase travel insurance because of the non-refundable fees. We’ve partned with Global Rescue, so if you are looking for insurance please visit our page – https://partner.globalrescue.com/nettelhorst/

Upon receipt of your registration a confirmation email is sent and you will receive additional information leading up to the Meet & Greet as well as the workshop.

NOTE: In case minimum registration isn’t met, we will notify participants promptly and refund payments in full. The workshop may still be offered to interested photographers at a higher fee.

CONTACT: info@nettelhorstimages.com

Terms & Conditions

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” ~ Ansel Adams