SHETLAND PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Shetland: Life On The Ledge.
Untamed. Rugged. Remote.
July 16 - 23 2027 | AVAILABLE
June 2028 | TBCFrom £2, per person | 8 days / 7 nights | Maximum 6 photographers
WILD SHETLAND
DRAMATIC CLIFFS & REMOTE ISLANDS
ICONIC SEABIRDS
PUFFINS, GANNETS, SKUAS AND MORE
CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY
LIGHT, BEHAVIOUR & STORYTELLING
EXPERT FIELD GUIDANCE
SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
THE WILD EDGE OF BRITAIN
Shetland, Where Land Meets The Sea.
Far to the north, where the Atlantic crashes against towering cliffs and the wind shapes every inch of the landscape, lies Shetland. This is a place of dramatic coastlines, remote islands and some of Britain's most extraordinary wildlife.
For one week, we'll explore this remarkable archipelago in search of puffins, gannets, otters and the other characters that make Shetland one of the world's great destinations for wildlife photography. But this isn't simply about finding wildlife. It's about learning how to photograph it.
Working in a small group, I'll share the fieldcraft, techniques and creative approach I've developed through more than a decade of photographing seabirds and wildlife around the British Isles. We'll work with changing weather, shifting light and unpredictable wildlife to create images that capture not only the animals themselves, but the wild landscapes and atmosphere that surround them.
THIS IS SHETLAND.
RAW. REMOTE. WILD.
And utterly unforgettable.
CAPTURE THE WILD SPIRIT OF SHETLAND, FROM DRAMATIC SEABIRD CLIFFS TO THE REMOTE SHORES OF BRITAIN’S NORTHERNMOST ISLANDS
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Your adventure begins at 18:00 in the reception of the Sumburgh Hotel, where you will be warmly welcomed by our team. Over a relaxed dinner, we will introduce the week’s program, discuss our key target species, and outline the spectacular locations we will explore. If conditions allow, an optional after-dinner shoot at nearby Sumburgh Head will set the tone for the days ahead.
Overnight: Sumburgh Hotel
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We begin the morning at Sumburgh Head Reserve, the first of three dedicated sites for photographing Puffins. Alongside Puffins, expect opportunities to capture Fulmars, Razorbills, and Shags. Later, we travel north to Lerwick and take a short ferry to Bressay, continuing on to the uninhabited Noss National Nature Reserve. Our focus here is on Puffins and Gannets, with access provided by the island wardens. The dramatic eastern cliffs offer unforgettable encounters with these vibrant colonies.Overnight: Sumburgh Hotel
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Today, we return to Lerwick for an exhilarating Shetland Seabird Tours charter to witness the Gannet feeding frenzy off Noss. From the water, we enjoy close encounters beneath the towering cliffs, home to over 13,000 breeding pairs of Gannets, alongside Puffins, Common Guillemots, and Kittiwakes.
Our journey then continues to Unst, where we settle into our guest house for the next four nights.
Overnight: Shetland Nature Guest House, Unst
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For the next three days, we explore Britain’s most northerly island, focusing on two key assignments: seabirds at Hermaness National Nature Reserve and elusive Otters on Unst and Yell.
At Hermaness, we capture one of the UK’s most iconic seabird cities, with dramatic cliffs, sea stacks, and panoramic vistas offering exceptional opportunities for Gannets and Puffins. The reserve also supports a thriving population of Great Skuas (Bonxies), which we will photograph on our approach to the cliffs.
Meanwhile, rotating small groups will work with our guides on dedicated Otter assignments, learning the essential fieldcraft, behavioral insights, and techniques required to photograph these remarkable and secretive mammals.
One of the highlights during this period is a private boat charter exploring Unst’s sea cliffs and the legendary Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. This offers a unique sea-level perspective of the towering colonies and thrilling action opportunities, from Bonxies mobbing Gannets to rafts of Puffins drifting on calm, dark waters beneath the cliffs.
Overnight: Shetland Nature Guest House, Unst
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On our final full day, we leave Unst for return shoots at Sumburgh Head and a second private charter of the Noss boat. In the evening over dinner, we enjoy looking back over our week, the places we have been, species we have shot, and images we have taken before saying our goodbyes.
Overnight: Sumburgh Hotel
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After breakfast, you are transferred from Hotel to the airport and sadly we say our goodbyes here.
Itinerary.
WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS OF SHETLAND
The Wild Heart Of Shetland.
Shetland offers an incredible variety of wildlife and photographic opportunities, from vast seabird colonies to intimate encounters with some of the islands' most elusive residents.
We’ll spend time among the spectacular seabird cliffs of Sumburgh Head, Noss and Hermaness, photographing thousands of birds as they come and go from the cliffs and surrounding waters. Puffins provide wonderful opportunities for both intimate portraits and wider environmental images, while the sheer scale of the Northern Gannet colonies creates some of Shetland’s most dramatic photographic moments, including opportunities to photograph from the sea.
Away from the cliffs, we'll also dedicate time to searching for otters, using responsible fieldcraft and patience to photograph these elusive animals in their natural coastal environment.
From puffins and gannets to otters and the countless other species that call these islands home, Shetland offers a truly immersive wildlife photography experience where every day brings the possibility of something extraordinary.
SHETLAND IS A PLACE WHERE WILD COASTLINES, UNFORGETTABLE LIGHT AND EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A TRULY IMMERSIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE.
A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF SHETLAND AND ITS WILDLIFE
Why Experience Shetland With Me?
Choosing the right workshop experience can make all the difference to your development as a wildlife photographer. Shetland offers incredible opportunities, but its exposed coastlines, changing weather, dramatic light and unpredictable wildlife also present unique photographic challenges.
Having spent many years photographing seabirds and wildlife across Shetland, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the islands, their wildlife and how to approach these environments creatively and responsibly.
This experience goes far beyond camera settings and technical advice, focusing on atmosphere, storytelling, composition and fieldcraft to help you create more meaningful wildlife imagery. From windswept seabird cliffs and boat trips to dedicated opportunities with otters, the small group size and extensive time in the field allow for a highly personal and immersive photographic experience.
YOUR INVESTMENT
Everything That's Included.
Your Investment: from TBC per person -
2027: 16–23 July – Available
2028: TBC
Location: Shetland Isles
Duration: 8 Days/ 7 Nights
What’s Included:
Accommodation: Seven nights of comfortable accommodation, including a private house on Unst for an immersive island experience.
Transport: All in-tour transport and ferry crossings are included, making it easy to explore the islands.
Wildlife: Photograph puffins, gannets, otters and other iconic Shetland wildlife across dramatic coastal locations.
Small Groups: A limited number of photographers ensures a relaxed, personal experience with plenty of individual attention.
Guidance: Receive expert photographic guidance throughout the week, covering composition, light, behaviour and creative technique.
SMALL GROUP SIZES, PERSONAL GUIDANCE AND AN IMMERSIVE WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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✺ THE WILD EDGE OF SHETLAND
From windswept cliffs and remote islands to dramatic Atlantic coastlines, Shetland offers an immersive wildlife photography experience like few others. Explore the islands on foot and by boat, getting close to puffins, gannets, otters and other iconic wildlife
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✺ SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE
Limited to just six photographers, this tour offers a relaxed and personal experience with plenty of time in the field. With expert guidance throughout, you'll have the space to develop your photography while making the most of Shetland's ever-changing conditions.
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✺ CREATE IMAGES WITH IMPACT
This is about more than simply collecting images. Through practical field guidance and creative tuition, I'll help you make the most of light, composition, behaviour and the environment to create photographs that capture the wild character and atmosphere of Shetland.
LEAVE SHETLAND WITH MORE THAN PHOTOGRAPHS. TAKE HOME A DEEPER CONNECTION TO ITS WILD COASTLINES, EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE AND THE STORIES THEY TELL.
Booking Form.
THE WILD EDGE AWAITS
Shetland isn't somewhere you simply visit. It's somewhere you experience.
The wind, the sea, the cliffs, the light and the wildlife all combine to create something completely different from anywhere else in Britain.
If you've ever wanted to photograph puffins on windswept cliffs, watch thousands of gannets plunge into the Atlantic, stand beneath the towering cliffs of Hermaness or experience the thrill of finding a wild Shetland otter, this is your opportunity.
Join me for an unforgettable week on Britain's northern edge.
EXPERIENCE SHETLAND.
