Guided Wildlife Photography Tours
Maasai Mara National Reserve
I lead small group wildlife photography tours where I coach you in the field, help you capture real animal stories, and share techniques I use, including night camera trap setups.
Pricing Guide
Domestic Tiger Photography Masterclass (3N/4D)
Logistics & Hard Costs
- Accommodation: 3 Nights stay in a wildlife focused resort near the park periphery. Rooms are comfortable and functional.
- Safari Drives: 6 Exclusive Jeep Safaris (4x4 Gypsy) restricted to 3 to 4 photographers per vehicle to ensure clear shooting angles without middle seat issues.
- Meals: Full board covers Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Breakfast is packed picnic style during safaris.
- Permits: Covers all forest entry fees and still camera fees.
Mentorship & Guidance
- Technical Guidance: On field instruction on backlighting, rim lighting, and silhouette creation.
- Driver Network: Access to specialized drivers who understand positioning for photographers, such as engine cuts and sun alignment.
- Post Processing: Evening sessions reviewing shots, discussing composition, and editing workflows.
Exclusions
- Travel: Flight or train to the nearest transport hub and taxi transfer to the resort are not included.
- Equipment: Lens rental is not included; participants must bring or rent 400mm+ lenses.
- Tax: 5% GST is applicable on the base rate.
High-Altitude Himalayan Expedition (7N/8D)
Expedition Logistics
- Transport: Travel in comfortable SUVs (Toyota Innova Crysta or similar) essential for long drives on rocky terrain.
- Accommodation: A mix of Hotels in Leh and rustic, clean Homestays in remote areas like Hanle. Amenities are basic in remote legs.
- Permits: Arrangement of Inner Line Permits (ILP) required for border areas.
- Safety: Emergency oxygen cylinders carried in vehicles for high altitude support.
Photography Focus
- Target Species: Tracking Pallas's Cat, Tibetan Wolf, and Wild Ass.
- Astrophotography: Guidance on capturing the Milky Way in Dark Sky Reserves, including star trails and foreground lighting.
- Landscape Mentorship: Framing mountain ranges and utilizing natural light in barren landscapes.
Exclusions
- Travel: Airfare to Leh is not included.
- Gear: Participants must bring extreme cold gear rated for minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Premium Arctic Polar Bear Expedition (9-10 Days)
The Vessel & Living
- Ship: Berth on a specialized ice strengthened expedition vessel with a small group size of approximately 12 clients.
- Full Board: All meals onboard including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks. Menu is Western style.
- Zodiac Cruising: Daily excursions in rigid inflatable boats allows for water level photography and accessing shallow glacier fronts.
Expertise & Safety
- Bear Guards: Armed expedition leaders responsible for perimeter safety during land landings.
- Spotting: Rotating shifts by crew and guides to scan for Polar Bears under 24 hour daylight.
- Mentorship: Techniques for High Key photography and exposing correctly for ice and snow.
Exclusions
- Travel: International flights to Longyearbyen are not included.
- Documents: Visa costs and processing fees.
- Insurance: Mandatory evacuation insurance is required.
- Extras: Alcohol and bar tabs on the ship.
About Guided Wildlife Photography Tours
What Drives Me
I’m an engineer by degree, but my real passion comes alive in the wild. For me, a wildlife photo is about more than just the animal - it’s about telling the story of its world, the landscape, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem. With every tour, I want you to see and capture that bigger picture.
How I Guide in the Field
I’m right there with you for every shot. I keep group sizes small so I can give everyone hands-on, in-field photography coaching. My style is all about sharing the tricks I actually use, from why I swear by backlight to making the most of the golden hour. We’ll cover things like:
- Nailing dramatic silhouettes and environmental portraits
- Freezing fast action with the right settings
- Using wide-angle lenses for that bigger story
- Creative frames and even high-key shots in tricky light
Where We Go
My tours aren’t just checklists - they’re about meaningful encounters. Whether it’s photographing the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, polar bears on Svalbard’s ice, or tracking tigers in Bandhavgarh, each trip is built around respecting wildlife and getting you close to real moments.
Beyond Daylight
After dark, I set up my own camera traps to capture the ‘Ghost of the forest’ - animals like the Black Panther or Sloth Bear. This deep fieldwork is something I love to share with anyone curious about nocturnal wildlife.
Why Patience Matters
Wildlife photography isn’t fast. We approach animals quietly, wait for the perfect ‘Palat’ (that look back moment), and aim for images that tell the animal’s story, not just tick a box. That’s what makes it worth it for me.
Meet your Expert
Yashpal Rathore
72 connects in last 3 months
My Story
Hi, I’m Yashpal. Used to be an electrical engineer, but forests kept calling louder. Now, you’ll find me out there, building my own camera traps (sometimes elephants get curious), counting birds, tracking tigers, and snapping photos when the jungle lets me. Saw a pseudo-melanistic tiger once, that was wild! Co-wrote 'Tiger Tiger Burning Bright' too. For me, every photo is a story – a piece of the wild to share.
My Work
Wildlife Photography & Expeditions - I guide small group wildlife expeditions, mentor on photography, and share stories from Indian jungles to the Arctic.
Photography Style - I love backlight and wide shots. My thing is environmental animal portraits, showing animals in their world.
Custom Camera Traps - I build my own DSLR camera traps for nocturnal animal photography – sloth bears, leopards, you name it.
