SAVE TIME AND LEARN THE BEST PLACES
Contact Jess for Limited Availability
One photographer. One guide. Fifty years of knowing exactly where to be — and when.
These are not workshops. They are private mentoring days in the field with Jess Lee — National Geographic contributing photographer, 50-year Greater Yellowstone ecosystem resident, and NPS Authorized Permittee for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Availability is extremely limited and intentionally kept that way.
If you want to learn these parks from the inside — from someone who has spent decades watching the light, tracking the wildlife, and finding the compositions that most visitors never see — this is how you do it.
What a Private Mentoring Day Trip Is
A private mentoring trip is a full or half day in the field with Jess, built entirely around you. You set the goals. Jess sets the agenda based on current conditions, active wildlife, and the season's light.
There is no curriculum. No classroom. No other photographers pulling focus. Just the parks, your camera, and one of the most experienced eyes in the American West beside you as you work.
You will learn where wildlife is moving right now, not where it was last season. You will learn why a location works at one hour and fails at another. You will learn how to read the light before it happens and be in position when it does. These are the things that come from decades on the ground — and they cannot be found in a guidebook or a YouTube tutorial.
Who These Trips Are For
Private mentoring days are designed for photographers who are serious about their work and want to make the most of their time in Yellowstone and the Tetons. That includes:
- Experienced photographers visiting from out of state who want to skip the learning curve and go straight to the best opportunities
- Intermediate shooters who have photographed the parks before but feel like they are missing something
- Advanced amateurs and emerging professionals who want honest, high-level field critique and instruction
- Traveling photographers on a short visit who cannot afford to spend two days figuring out where the wolves were yesterday
Skill level is not a barrier. These trips are calibrated to you.
What You Will Learn
Every trip is different, but the core of what Jess teaches in the field stays consistent: how to think about an image before you raise the camera. Specific areas of instruction include:
- Wildlife location and behavior — where animals are, why they are there, and how to anticipate their next move
- Light and timing — why the difference between a good image and a great one is often 20 minutes and 200 yards
- Composition in dynamic situations — how to work fast when wildlife is moving and not sacrifice the frame
- Exposure for high-contrast environments — bison in snow, backlit elk, thermal steam at sunrise
- Access and positioning — the lesser-known pullouts, angles, and approaches that come from 50 years of working this terrain
- Field workflow — what to review in the field, what to change, and how to leave each location having made your best images
Extended private trips can also include post-processing review, print preparation, and — for photographers considering selling their work — an honest conversation about image presentation and the fine art print market.
The Details
Group Size
Day trips are private for 1 to 3 photographers. Private family or friend groups of up to 5 are available by arrangement. There are no add-ons, no strangers, and no shared itineraries.
Transportation
All trips operate in a full-size 4-wheel drive SUV or AWD 7-passenger van. Every photographer has their own window and door — critical when a shy grizzly is in the meadow 100 yards away at 6:15 am, and you have about four seconds to work. There is room for all of your gear.
Departure
Spring and fall full-day trips depart West Yellowstone, Montana between 5 and 6 am. After a midday break, an afternoon session of 3–4 hours follows. Departure from other access points — including Jackson, Wyoming and Island Park, Idaho — is available by arrangement.
Seasonal Availability & Rates
- Full Day — $1,500 | Available May 1–June 15
- Morning Only — $850 | 5-6 Hours
- Evenings - $600 | 4 Hours
Fall and winter private mentoring availability is limited and offered on a case-by-case basis. Contact Jess directly.
Permit Status
Jess Lee holds NPS Authorized Permittee status for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and BLM permittee status. You are working with a permitted professional photographer sharing his shooting time — not a hobbyist with a camera.
Why Learn the Parks From Jess Lee
Jess has lived and worked in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for more than 50 years. His work has appeared on the covers of National Geographic and National Wildlife, on PBS in an Emmy Award-winning Ken Burns series, and at the Annenberg Space for Photography. He has been leading private photography trips in Yellowstone and Grand Teton for decades.
That history means two things for you. First, he knows places in these parks that most visitors — and most guides — will never find. Second, he has watched these ecosystems change across seasons and decades in ways that inform every decision he makes in the field.
You can spend your days in Yellowstone driving the same pullouts as everyone else, stopping when you see brake lights. Or you can spend them with someone who knew where the wolves would be before the brake lights existed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a private mentoring day trip include?
A private mentoring day includes one-on-one field instruction with Jess Lee, transport in a comfortable 4WD vehicle, real-time intelligence on current wildlife activity, and personalized coaching on composition, exposure, and light. You will visit locations selected specifically for the conditions on the day of your trip, including spots that are not on any public map.
How is this different from a group workshop?
On a private mentoring trip, the entire day is structured around you. There are no other students competing for attention, no fixed stop list, and no averaging of skill levels. Jess adapts everything — pace, subject, instruction depth — to what you need in the moment.
What skill level do I need?
None required. These trips are calibrated to the individual. Whether you are a serious amateur working to break through a plateau or an advanced shooter who wants expert eyes on your field decisions, the trip is built for you.
How far in advance should I book?
These trips are offered on a very limited basis. Spring dates in particular — May through mid-June — tend to fill quickly. Contact Jess as early as possible, ideally several months before your planned visit, to discuss availability.
Can I book a trip for a small group of friends or family?
Yes. Private groups of up to 5 photographers travel in one vehicle. These trips work well for couples, family groups, and small camera clubs. Contact Jess to discuss your group's goals and schedule a date.
Is Jess Lee an authorized guide in Yellowstone and Grand Teton?
Yes. Jess holds NPS Authorized Permittee status for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, as well as BLM permittee status. All trips operate fully within park regulations.
Reserve Your Private Mentoring Day
These trips are offered on an extremely limited basis. Jess takes a small number of private mentoring days each season to keep the experience what it should be — focused, personal, and worth the investment.
To check availability and discuss your goals, contact Jess directly. Include your target dates, your current skill level, and what you most want to accomplish. Trips are confirmed on a first-come basis.
[Contact Jess to Inquire About Private Mentoring Availability]
Jess Lee is a National Geographic contributing photographer and 50-year resident of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem based in Island Park, Idaho. His work has been featured in a Ken Burns Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary series and exhibited at the Annenberg Space for Photography. He holds NPS and BLM Authorized Permittee status and has been leading private photography instruction in Yellowstone and Grand Teton for decades. Fine art prints from the Greater Yellowstone region are available at jessleephotos.com.
Custom Small Group Photography Guiding and Instruction to World Wide Locations
Bring your family or get together a group of friends and experience a special trip suited to your needs. Contact Jess to discuss that special experience where you desire is Africa, India, Europe, the Panatela or North America we can put you in the best location with the best local guides and make your photography journey incomparable.
