Washington State Bald Eagle Photography Workshop

Washington State Bald Eagle Photography Workshop

WASHINGTON STATE BALD EAGLE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS 2023 MAY31ST-JUNE 5TH. Choose a one day outing, a two day outing or a three day outing and capture incredible images of majestic Bald Eagles in the picturesque state of Washington.

In a beautiful area just west of Seattle, something incredible happens. Bald Eagles compete for food and provide some of the best bird photography opportunities on the planet. If you want to capture some absolutely astounding images of Bald Eagles in flight, Bald Eagles fighting with other eagles and Great Blue Herons, then this is the perfect photography workshop for you. This place is just awesome for Eagle photography. Here are a couple of  videos that highlighting my previous trips to this location.

This workshop is limited to 8 people per day.

PRICING for Washington State Bald Eagle Photography Workshop

 Pricing: $400 per person.

A deposit will be required at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 60 days before scheduled workshop. 

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What’s Included

  • Photography instruction
  • Your very own personal spotter ( me and my son)
  • My personal experience that puts you in the best places at the best time

What’s Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Lodging
  • Transportation to and from airport and shooting locations
  • Meals

This workshop is limited to 8 people per day.

PRICING for Washington State Bald Eagle Photography Workshop

 Pricing: $400 per person.

A deposit will be required at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 60 days before scheduled workshop. 

Book Eagle Workshop

Getting Here

These workshops originate west of Seattle. Getting here is simple. If you are flying, fly direct into Seattle. From there, I suggest renting a car and heading into Silverdale, Washington. There may or may not be toll roads from Seattle to Silverdale. Make sure your rental car has a toll pass or  you have a small amount of cash and change on hand to pay the tolls. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE A FERRY TO GET TO SILVERDALE. Some GPS systems will try to route you on to the ferry.

Where Should You Stay?

I highly suggest staying at one of the many hotels in Silverdale. You will be required to drive yourself to the shoot location from the hotel. It will be about a 15 minute drive. I’m going to be making this as simple as possible for you. The goal is to have a good time and capture some incredible images of eagles. Here is a list of hotels in the area:

Quality Inn & Suites
9734 Silverdale Way NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 692-7777

Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel
3073 NW Bucklin Hill Rd
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 698-1000

Oxford Suites Silverdale
9550 Silverdale Way NW
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 698-9550

What Should You Bring?

First and foremost, bring your sense of adventure. Bring your best long lens. As a bare minimum kit I suggest: One camera body, Telephoto Lens and a Tripod. Make sure you bring plenty of spare batteries and a lot of empty memory cards.

I also suggest a “rain jacket” for your gear. This area is prone to rain. If your gear isn’t weather proof, you need to keep it dry. The rain might sound like a big problem but it actually helps create some really dramatic images. Eagles look great when they are soaking wet and rainy days help keep exposure under control.

Clothing Choices

Dress warm but in layers that can be easily removed. It can get cold in the mornings but quickly warm up. We will be walking in a tidal area where there are sharp rocks and oysters. A solid pair of shoes is a must. Some people prefer rubber boots. You may also want a rain coat or some sort of jacket to keep yourself nice and dry should it rain.

Itinerary 

We will be meeting at an area close to the shoot site. You will be given detailed instructions on where and when to meet when we get closer to your shoot date. This shoot revolves around tides so the actual shoot time will be different every day.

A deposit will be required at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 60 days before scheduled workshop. Cancellation policy for this workshop is as follows. Cancel 30 days prior and I will give you a full refund minus credit card processing fees. Cancel within 30 days of the workshop and you forfeit your deposit.

Eagle Photography Workshop Testimonials

I wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how much I enjoyed your workshop on Washington State Bald Eagles.

Your choice of location was spot on and your timing relative to high and low tides could not have been better. By arriving early in the morning we got to witness the high tide and set up our equipment. As the tide receded, just as you predicted, the gulls showed up to start their fishing followed by the herons. Then the bald eagles began to swoop in and steal the fish. What a great sight and photo op that was. I got some real good ones.

Your in-depth knowledge of my Nikon D850 helped me to understand my camera better than I ever have. And thanks for the opportunity to shoot with the Sony Alpha a9 camera. Certainly presents some food for thought but I think I will stay with my Nikon gear for now.

Also, thank you for the time you spent with some of us sharing some of your Lightroom Classic tips and tricks. The information was very helpful for me.

I did enjoy everything about your workshop. The location was perfect as well as the instruction and the way you shared your knowledge with the group. So much in fact that I have signed up for your Fall Colors of Colorado Workshop in early October.

I did appreciate the fact that you brought “The Sherpa” along to help some of us older folks with our gear.

Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge with the group. I look forward to seeing you in October.

Mike

Hello Mark,
My Trip to Washington State Eagle Photography was as invigorating, enlightening & Mind Blowing as other Trips I have taken in the past. Very memorable, lifelong memories thanks to you & your son. Much appreciated. I just received email regarding next years dates, I’m making plans now. One of many perks of your Workshop was being able to spend time w/Abe from B & H.

Kevin

I Had a wonderful time at a recent Washington Bald Eagle workshop with Mark Smith Photography.  It was the most exciting and action-packed workshop I have ever attended.  The eagles were quite animated and electrifying, and the action was virtually nonstop.  The herons were also quite active while trying to keep a low profile so as not to attract too much attention from the eagles for fear of losing their catch.

Mark and his son were great workshop leaders.   They were great at spotting the action many times before it fully developed.  Mark shared great insight about the conditions that made the location such a great place to photograph eagles. It was a pleasure to work with Mark and his son.   I look forward to participating in more of his workshops.

Leonard

Payment and Cancellation Policy

A 10% deposit is required at the time of booking in order to secure your workshop. The remaining balance of your workshop must be paid in full within 45 days of the workshop starting date.

Our cancellation policy is as follows. In order to receive a full refund MINUS CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEES, you will need to cancel your workshop at least 45 days prior to your booked date. If you need to cancel within that 45 day window, you will receive a refund minus the cost of your deposit.

This workshop is limited to 8 people per day.

PRICING for Washington State Bald Eagle Photography Workshop

 Pricing: $400 per person.

A deposit will be required at the time of booking. Remaining balance is due 60 days before scheduled workshop. 

Book Eagle Workshop