Testimonials

“If you’ve found your way to this website, you’re obviously already interested in wildlife photography.  Let me assure you that you’ve come to a great place if you’re considering booking a photography tour. “Join me for an adventure of a lifetime” is no exaggeration!

My husband and I have just returned from the Alaskan Brown Bear Photography Tour (June 30-July 5, 2024), and I highly recommend Barrett’s trips to anyone regardless of your photography skill level. Barrett does an excellent all-around job, starting from choosing unique locations to in-the-moment recommendations all the way through to educational sessions on aspects such how to use editing tools to improve your own photos, and he is always open to any questions you may have. 

During our five-day stay, we were at an intimate lodge in Lake Clark National Park with warm and welcoming staff, fabulous meals and comfortable facilities in a picturesque setting.  Because of its location, we were able to spend the majority of each day in the field, taking several 2- to 3-hour excursions between 6:00a and 9:30p.  Barrett’s experience and keen understanding of bear behavior added an extra measure of putting us in the right place, with ideal settings on our cameras, poised for the best shot when Barrett would call out, “that bear’s getting ready to stand,” or “running” or “starting a wrestling match” with another juvenile bear in the area.  Early one morning, as bears were beginning to show up on the tidal flats to spend time clamming, Barrett had Adam, our awesome buggy-driver, maneuver us to different vantage points to experiment with the sun’s position both in front of as well as behind the bears.  It made for some very interesting perspectives with the lighting and subject matter.

Barrett is also very good about tailoring the trip to the group’s interests.  A couple were avid birders, and Barrett made sure to provide photo opportunities of a variety of birds in the area, so it doesn’t have to be all focused just on bears.  We even spent some time with a young porcupine who’d gotten stranded on a spit of land when the tide came up and was trying to figure out how to get back to the mainland.  (Happy ending: it did find a shallower crossing.)

One thing I should warn you about though:  this was my second and my husband’s third “once-in-a-lifetime” adventure with Barrett.  It’s kinda’ like Lay’s potato chips – you may find you can’t do just one!”

-Kathie Germon

“Wow! That about sums it up! My husband and I recently went to Lake Clark with Barrett Hedges, owner of Bear Head Photography. We had previously enjoyed his gallery in Skagway (he also has one in Banff) so we knew he was an excellent photographer, and we knew we could learn from him. Barrett did an excellent job of putting together our small plane flights and our accommodations at the Homestead Lodge, which was also excellent on all levels. It was definitely a beautiful area and a target rich environment for bears, puffins, eagles, landscapes and other wildlife. Everywhere I looked, there was a photo that I wanted to take! There were all levels of photographers in our group, including one that was brand new. Barrett offered advice, at all levels, great tips to get the very best shot and some editing tips as well.”

“This trip far exceeded our expectations, and not only would I recommend it, but would love to go back myself!”

-Lisa Malone

“This trip was absolutely amazing and exceeded all my expectations. Being able to be so close to grizzlies, to have so many opportunities to observe and photograph them in such a beautiful and remote setting was unique and very special. We spent almost every available hour looking for, finding and photographing bears in various situations and in any weather. We tended to stick with a bear for a while so this gave us lots of time to improve composition, technique and how we used our kit. We saw bears almost every time we headed out, in our case lots of young adults, males and mating pairs, though the group the week after us saw some cubs as well. Barrett was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable around composition and thoughtful around getting the bears in the right light and against a good background, whilst helping the group with their kit and pictures. It felt very safe yet the bears were in their normal habitat, and we were not confined to hides or platforms. The local guide kept us at a comfortable distance for the bears yet close enough for good shots with a 400mm lens. Sometimes bears would wander closer but they seemed to ignore us mostly and weren’t scared or bothered by our presence. The trip is suitable for beginners and photo experts alike. The weather can be challenging so there is a need to be prepared for anything, both in terms of clothing and camera gear. I actually found that rainy days yielded the best colors and the most beautiful bear coats but we did get very wet a few times. Daylight hours in the summer are long but camera and lenses need to be able to handle low light. The lodge is excellent with comfy rooms and great food and the occasional bear in the yard.“

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes bears and photography. I’d love to return!”

-Connie Kinley

"To walk with and photograph the coastal brown bears of Alaska has been a dream of mine since I first picked up a camera.  Often dreams like these fail to meet the expectations that one has placed on them, this was not one of those times.  First, as a photography instructor and workshop leader myself, I tend to look at others with a very critical eye.  When I have clients, my goal is to put them in a position to get the best shots available, Barrett has this same mentality.  He was constantly calling out behavior cues and put the needs of his group before his own all while being mindful of not placing the bears in an unnecessarily stressful situation.  If you have seen the shots that he has accumulated you know that his is a labor of love, he is truly passionate about the wildlife that he pursues.  Barrett understands that the knowledge of wildlife behavior is the key to consistently producing quality images.  On several occasions his instincts placed us in the heart of the action.  It became a joke, every time I would ask Barrett about photographing a particular behavior we would end up in a position to do just that. The lodge staff and accommodations were first class all the way, their aim is to make this a trip worth remembering. Barrett Hedges came highly recommended from a respected friend and accomplished photographer/videographer.  This trip became the trip of a lifetime and I couldn't imagine taking a trip like this with anyone other than Barrett, the recommendation that I received I now pass on. “

“If photographing coastal brown bears is your goal Barrett Hedges is your guy."   

- Ron Hayes