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A YELLOWSTONE CINEMATOGRAPHY ADVENTURE
Led by Blue-Chip Wildlife Filmmaker Tanner Haver
Join filmmaker Tanner Haver for an immersive cinematography adventure in the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Based out of Skyline Guest Ranch, just miles from Yellowstone's famed Lamar Valley, this hands-on summit offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from an accomplished wildlife cinematographer. Spend your days in the field searching for wildlife, learning professional filmmaking techniques, studying animal behavior, and discovering what it takes to capture compelling cinematic stories in the wild. Whether you're an aspiring filmmaker, photographer looking to expand into video, or a passionate wildlife enthusiast, this experience will provide an inside look at the art, patience, and fieldcraft behind professional wildlife filmmaking.
DURATION
6 Day All-inclusive
COST
$5,400 USD
GROUP SIZE
6 Participants
DATES
October 9th-14th, 2026
FILM YELLOWSTONE IN FALL
Experience Yellowstone National Park through the lens of professional wildlife filmmaking during this all-inclusive Wildlife Filmmaking Summit with Skyline Safari and blue-chip wildlife cinematographer Tanner Haver. Based at Skyline Guest Ranch near Cooke City, Montana, just minutes from Yellowstone's famed Lamar Valley, this immersive six-day experience is designed for photographers, videographers, content creators, and wildlife enthusiasts who want to elevate their storytelling and learn the art of wildlife cinematography.
Throughout the week, guests will spend their days exploring Yellowstone's wildlife-rich landscapes while learning the same fieldcraft, filming techniques, and storytelling principles used in professional natural history productions. From understanding animal behavior and operating long lenses to building compelling shot sequences and capturing footage that tells a story, participants will receive hands-on instruction and personalized mentorship from one of the industry's rising wildlife filmmakers.
What truly sets this experience apart is the combination of world-class filmmaking education and the comfort of a fully curated all-inclusive retreat. Spend the day filming bears, wolves, bison, elk, and other iconic Yellowstone wildlife, then return to Skyline Guest Ranch for private accommodations, elevated ranch-style dining, footage reviews, and discussions with fellow participants. There is simply no other experience like it, offering this level of personalized instruction, access to wildlife, and authentic Western hospitality in one unforgettable package.
Each day brings new opportunities for learning, filming, and exploration. While the itinerary provides a look at what the experience may include, every day remains flexible so we can respond to wildlife activity, weather conditions, lighting, and the best filming opportunities available.
Includes:
✔ 5 Nights at Skyline Guest Ranch (All Private Accommodations)
✔ All Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
✔ Daily Wildlife Filming Safaris in Yellowstone National Park
✔ Personalized Instruction & Mentorship with Blue-Chip Wildlife Cinematographer Tanner Haver
✔ Hands-On Training in Wildlife Cinematography, Fieldcraft, and Visual Storytelling
✔ Evening Footage Review, Critique Sessions, & Q&A Discussions
✔ Transportation to and from Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, Montana
✔ Small Group Experience for Personalized Instruction
✔ Access to Yellowstone's Northern Range, Lamar Valley, and Surrounding Wildlife Habitats
* alcoholic beverages, personal camera gear, & gratuities are not included
MEET THE FILMMAKER
TANNER HAVER
Tanner Haver is a professional wildlife cinematographer based in Cody, Wyoming. Specializing in long lens, drone, and remote camera cinematography, his work focuses on capturing authentic wildlife behavior and cinematic natural history footage throughout the American West.
In partnership with Skyline Safari, Tanner leads immersive wildlife cinematography adventures throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Together, they combine world-class filmmaking instruction, personalized mentorship, and unparalleled access to one of North America's premier wildlife destinations, creating unforgettable educational experiences for aspiring filmmakers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike.
Tanner is currently serving as a principal cinematographer on the first-ever feature-length blue-chip documentary focused exclusively on mountain lions in the United States. He also contributed cinematography to The American Southwest (2025), a natural history feature produced by Fin & Fur Films.
With a background in Biology and Geographic Information Systems from Montana State University, Tanner combines technical expertise, fieldcraft, and storytelling to create compelling wildlife films. His passion for sharing that knowledge makes him a sought-after mentor for aspiring wildlife filmmakers and visual storytellers.
TRIP ITINERARY
The following itinerary provides a general overview of what a typical week at the Wildlife Filmmaking Summit may look like. Because wildlife activity, weather conditions, and lighting are constantly changing, each day remains intentionally flexible to ensure we can take advantage of the best filming opportunities available. While the timing and locations may vary, our goal is always the same: to maximize your time in the field, provide meaningful hands-on instruction, and create an unforgettable wildlife filmmaking experience in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
DAY 1: WELCOME TO YELLOWSTONE
Focus: Acclimatization & Inspiration
Your adventure begins with a scenic drive through Yellowstone National Park on the way to Skyline Guest Ranch. Unlike the days that follow, today isn't about filming. It's about slowing down, taking in your surroundings, and learning to observe. One of the most important skills a wildlife filmmaker can develop is the ability to appreciate and understand the natural world before ever pressing the record button. Throughout the afternoon, Tanner will encourage participants to study wildlife behavior, landscapes, light, and movement, finding inspiration in the environment itself.
After arriving at Skyline Guest Ranch, settle into your private accommodations, meet the rest of the group, and enjoy an elevated ranch-style welcome dinner. Following dinner, we'll gather for an orientation where Tanner will introduce the week's objectives, discuss the itinerary, answer questions, and help everyone prepare for the exciting days ahead.
DAY 2: CAMERA SETUP & FIELD WORKFLOW
Focus: Gear Mastery & Preparation
Before sunrise, we'll head into Yellowstone to position ourselves in the best possible locations as the park begins to wake. Morning is often the most productive time for wildlife activity, making it the perfect opportunity to begin applying the fundamentals of professional wildlife cinematography.
Throughout the day, Tanner will guide participants through the essential camera settings, exposure techniques, frame rates, long lens operation, media management, and field workflows used on professional natural history productions. Learning how to prepare your equipment before the action begins is one of the biggest differences between capturing wildlife and consistently creating professional-quality footage.
After a full day in the field, we'll return to Skyline Guest Ranch to relax, enjoy dinner, and reflect on the day's experiences.
Field Exercises
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Proper tripod balancing
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Static wildlife compositions
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Long lens stabilization techniques
DAY 3: LONG LENS OPERATION & WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR
Focus: Capturing Wildlife Effectively
Following breakfast at the ranch, we'll return to Yellowstone for another full day of wildlife filming. Today's instruction focuses on understanding animal behavior and learning to anticipate wildlife movements before they happen. Participants will gain confidence operating long lenses, refining manual focus techniques, and positioning themselves to capture authentic wildlife behavior while maintaining ethical wildlife viewing practices.
After returning to Skyline Guest Ranch in the afternoon, we'll gather for an editing workshop where Tanner will guide participants through organizing and reviewing their footage while providing personalized one-on-one coaching and constructive critiques. This session offers valuable insight into the editing process while helping participants identify opportunities to strengthen their filming techniques for the remainder of the summit.
Following dinner, participants will have the option to head back into Yellowstone for an evening sunset filming session. As the light softens and wildlife becomes active once again, we'll put the day's lessons into practice while capturing the rich colors and dramatic atmosphere that make the final hours of daylight some of the most rewarding times to film in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Field Exercises
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Tracking moving wildlife
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Practicing focus pulls
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Capturing behavioral moments
DAY 4: VISUAL STORYTELLING & SHOT SEQUENCING
Focus: Creating Footage That Tells a Story
Another early departure places the group in Yellowstone before sunrise, with a picnic breakfast enjoyed in the field as wildlife activity unfolds around us. Today's focus shifts from simply capturing beautiful footage to creating cinematic sequences that tell a complete story. Throughout the day, Tanner will teach participants how professional wildlife filmmakers think beyond individual clips by building scenes with intentional wide, medium, and close-up shots. You'll learn how movement, composition, sequencing, and natural sound all work together to create compelling visual stories that translate seamlessly into the editing room.
Field Exercises
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Capture a complete wildlife sequence
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Build a beginning, middle, and end to a natural history story
DAY 5: PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE CINEMATOGRAPHY
Focus: Thinking Like a Filmmaker
Our final instructional morning begins with one last sunrise in Yellowstone, putting into practice everything learned throughout the week while capturing the final footage needed for your project.
After returning to Skyline Guest Ranch for lunch, participants will spend the afternoon working alongside Tanner to create a professional wildlife sizzle reel showcasing the footage captured during the summit. Through personalized instruction and editing guidance, you'll learn how to organize clips, build pacing, and craft a short film that highlights both your new skills and your experience in Yellowstone. Whether you're building a professional portfolio or sharing your adventures online, you'll leave with a finished piece you can be proud of.
That evening, we'll gather for a celebratory farewell dinner before settling into the lodge for a showcase of everyone's completed films. Enjoy dessert as each participant's sizzle reel is presented on the big screen, celebrating a week of learning, creativity, and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Final Exercise
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Create and present a professional wildlife sizzle reel
DAY 6: FAREWELL TO YELLOWSTONE
Sleep in a little, you've earned it.
Enjoy one final breakfast at Skyline Guest Ranch before beginning the scenic drive back through Yellowstone National Park toward Bozeman. With a fresh perspective, new filmmaking skills, lasting friendships, and terabytes of unforgettable footage, you'll leave the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem inspired and ready to continue your journey as a wildlife storyteller.
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SKYLINE GUEST RANCH
THE PERFECT ADVENTURE BASECAMP
Tucked just outside Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance, Skyline Guest Ranch serves as the perfect basecamp for your photography adventure. After full days spent in the field capturing wildlife and landscapes, return to a warm, welcoming lodge where comfort meets the spirit of the West. With cozy accommodations, thoughtfully prepared meals, and a setting surrounded by the wild beauty of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, the lodge offers a place to unwind, recharge, and relive the day’s moments. It is more than just a place to stay, it is part of the experience itself. Learn More
✔ Just miles from iconic Lamar Valley
✔ Private Rooms & Bathrooms
✔ Elevated Homestyle Cooking
✔ Hot Tub, Hammocks, Campfire, Outdoor Seating, etc.
✔ Wifi
LEARN FROM TWO INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
TANNER HAVER & JULIA COOK
What is better than a workshop led by a blue-chip wildlife cinematographer? Having a second instructor who has spent years photographing and guiding in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Throughout the summit, guests will not only learn from Tanner Haver, but will also benefit from the expertise of professional wildlife photographer Julia Cook. As the group's second guide, Julia brings a unique perspective shaped by years spent photographing wildlife. Julia's extensive knowledge of Yellowstone's wildlife, seasonal behavior patterns, photography techniques, and park ecosystems complements Tanner's filmmaking expertise, creating a well-rounded learning environment that blends both still photography and cinematic storytelling. Whether assisting participants in the field, sharing wildlife insights, or helping position the group for the best opportunities, Julia's experience adds another layer of value to an already exceptional week.
Together, Tanner and Julia provide participants with a rare opportunity to learn from two accomplished visual storytellers while exploring one of the world's greatest wildlife destinations.
