Photography/Filming

 

Photo by Sara PrestonWolf Park is a great place to photograph or film wolves.  We invite guests to film and photograph during regularly scheduled programs.

For people who want a more in-depth photography experience, we offer a variety of options both inside and outside the enclosure.  This is great for art reference, wildlife photography, documentary filming, and just for fun!  Programs are led by world renowned photographer Monty Sloan.

Wolf Park offers:

PHOTOGRAPHY SEMINARS

Day-long photography seminars provide participants with a training session regarding tips for photographing animals led by Wolf Park’s photographer, Monty Sloan. He’ll discuss how to get the best out of your time in with the wolves, including good angles, flash usage, and how to eliminate fencing and other background clutter in your shots. This is followed by sessions with the wolves. Participants receive about three hours’ time with the animals.

You do not have to be a “professional” photographer to attend! Bring the camera of your choice and learn how to photograph Wolf Park’s socialized wolves in a low-key, relaxed setting.

General Schedule

  • 9:30am Tips and basic wolf photography methodologies.
  • 11:00 Presentation regarding safely interacting with the animals (Required for entering the enclosure)
  • Break for lunch
  • Approximately three hours photographing various groups of wolves inside the enclosure.
  • Wrap up by 5:00pm

Check HERE for this year’s SEMINAR DATES

 

PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOTS

Photography shoots are primarily directed at photographers that are already skilled at wildlife photography. No formal photography instruction is provided. Participants receive about five hours’ time with the animals.

General Schedule

  • 9:30am Presentation regarding safely interacting with the animals (Required for entering the enclosure)
  • 11:00 Animal photography session 1
  • Break for lunch
  • 2:00 Animal photography session 2
  • Wrap up by 5:00pm

Check HERE for this year’s SHOOT DATES

 

EVENING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOTS

During summer months and early fall, we offer evening photography shoots in the main enclosure. These are relaxed two-hour sessions with one group of wolves. These are limited to four people max. They offer good opportunities to talk with the staff, photograph the wolves in evening light, and enjoy the park at a peaceful time of day. If the weather is nice, we may even take the group out in the rowboat and photograph from there.
Check HERE for this year’s EVENING SHOOT DATES

Private Photography Options:

THROUGH-THE-FENCE PHOTO SHOOTS

This program is for those who want to photograph the wolves at odd hours of the day (late afternoons and evenings) or in the winter months when we do not allow any visitations. This is also a good program for those on a budget, or for those who simply can’t go in with the wolves.

This program is held inside the safety fence where you can put your lens right up to the habitat fencing. (A good DSLR will “blur” out the fence, making it invisible in most shots.) When possible, we may also be able to get some great photos through the observation room window. Monty takes a lot of his photographs this way so the wolves are really good at posing even when we are not in with them.

Participants must call two weeks in advance to make an appointment and not all times are available due to conflicts with other programs held at Wolf Park. For an appointment please call the main office, 765-567-2265 M-F 9-5 Eastern time or email wolfpark@wolfpark.org.

Fees: $100 per person for one hour. Maximum 10 participants. $150 for two additional hours.

This program does not include contact with the animals. Photography is through the fence only. Photographers should be age 15 or over. Other restrictions may apply.

 

PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOTS

These programs are available for photographers wanting unique images or who cannot attend one of our regular seminars. A safety presentation, lasting approximately one hour, is required prior to entering the enclosure.

  • Private photo shoots. $395 per person for a 90 minute session in with the wolves. $100 for an additional hour per person. Max time 150 minutes. These sessions are for up to four people. Larger groups can sign up for a private group photo shoot.
  • Private group photo shoots. Does your photography club want a private photography seminar with our wolves? Or perhaps it is just you and your friends who would like a private photography session. We can arrange that. This 9:30-5:00 program runs exactly the same as our regular photography seminar program. The price is $295.00 per person, with a minimum of 6 participants (or payment for six participants — $1,770), and a maximum of 15.
GENERAL INFO FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Flash is permitted. Tripods are discouraged. Tripods covered in foam padding are not allowed. Be sure to bring extra batteries, lenses, flash cards, etc. — so you do not have to keep leaving and re-entering the enclosure and disturbing the session. Wear garments with pockets in which to carry everything except your camera; camera bags are also not allowed in the enclosure as the wolves want to go “shopping” in them.

Plan for weather. We will be outside for long stretches. Dress warm. Bring changes of closes if necessary. Rubber rain coats are generally not allowed as the wolves may try to eat them. Bring small hand towels to shield your camera. Plastic bags and covers are not allowed.

Sessions will be held in most weather, including light rain or snow. Call ahead if you are uncertain about the weather. We have not yet cancelled a seminar due to weather; the wolves are actually more interesting, more active and the photo opportunities are better in inclement weather. There is usually time to dodge between the raindrops. The schedule may change if we are working around rain showers.

Snacks and sack lunches are encouraged. We may not break for lunch depending on the weather. We have refrigerator and microwave available upon request.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older and physically capable of safely interacting with the wolves.

Want to see the kind of photos you can get at Wolf Park?  Monty Sloan takes pictures of the wolves regularly.  Click here to see recent pictures!

Our animals are also available for video media, and have appeared in several notable programs on the BBC and PBS.  Television crews, news crews, and filmmakers, please contact our office at 765-567-2265 or wolfpark@wolfpark.org for more information on filming our animals.