About Jennifer Hadley

Following Wildlife, Frame by Frame

I'm Jennifer Hadley

Woman wading in a mountain lake beside a tripod-mounted camera, with snowy peaks in the background

Testimonials From Previous Travelers

I had the greatest time under Jennifer's leadership on an incredible 9 day adventure to the bottom of the world - beautiful Patagonia and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. As the photography lead, Jennifer struck the perfect balance between expert guidance, creative freedom and helping our wonderful group elevate our photography and editing skills in Lightroom regardless of skill level. The local guides Jennifer engaged were exceptional, together they always had us in the right place at the right time for the landscape photography (sunset/sunrise), when walking with pumas and to enable all of us to get that video/photography of pumas walking right towards us. I can't put into words how captivating that moment was for me - just the highlight of my year! Jennifer consistently provides thoughtful, practical advice in the field, from composition and camera settings to reading animal behavior. What stands out with Jennifer is also her excitement and enthusiasm for wildlife and for our photography experiences, always willing to answer questions and ensure our group was supported and inspired. I have been on 4 photography workshops around the world with Jennifer now and will keep coming back to join her adventures. I came away from his trip with new skills and a deeper appreciation for wildlife and landscape photography and wonderful new friends. I would highly recommend Jennifer's photography workshops to anyone looking for a meaningful and rewarding photography and life experience. She is the best.

I can't say enough good things about this trip. Jen takes care of every detail other than getting yourself to the starting location. Airport pickup is handled, and she's there waiting at the hotel to welcome you and make sure everything is set for your stay. Once you arrive, you never have to worry about logistics again and there were plenty of moving parts on this trip. She's also constantly checking in to make sure you have everything you need. The accommodations were first class, and the safaris and guides were excellent. When you're joining a group of 7 strangers for two weeks, there's always a little trepidation about how you'll fit in. But from the very first group dinner, I could tell this was going to be a great group and as the days went on, the camaraderie grew and everyone started to feel like family. People were always willing to help each other out, and the laughs were pretty much nonstop. If you ever get the chance to go on a trip with Jen, don't hesitate. I already know that when I figure out my next adventure, the first thing I'll be doing is checking to see if she has something planned for that destination.

I had the absolute pleasure of traveling to North Carolina with Jennifer for 4 days, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation. From the moment I arrived, Jennifer went above and beyond to make sure everything was seamless - she picked me up herself, offered excellent accommodation recommendations, and took care of every little detail so that all I had to do was focus on enjoying the adventure. Her knowledge of the area and its wildlife is unmatched. Within my first 30 minutes out with her, I had the incredible privilege of seeing an extremely rare Red Wolf - an animal that is almost extinct. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, and it set the tone for the amazing days ahead. Over the course of the trip, Jennifer brought us to multiple locations where we had unforgettable wildlife sightings: bears grazing, bears dozing peacefully in the sun, and even playful bears swimming. One of the highlights was spotting a mother bear with 2 cubs which was simply heartwarming. My personal favorite though, was a massive male black bear who confidently walked right towards us, framed by the fiery glow of autumn trees in the background. It was the kind of scene that felt straight out of a dream. Not every encounter made for the perfect photograph, but some left me with memories just as valuable. I'll never forgot watching tiny cubs scramble up a tree. Jennifer also made sure the experience wasn't just about the wildlife; she introduced me to a charming local coffee shop which quickly because a favorite stop. I still think about that hazelnut iced coffee - it was that good! Jennifer's ability to combine her deep expertise in wildlife with her warm, approachable personality makes her the perfect guide. She knows exactly where to be, when to be there, and how to make the most out of every outing. If you're considering booking a trip with her, don't hesitate - run, don't walk to do it. It's truly an experience of a lifetime.

I spent 2 very full days with Jennifer at Alligator River NWR shooting black bears and other wildlife and I had a great time. She knew exactly where to find the bears, how to approach them safely and ethically, and how to get us in position to get the best shots. I was most impressed with how freely Jennifer shared her knowledge. She watched over my shoulder as I was shooting, offering valuable suggestions and tips that I definitely needed, and she cheerfully answered my endless stream of questions. Finally, I really enjoyed Jennifer's company. We literally spent more than 30 hours together over 2 days, and the conversation never waned for a minute. She's a wonderful human in addition to being a fantastic guide, and I hope to get a chance to work with her in the future

I found Jennifer on Instagram in 2023 while looking for a place closer to home to photograph wild bears, which I've been obsessed with for over 10 years. Although I've done group workshops in Alaska, BC and Minnesota, I had never tried a one-on-one guided trip before. From the moment we met, Jennifer made me feel completely at ease, and I've been going back every year since. Over 2 unforgettable days, she guided me through two huge wildlife refuges, sharing her incredible knowledge of the area and its wildlife. I was lucky to observe black bears, including a mama with 3 cubs, and even some rare red wolves. One of my favorite moments was when we we photographing a massive male bear and Jennifer noticed a young skittish bear behind us standing on its hind legs, curiously checking the big male - we managed to capture some amazing shots thanks to her sharp eyes. She's someone who really cares about wildlife - she'd stop the car to help a snake cross the road! She also made sure I had the best camera settings and gave me fantastic photography tips, sharing so much about conservation that you don't usually get in workshops. If you truly love bears and other wildlife and want a one-on-one experience with a professional wildlife photographer, Jennifer is the guide you want. I'm so grateful to have met her.

I will start with, I'm semi-retired. I have a very limited income. Choosing to go on a trip like this is hard for me. It's a big expense, one I take very seriously. Photographing tigers in the wild was definitely a huge bucket list. I had only met Jennifer once randomly while out photographing bears. We connected on socials. When I saw that she did a tiger trip to India, I was immediately interested. Once deciding to go, she was very supportive on helping plan and orchestrating prep for the trip. She was VERY accommodating to every need of every guest while on this trip. From the moment we arrived at our first lodge, I wanted to give her a huge hug. It was so awesome, and I knew from that moment on that I could relax and enjoy myself. Every detail was so meticulously thought out...the travel, accommodations, meals, safaris, etc. I couldn't have asked for anything better. She is also just a fun and great person to be around. She always gave us information on what to expect without taking away the element of surprise. She gave us the opportunity to go full throttle and use every minute available to experience as much as possible, with the option to sit out and relax if we wanted to. She also offered her expertise on photography and editing to anyone wanting it. This trip took my mind away from the blah that exists in every day life. It was a great couple of weeks with a bunch of great people. A HUGE thank you to Jennifer. I have so many great photos to go through. There will definitely be future trips with her. PS, if you get the opportunity to take a trip with Jennifer you should take it, and, at some random point while you're having dinner or a drink, ask her about water polo. Haha.

I recently returned from an unforgettable photographic safari to South Africa, led by Jennifer Hadley. From start to finish, it was a dream come true for photography enthusiasts. The rhythm of each day seemed a perfect balance of adventure (tracking wildlife), photography, learning, conservation, and even a bit of relaxation. Jennifer was truly exceptional. Energetic, fun and incredibly knowledgeable, she brought a contagious enthusiasm to every game drive. What really stood out was how helpful she was with photography, providing tips, techniques and hands-on assistance to ensure everyone got the best shots possible.<br>Overall, this safari exceeded all expectations. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique photographic experience in the wild!

Jennifer is insanely good at her job. Her knowledge of animal behavior and habits, her tracking ability and her determination to put the animal's interest and well being above all else allowed me to have amazing encounters. Jennifer's passion for wildlife conservation is contagious. I will be forever grateful for the knowledge and education she shared with me. We spent 2 days together from sunrise to sunset, non-stop and every moment she had, she was offering in the field photography guidance. I'm not sure I can express what an opportunity it was for me to be able to learn one on one from Jennifer.....a huge opportunity to say the least.

Jennifer is an amazing photographer, teacher and just a great all around human. Her approach is an ethical one with a view to conservation while explaining both animal behavior and photography techniques to maximize wildlife encounters simultaneously. For her these tours are not transactional, she genuinely wants to help you enjoy your vacation and grow as a photographer. She is concerned if someone is not feeling well, working closely with her ground team to help where possible. She also has the ability to let her hair down and enjoy life -- a great ability in group travel. Best compliment that I can offer is -- I am already looking at ways to travel on a future trip with Jennifer! Thanks

Awards


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