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A WINTER CINEMATOGRAPHY ADVENTURE
Led by Blue-Chip Wildlife Filmmaker Tanner Haver in Yellowstone National Park
There are few places on Earth where you can film Yellowstone's wildest season alongside a professional wildlife cinematographer while calling a snow-locked mountain lodge home. Imagine wolves moving silently through fresh snow, frost-covered bison emerging in the first light of morning, foxes hunting beneath a blanket of powder, and golden sunsets illuminating the rugged peaks of the Northern Rockies. Spend your days exploring one of the world's greatest wildlife destinations with blue-chip wildlife filmmaker Tanner Haver, then return each evening to a warm fire, incredible meals, and cozy accommodations at Skyline Guest Ranch, accessible only by snowcat. Designed for filmmakers, photographers looking to transition into video, and passionate wildlife storytellers alike, this immersive winter expedition combines professional cinematography instruction with one of the most unforgettable wilderness experiences Yellowstone has to offer.
ALL CAMERAS & EXPERIENCE LEVELS WELCOME!
DURATION
6 Day All-inclusive
COST
$5,800 USD
GROUP SIZE
6 Participants
DATES
January 18th-23rd, 2027
EXPERIENCE & FILM YELLOWSTONE LIKE FEW EVER WILL
Winter transforms Yellowstone into an entirely different world. The summer crowds disappear, fresh snow blankets the valleys, steam rises from frozen rivers, and wildlife becomes the undeniable focus of the landscape. Wolves travel openly across snowy hillsides, bison wear coats of frost, foxes hunt beneath fresh powder, and every sunrise offers dramatic light unlike any other season.
During this all-inclusive five-night filmmaking adventure, you'll experience Yellowstone at its most cinematic while learning directly from professional wildlife cinematographer Tanner Haver. Based at Skyline Guest Ranch's secluded winter lodge near Cooke City, Montana, this experience is designed to help aspiring wildlife filmmakers develop both the technical and creative skills needed to tell compelling stories through motion.
Each day combines immersive field instruction with personalized mentorship. Rather than simply chasing wildlife, you'll learn how to anticipate behavior, build cinematic sequences, work with winter light, capture authentic natural sound, and create footage that communicates the emotion and beauty of the wild. Whether you're filming with a mirrorless camera, cinema camera, or simply hoping to begin your filmmaking journey, Tanner will tailor instruction to your experience level while helping you refine your workflow and storytelling abilities.
Evenings are spent back at Skyline Guest Ranch's snow-locked lodge, where guests gather around the fireplace to review footage, discuss the day's wildlife encounters, enjoy chef-prepared meals, and prepare for the next day's adventure. Accessible only by snowcat, the lodge becomes more than simply a place to stay—it becomes part of the experience itself.
Throughout the week, you'll explore Yellowstone's legendary Northern Range, Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, and other remarkable winter locations, always allowing wildlife activity, weather, and light to determine each day's adventure. No two expeditions are ever exactly alike, making every experience completely unique.
ALL CAMERAS & EXPERIENCE LEVELS WELCOME!
Includes:
✔ 5 Nights at the snowlocked Skyline Guest Ranch (All Private Accommodations)
✔ All Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
✔ Roundtrip Snowcat Transportation to and from the Lodge Offering Unmatched Accessibility to the Lamar Valley
✔ 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
* airfare, 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
No two days in Yellowstone are ever the same, especially during winter. Wildlife movements, changing weather, fresh snowfall, and dramatic lighting continually shape each day's adventure. For that reason, the itinerary below represents a general outline of what a typical week may include. While locations and timing remain flexible to maximize filming opportunities, every day is thoughtfully designed to build upon the previous one, combining classroom-style instruction with immersive field experience so guests leave not only with incredible footage, but with a deeper understanding of professional wildlife cinematography.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL, SNOWCAT ADVENTURE & WELCOME TO THE WINTER LODGE
Focus: Acclimatization & Inspiration
Meet the Skyline team in Bozeman before beginning a scenic drive through Paradise Valley and Yellowstone's famous Northern Range. Along the way we'll stop whenever wildlife or beautiful winter landscapes present themselves, providing your first opportunities to begin observing Yellowstone through the lens of a filmmaker.
By late afternoon we'll arrive near Cooke City, where the true adventure begins. Guests will board Skyline's snowcat for the journey across ten miles of snow-covered wilderness to our secluded mountain lodge. As daylight fades across the Beartooth Mountains, you'll arrive at your home for the week, a cozy lodge tucked away in one of the most spectacular winter settings imaginable.
After settling into your room, enjoy a warm dinner while Tanner introduces the week's objectives, discusses storytelling philosophy, and shares examples from professional wildlife productions. Finish the evening around the fireplace getting to know fellow filmmakers before preparing for your first full day in the field.
DAY 2: BUILDING YOUR WINTER FILMMAKING FOUNDATION
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.
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before loading into the snowcat and making the scenic ride into Cooke City. From there, we’ll trade tracks for wheels, load into our safari vehicles, and head into Yellowstone for the first full day of filming in the field.
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 simply capturing wildlife and consistently creating professional-quality footage.
After a full day in the field, we’ll return to Cooke City, climb back into the snowcat, and make our way home to Skyline Guest Ranch for a warm dinner, time to relax, and a chance to 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: WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR & LONG LENS CINEMATOGRAPHY
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: BRINGING THE STORY TOGETHER
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, and don't forget one last epic snowcat ride back to civilization. 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.
