Photography the Beauty of the West at Best Cowboy - Cowgirl, Wild Horse and Western Lifestyle Photography Workshop
June 5-11 2026
Price reduced due to last-minute cancellation. $4995. Transportation, Instruction, Lodging, and great photography included.
A Cowboy, Western Lifestyle, and Wild Horse photography workshop by Jess Lee that brings you to one of the most photogenic ranch locations in the West. The cowboys and their ranches are authentic and the horses are truly wild. This photography workshop will take you to some of the most scenic country in the west, the beautiful country near the historic town of Cody Wyoming.
Cowboys & Wild Horses Photography Workshop — Cody, Wyoming | June 5–11, 2026
Photograph a working horse herd in the Beartooth Mountains, McCullough Peaks wild mustangs, authentic Wyoming cowboys, and the world-famous Cody Night Rodeo — led by National Geographic photographer Jess Lee.
Picture a herd of horses moving through a high mountain meadow with the snow-capped Beartooth peaks rising behind them — the kind of image that stops people in their tracks. That is what this workshop is built around. Over seven days in the country near Cody, Wyoming, you will have the rare privilege of photographing a working horse herd on private ranch land in one of the most spectacular mountain settings in the American West, alongside authentic cowboys who have spent their lives in this landscape. Add the famous McCullough Peaks wild mustang herd at sunrise and sunset, and for those who want it, the electric energy of the Cody Night Rodeo, and you have a week of western photography that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else.
Seats are strictly limited. If horses, big mountains, and the authentic American West are what you live to photograph, this is the trip.
The Beartooth Mountains: The Most Beautiful Backdrop in the West
The Beartooth Range along the Wyoming–Montana border is one of the most visually extraordinary landscapes in North America — a high-altitude world of glacier-carved peaks, wildflower meadows, and crystalline light that photographers travel thousands of miles to reach. Most of them never get beyond the highway pullouts. On this workshop you will be inside it, on private ranch land, photographing horses moving through terrain that looks like a painting.
Jess Lee has been photographing in this country for decades. He knows where the horse herd grazes at first light, where the morning mist pools in the valley below the peaks, where to position yourself so the mountains fill the frame behind a moving horse. The access and the knowledge that come with 50 years of working relationships in this region are what make images here possible that you could not make on your own.
The McCullough Peaks Wild Mustangs
The McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management Area, just outside Cody, is home to one of the most photogenic wild horse herds in the American West. The bands here have extraordinary color variation — roans, paints, palominos, grays, and bays moving freely across open western terrain — and the herd's relatively approachable nature gives photographers the kind of sustained, intimate access that is rare with wild horses.
Jess will have you at McCullough Peaks for the first evening of the workshop and again at dawn the following morning — the two windows of light where wild horse photography comes alive. He knows the typical ranges of the bands and reads their behavior in real time, positioning the group for shots that go well beyond a horse standing in a field. Stallion interactions, foals at play, the herd moving together across the open range — McCullough delivers all of it when you know where to be.
The Cody Night Rodeo Behind the Scenes - Optional Evening Session
Cody, Wyoming, hosts the most famous nightly rodeo in the world, running every single evening throughout the summer season. For photographers, it is one of the most challenging and rewarding fast-action subjects available — bronc riders, barrel racers, ropers, and bull riders exploding through the arena in the dramatic artificial light of a western night.
Workshop participants who wish to photograph the Cody Night Rodeo will have the opportunity to do so during the Cody portion of the trip. Jess will brief you on settings, positioning, and the timing instincts that separate sharp, peak-action rodeo images from motion-blurred near-misses. Whether you have shot rodeo before or this is your first time, the Cody arena is a world-class venue for the subject.
Workshop Itinerary at a Glance
On this trip the first part of your workshop after your arrival in Cody on the 5th will be a afternoon trip to find the beautiful Wild Horses of McCullough Peaks. The morning of the 6th we will travel to the Beartooth Mountains along the Wyoming/Montana state line just east of Yellowstone National Park and our host ranch. Here you will photograph working cowboys riding broncs, roping, working cattle and going about their daily chores with a backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains along the Wyoming/Montana line at several ranches nestled between the lofty peaks of one of the most scenic mountain ranges in North America.
While we are in the high country where the west still lives, you will be staying at a private guest ranch nested among the timber. Even though we photograph many rugged but beautiful locations we generally are close to our vehicles, with no hiking or strenuous work getting to our photography locations.
Our next stop on this great workshop will be returning to the charming western town of Cody Wyoming named after it's founder, Buffalo Bill Cody. Cody is a great location with many sights and scenes to photograph. Cody is billed as the Rodeo Capitol of the World and has a night Rodeo during our time in town. There will be and opportunity to photography one of the evenings we are in Cody.
Cody will be our base for our dawn and dusk excursions into the famous McCullough Peaks Wild Horse Management area. This area has just been opened to legal Wild Horse photo workshops and has been one of our favorite locations for our photography for many years. The McCullough horses are one of the most photogenic of all the wild horse band we have found in the west with great color variation and beautiful western backgrounds. While on the Wild Horse range the activity level is low to moderate. Most photography is close to vehicles but occasionally there may be a need to walk 200 yards or so to be in the best location to capture the horses with a stunning mountain backdrop.
What You Will Photograph
- Working horse herd in the Beartooth Mountains — the centerpiece of the workshop; horses moving through private ranch land against some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the American West
- Authentic Wyoming cowboys — working with horses in the corrals, on the range, and going about the daily rhythms of ranch life
- McCullough Peaks wild mustangs — stallions, mares, foals, and bachelor bands in wide-open western terrain at sunrise and golden hour
- Cody Night Rodeo (optional) — bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and roping at the world's most famous nightly rodeo venue
- Beartooth Mountain landscapes — meadows, stream crossings, timber lines, and high-alpine scenery along the Wyoming–Montana border
Your Instructor: Jess Lee
Jess Lee is a National Geographic contributing photographer with more than 50 years of professional experience. His work has appeared on the covers of National Geographic, National Wildlife, and Defenders of Wildlife, and his images were featured in Ken Burns's Emmy Award–winning PBS series National Parks: America's Best Idea. His fine art prints have been exhibited at the Annenberg Space for Photography and sold to collectors across the United States and internationally.
Jess holds BLM Authorized Permittee status and has spent decades building personal relationships with the ranching families of the Beartooth region and the land managers who oversee the McCullough Peaks herd. That network is what makes the access on this workshop possible — private land that is simply not open to the public, with subjects who trust Jess enough to let a group of photographers into their working lives.
His instruction is direct and practical. He will tell you where to stand, when to anticipate the movement, and what your camera should be doing — and then he will get out of your way and let you make the image. Every day combines field craft with photographic technique, and Jess adapts his guidance to each participant's equipment and experience level.
Workshop Details
- Dates: June 5–11, 2026
- Location: Cody, Wyoming & Beartooth Mountains (Wyoming–Montana border)
- Group size: Small group — strictly limited enrollment
- Skill level: All levels welcome
- Lodging: Private guest ranch accommodations in the Beartooth Mountains and Motel in Cody.
- Equipment: Any camera system welcome; telephoto reach (200–600mm) recommended for wild horse and rodeo sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main subject of this workshop?
The centerpiece is photographing a working horse herd against the dramatic backdrop of the Beartooth Mountains — widely regarded as among the most beautiful mountain scenery in the American West. Supporting subjects include the McCullough Peaks wild mustangs, authentic Wyoming cowboys, and the Cody Night Rodeo for those who want it.
Will I be able to photograph the Cody Night Rodeo?
Yes. The world-famous Cody Night Rodeo runs every evening throughout the summer and is one of the great fast-action photography subjects in the West. Workshop participants who wish to attend will have the opportunity during the Cody portion of the trip. Jess will brief the group on technique for shooting rodeo at night.
Are the cowboys and horses authentic?
Yes. The cowboys are working ranchers, not performers, and the horses are a real working herd — not a staged arrangement. The McCullough Peaks horses are a fully wild BLM-managed mustang herd. Nothing here is set up for tourists. Jess's long relationships in the region provide access that walk-in visitors cannot get.
What skill level is required?
All skill levels are welcome. Instruction is hands-on and adapted to your camera and experience level. Whether you are a working professional looking to add western subjects to your portfolio or a serious enthusiast ready to advance your skills, the field time and personal feedback from Jess will move your photography forward.
How many photographers are on the workshop?
This is a small-group workshop with strictly limited enrollment. Every participant gets personal instruction from Jess and unobstructed shooting positions in the field — no jostling for position, no waiting your turn.
Is there a fall version of this workshop?
Yes — a September 15–21 session adds the peak fall color of the Beartooth Mountains and Yellowstone National Park to the cowboy, horse, and mustang subjects. See the September workshop listing for details.
Reserve Your Place
This workshop sells out every year. The combination of private Beartooth Mountain access, a working horse herd, the McCullough Peaks mustangs, and the Cody Night Rodeo makes it unlike any other western photography experience available — and Jess Lee's five decades of relationships in this country are the reason it exists at all.
If the American West — its horses, its mountains, its cowboys, its rodeos — is what draws you to photography, this is the week that changes your portfolio.
Questions before booking? Contact Jess directly — he answers every inquiry personally.
$4995. double. Single Supplement $250.
Price includes guiding, lodging, instruction, ranch fees, and model fees. Model release will be provided for models at our Wyoming ranch.
Meals, items of a personal nature and tips for guides and models are not included in the price. Does not include State and Local Taxes.
$1500 deposit holds your place by check or Pay Pal
Any questions, please email us here
Terms and Conditions
GROUP MINIMUM: Occasionally I am able to run a trip below our group minimum which is generally 3. In such instances it may be necessary to apply a small group supplement. You would be contacted regarding such a situation but you would not be obligated to accept the new terms.RESERVATIONS: Your deposit is required to secure your place on any trip, with the balance due120 days prior to the departure date..Details of hotels, flight arrival recommendations and other trip tips will be mailed when the tour is full.MEALS: Some meals and refreshments are included depending on the trip details, but not alcoholic beverages.ADMISSIONS: Access to public buildings and national parks etc. is not included in the land price.CANCELLATIONS: All cancellations must be confirmed in writing, and due to costs incurred by Jess Lee Photos in arranging a tour, deposits are non refundable. Payment in full is required 120 days prior to departure. Cancellations after 120 days will receive a full refund( except deposit) if your spot can be filled from a waiting list or if you can fill your spot.JessLeePhotos LLC strongly suggest that tour participants invest in trip cancellation insurance..CANCELED EXPEDITIONS: In the event of insufficient tour sign-ups, JessLeePhotos reserves the right to cancel any given trip. In that event 100% of moneys received will be returned. However, JessLeePhotos is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.LUGGAGE: JessLeePhotos request that tour participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag and tripod. We asks that group members bear in mind space and comfort in our vehicles. All personal luggage is the responsibility of the owner so please keep the weight to a limit you can handle and other restrictions can be met.SMOKERS: Smoking is not permitted at meals or on vans. It can be permitted at photo stops where local ordinances permit, photography and photographers are not affected.RESPONSIBILITY: JessLeePhotos LLC and its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, and as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause. JessLeePhotos reserves the right to substitute hotels, and other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.JessLeePhotos reserves the right to pass on to tour members any additional and unplanned expenditures incurred during the tour, via events beyond JessLeePhotos' control.The right is reserved to accept or decline any person as a member of any tour.Payment of tour fees by trip participants constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein including but not limited to injury, death or other liability incurred during a trip.
In consideration of the services of Jess Lee Photography, their officers, agents, employees, and stockholders, and all other persons or entities associated with those businesses (hereinafter collectively referred to as "JLP"), I agree as follows: Although JLP has taken reasonable steps to provide me with appropriate equipment and skilled guides so I can enjoy an activity for which I may not be skilled, JLP has informed me this activity is not without risk. Certain risks are inherent in each activity and cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the activity. These inherent risks are some of the same elements that contribute to the unique character of this activity and can be the cause of loss or damage to my equipment, or accidental injury, illness, or in extreme cases, permanent trauma or death. JLP does not want to frighten me or reduce my enthusiasm for this activity, but believes it is important for me to know in advance what to expect and to be informed of the inherent risks. The following describes some, but not all, of those risks.
I am aware that Photography Workshops entail risks of injury or death to any participant. I understand the description of these inherent risks is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated inherent risks may result in injury or death. I agree to assume and accept full responsibility for the risks identified herein and those inherent risks not specifically identified. My participation in this activity is purely voluntary; no one is forcing me to participate, and I elect to participate in spite of and with full knowledge of the inherent risks.
I acknowledge that engaging in this activity may require a degree of skill and knowledge different than other activities and that I have responsibilities as a participant. I acknowledge that the staff of JLP has been available to more fully explain to me the nature and physical demands of this activity and the inherent risks, hazards, and dangers associated with this activity.
I certify that I am fully capable of participating in this activity. Therefore, I assume and accept full responsibility for myself, including all minor children in my care, custody, and control, for bodily injury, death, or loss of personal property and expenses as a result of those inherent risks and dangers identified herein and those inherent risks and dangers not specifically identified, and, as a result of my negligence in participating in this activity.
I have carefully read, clearly understand and accept the terms and conditions stated herein and acknowledge that this agreement shall be effective and binding upon myself, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate and for all members of my family, including minor children.
A fine art photographic print by Tamara Gooch of a herd of wild mustangs as they take off in a gallop after a loud clap of thunder and lightning hits the range. Limited Edition Print of 25.
Itinerary (subject to change with weather)
Our trip begins in Cody Wyoming where we will meet by 2 P.M. for chek in to our Cody lodging and a brief Wild Horse photo shoot. the next morning we will head out to the high country of the Beartooth Mountains. The scenic drive will take us over Sleeping Indian pass where stopping to enjoy and photograph the vista that lies ahead is a must.
.
After our arrival and unpacking at the ranch we will have a orientation and instruction session on how to safely catch the fast action of the Cowboy life. The afternoon will be time spent photographing around the ranch.
Dinner will be family style where our cowboys will join us for a introduction to the next days activities. As the light begins to soften we will have another cowboy photo shoot with the background of the dramatic cliffs and mountains that surround this hidden jewel.
The 2nd and 3rd days you will be saturated with working cowboys, ranches, horses and cattle all surrounded by views seen in very few places. There will be a mid day session on how to process you images.
Wyoming Wild Horses
You will also have the opportunity to have a private image critique session with Jess.
4th day after a morning modeling and still life shoot and breakfast at the K BAR Z we will return to Cody and get settled in our rooms. After a early dinner will head directly to the Wild Horse Range to find the beautiful Mustangs of McCullough Peaks where we will photograph until the light is gone.
5th and 6th days we will leave Cody well before dawn to search for the horses and capture their spirit with your images. Jess will give you insight into the herd behavior of the horses they have dedicated many years to photographing.
Shadow Mustangs
We will put you in the best position to to photograph and witness these unique creature as they go about their normal routine of interaction between the various herd, the lead stallions and the bachelor bands. Around noon we will be back in Cody for lunch and a well deserved break. Mid day will give you a chance to review your morning's work, recharge your batteries and visit the great Cody western museum on your own if you wish. Jess will be available to review images, critic and give processing suggestions. The afternoon session will begin with a early dinner and back to the wild horse ranges until last light. There will be an opportunity to photography the wold famous Cody Night Rodeo.
Photos copyright © Jess Lee
Photos copyright © Jess Lee
