The Art of Wildlife Photography
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Online course & mentorship programme
Start capturing the eye-catching, creative and unique wildlife photos you have in your mind's eye.
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By following my 5 step mentorship framework, you will master 'The Three Pillars of Wildlife Photography™'. You will learn camera techniques for creating interesting compositions, how to get creative with light to evoke emotion, and how to tell stories by focusing on moments, behaviours and interactions.
Hi, I'm Matthew.
If you're anything like I was at the start, perhaps you feel like it's complete chance as to whether you capture a stunning print-worthy photo, or fill your memory card with dull, static, lifeless images.
When I look back at my journey to becoming a professional wildlife photographer, I wasted so many amazing photographic opportunities because I didn't have the skills, vision or correct approach to achieve the images that I was striving for.
I've now come to the realisation that all successful wildlife photos come down to three elements.
Master these three concepts, and you will instantly start creating beautiful, interesting and attention-grabbing images.
I call them “The Three Pillars of Wildlife Photography™”. Any one of these three pillars is enough to create a fantastic image, and if you can combine them, even better!
1️⃣ Pillar 1 - Composition - Capture your viewers attention by experimenting with interesting compositions, unusual angles and advanced camera techniques.
2️⃣ Pillar 2 - Light - Evoke emotion and add drama by getting creative with light.
3️⃣ Pillar 3 - Storytelling - Tell captivating stories by focusing on moments, behaviours and interactions that reveal something about your subject.
Follow my 5 step mentorship framework (outlined further down this page), and I guarantee you will understand the things you need to do to start taking print-worthy images.
Having taught over 1,000 people in person, I am so excited to now have all this information in one place online, and I can't wait to help you on your journey to mastering wildlife photography.
"5 STEP MENTORSHIP FRAMEWORK"
Concept | Case Study | Camera | Community | Critique
I'm here to support you every step of the way...
Step 1 - Concepts
Transform your photographic mindset, creative vision and technical skills with 'The Three Pillars of Wildlife Photography'.
✅ 7 hours of in-the-field lessons
✅ 30 lessons
✅ Accessible by an app, phone or computer
Learn how to manipulate light to evoke emotion, and creative ways to use underexposing and overexposing to capture unique images. Master using minimalism to create fine art photos, find out my top pro tips for capturing impactful portraits, discover the three secrets of a successful composition, and much more.
This is everything I have learned over the last 20 years, and all the things I wish I had known when I started out my journey into wildlife photography.
Step 2 - Case Studies
Embark on a virtual photographic safari through the Maasai Mara. One of the things that makes this course unique is that I've recorded everything that happens through my viewfinder so it's like you are right there looking through my camera as I show you examples of the techniques and concepts in action, getting you inside the mind of a professional wildlife photographer.
🐆 Learn about underexposing and mottled light with a leopard in a tree.
🦒 Watch as the composition of a tower of giraffe comes together while discussing how to capture groups of animals.
🦁 Learn how to capture environmental shots as a lioness wanders across the plains at sunrise.
🦓 Find out how to use ICM and panning to create motion blur with a herd of zebra.
Step 3 - Camera Session
Over to you! It's time for you to put your new skills into practice using the suggested challenges.
✅ 45 printable cheat sheets. Print them out, put them in your bag, and it will be like I'm right there with you as your mentor 24:7. This also means you don't need to take any notes during the course - I've done all of that for you.
Wildlife photography is about so much more than clicking the shutter. It's about being proactive and having a vision. These bonus worksheets will help with that:
✅ "My Dream Shot Brainstorm" to guide you through the process of working out how to capture your perfect photo.
✅ "Pre-trip Brainstorm" to help you plan for your next trip.
✅ "Story-telling Worksheet" to help you convey the story of your images.
Step 4 - Community & Conversation
Through the "Mastering Wildlife Photography Community", join me for a monthly online meetup giving you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have.
Share questions or topics in advance that you would like to discuss, or just pop in and we'll have an informal chat. This is your chance to learn alongside other like-minded people.
✅ Accessible by an app, phone or computer
Step 5 - Critique
If you would like feedback on any of your images, post them into the dedicated space in the community and I will share my thoughts. This is a great way to learn as you'll get personalised points to work on.
✅ Accessible by an app, phone or computer
Who is this mentorship for?
🧑🎓 Hobbyist, intermediate & advanced. If you're confident with your camera, but are wondering how to make your images stand out, this course if perfect for you as it will nurture your creative vision. The included course on settings will also teach you more advanced settings such as focus modes, focus areas, using white balance creatively, and two complete game changers: back-button focus, and manual with auto-iso - they will transform the way you shoot.
🧑🎓 Complete Beginner. Don't worry if you're just starting out - I am also including free access to "Master Your Settings for Wildlife Photography" where I walk you through the best settings to use for wildlife photography step-by-step, so next time you go out on a shoot you'll be able to capture sharp, in focus and well exposed photos.
Lessons, cheat sheets and examples covering 30 different topics, so you feel confident about creating beautiful images in any situation...
⭐ Course introduction - The start of your journey to mastering wildlife photography
📕 Module 1 - The three pillars of wildlife photography, and adopting a proactive mindset
📗 Module 2 - Getting creative with compositions and camera techniques
📘 Module 3 - Getting creative with light to add emotion and drama to your photos
📙 Module 4 - Storytelling through capturing behaviours, moments and interactions
💡 Course conclusion - What's next?
You get a passionate and knowledgable mentor.
Here's some of the things people have to say about their experiences learning wildlife photography with me.
HI I'M MATTHEW, YOUR MENTOR
I'm a professional wildlife photographer/filmmaker, obsessed by going the extra mile to create attention-grabbing, insightful, intimate and honest photographs. I've had solo exhibitions in London, worked with conservation charities such as Mara Predator Conservation Programme, and been recognised in competitions such as Greatest Wildlife Photographer Kenya, British Photography Awards and Travel Photographer of the Year.
I have taught over 1,000 people in person, helping passionate wildlife photographers like you take the best images of their lives, while working as resident photographer at Alex Walker's Serian Camps in the Maasai Mara and while leading workshops and photography holidays to destinations including Tanzania, Antarctica, Costa Rica and Madagascar.
I am so excited to now be able to share everything I have learned over the last 20 years in one place online and would be honoured to be your mentor and guide on your journey to mastering wildlife photography.
@matthewwilliamsellis - 22k followers
Here's what you get with your mentorship when you join today!
£498 £1178
#1 - Course: The Art of Wildlife Photography
Lifetime Access
✅ 7 hours of content | 30 in-the-field lessons
✅ 45 printable cheat sheets in a 65 page workbook
✅ My Dream Shot Brainstorm
✅ Pre-trip Brainstorm
✅ Storytelling Worksheet
✅ Challenges and ideas for ways to practise
£399 £499
#2 - Mentorship & Community: The Art of Wildlife Photography
1 Year Access
✅ Monthly online meetups
✅ Image critiques
✅ Course support
£99 £240
#3 - Course: Master Your Camera Settings for Wildlife Photography
Lifetime Access
✅ 4 hours of content | 19 in-the-field lessons
✅ 20 printable cheat sheets in a 36 page workbook
✅ 1 week step-by-step checklist
✅ Challenge ideas for ways to practise
£FREE £199
⭐ Course Introduction - The Start of Your Wildlife Photography Journey
Welcome to your course, and your 1 week photographic safari in the Maasai Mara! This intro includes an overview of how to make the most of the lessons, cheat sheets, course workbook, and challenges.
📕 Module 1 - ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed & The Exposure Triangle: The Building Blocks of Photography
In this module you will learn about ISO, aperture and shutter speed, and how they interact with each other using the exposure triangle. You will learn about what ISOs you might need in different lighting conditions, how to avoid blurry photos by using the correct shutter speed, and how aperture affects the depth of field. Crack this, and suddenly photography becomes much simpler.
Lesson 1 - ISO: Everything You Need to Know
Lesson 2 - Shutter Speed: Everything You Need to Know
Lesson 3 - Aperture: Everything You Need to Know
Lesson 4 - The Exposure Triangle: How ISO, Aperture & Shutter Speed Interact with Each Other
📗 Module 2 - Shooting Modes & Creating a Correct Exposure Using Exposure Compensation and the Histogram
In this module you will master the different shooting modes on your camera, including the ultimate wildlife photography set up - manual with auto-ISO. You will also learn about getting creative with exposure compensation, what metering is, what the histogram is and how it can be helpful. This module is all about avoiding photos that are too bright or too dark, and creating correctly exposed photographs, a vital skill in wildlife photography if you want to see the detail in your subject.
Lesson 1 - Shooting in Aperture Priority Mode
Lesson 2 - Metering, and Why You Can (Pretty Much) Ignore It
Lesson 3 - Enhance Your Creativity with Exposure Compensation
Lesson 4 - Understanding the Histogram & Exposing to the Right
Lesson 5 - Manual with Auto-ISO: The Ultimate Shooting Mode for Wildlife Photography
Lesson 6 - Shooting in Shutter Speed Priority Mode
Lesson 7 - Manual Mode (And Why it is Very Rarely Useful!)
📘 Module 3 - How to Nail Focus & Capture Tack Sharp Shots of Birds in Flight
In this module you will learn about how to capture tack sharp wildlife photographs, and about the absolute game changer in wildlife photography: back button focus! You will find out about when to use different focus areas, single and continuous autofocus, and the benefits of using eye-detection autofocus. If your shot isn't in focus in wildlife photography, you haven't got a photo, so if you can master this, your hit rate should increase enormously!
Lesson 1 - Focus Areas: When to Use Single Point, When to Use a Wider Area & Eye-Detection Autofocus
Lesson 2 - Focus Types: When to Use Single Autofocus v. Continuous Autofocus
Lesson 3 - How to Capture Sharp Shots of Birds in Flight
Lesson 4 - Back Button Focus: The Game Changer!
📙 Module 4 - Other Must Know Camera Settings
In this module you will set up continuous shooting, decide between RAW and JPEG, get creative with white balance, and find out my secret top tip for improving your understanding of light!
Lesson 1 - Using White Balance Creatively to Add Mood to a Photo
Lesson 2 - Using Continuous Shooting to Help Capture the Moment & Silent Shooting Mode
Lesson 3 - RAW v. JPEG: Which is Best for You?
Lesson 4 - Selecting Colour and Black and White Picture Profiles
💡 Course Conclusion - What's Next?
Congratulations on completing the course! By this point you will feel confident with your camera, and feel ready to take the best wildlife photos of your life! I also include a few ideas for how to take the next steps in levelling up your wildlife photography.
#4 - Mentorship & Community: Master Your Camera Settings for Wildlife Photography
1 Year Access
✅ Monthly online meetups
✅ Image critiques
✅ Course support
