Private, immersive photography experiences in South Devon
South Devon Nature Photography offers tailor-made workshops and guidance amidst the stunning landscapes of South Devon. With a focus on observation, fieldcraft and camera techniques, you can book one-to-one or small group sessions to enhance your photography skills.
No experience needed — just curiosity
Is this for you?
This experience is designed for people who:
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Have a camera, but don’t feel they’re getting the most from it
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Enjoy being outdoors and want a meaningful way to connect with nature
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Would love to be taking more photographs they’re genuinely proud of
No previous experience is necessary.
Join me - a local wildlife photographer and filmmaker - to discover the rich web of life that thrives in this special corner of the UK. With plenty of potential subjects to focus on, big and small, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know your camera better while picking up tips on composition, fieldcraft and working with natural light.
More than anything, my aim is simple:
to help you see differently.
Because when that shifts, your photography follows.
Is this for you?
This experience is designed for people who:
Have a camera, but don’t feel they’re getting
the most from it
Enjoy being outdoors and want a meaningful way
to connect with nature
Would love to be taking more photographs they’re
genuinely proud of
No previous experience is necessary.
Join me - a local wildlife photographer and filmmaker - to discover the rich web of life that thrives in this special corner of the UK. With plenty of potential subjects to focus on, big and small, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know your camera better while picking up tips on composition, fieldcraft and working with natural light.
More than anything, my aim is simple:
to help you see differently.
Because when that shifts, your photography follows.
Tailored to You
Every session is private and designed around you.
You can book one-to-one, or as a small group (up to four people who already know each other), allowing for a relaxed, personal experience.
Rather than chasing rare or elusive wildlife, we focus on whatever nature offers us in the moment — light, textures, patterns, and the quieter forms of life that are so often overlooked. our aim is to find the beauty in the commonplace.
This approach gives us time to experiment, to slow down, and to build skills that will stay with you long after the day ends.
Locations are chosen based on season, weather and conditions — from coastal paths and estuaries to hidden corners of farmland and woodland. If there’s somewhere specific you’d love to explore, I’ll always do my best to accommodate.
Tailored to You
Every session is private and designed around you.
You can book one-to-one, or as a small group (up to four people who already know each other), allowing for a relaxed, personal experience.
Rather than chasing rare or elusive wildlife, we focus on whatever nature offers us in the moment — light, textures, patterns, and the quieter forms of life that are so often overlooked. our aim is to find the beauty in the commonplace.
This approach gives us time to experiment, to slow down, and to build skills that will stay with you long after the day ends.
Locations are chosen based on season, weather and conditions — from coastal paths and estuaries to hidden corners of farmland and woodland. If there’s somewhere specific you’d love to explore, I’ll always do my best to accommodate.
Early Birds
A two-part experience across an afternoon and the following sunrise.
We begin slowly in the afternoon, getting comfortable with your camera and covering the essential settings in a relaxed, practical way. There’s time to ask questions and begin applying everything straight away as we explore what's around us. The following morning we meet early, arriving before or around sunrise to work with the first light of the day. With fewer people around and the day just beginning to unfold, it’s a chance to experience our surroundings in a very different way. We follow conditions rather than a fixed plan, typically spending around 3–4 hours out, finishing while the light is still good.
If you’d like, you’re welcome to share a few of your images at the end of the session. I’ll select 2 or 3 favourites, refine them with a light edit, and send them to you afterwards.
typically 2-6pm, followed by a 4-hour dawn session
£265 - 1 person
£315 - 2 people
Additional Services
If you have a specific request, please do get in touch.
In addition to the above experiences, I can also offer:
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bespoke workshops or tuition at your festival/retreat/event
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illustrated talks and presentations
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personal tuition for photography students
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photographic commissions
Just drop me a line if you would like to discuss these or any other options.
Meet Your Guide
Jonathan Clay is a multi award-winning natural history and environmental filmmaker and photographer who lives with his family in the wonderful South Hams region of Devon, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
A fascination of, and affinity with, the natural world around him has been a core part of Jon's identity since before he could walk and talk. It was the foundation of his childhood as he grew up in Suffolk and when he was given his first camera aged 8 he spent endless hours trying to photograph the wildlife in his garden and beyond, developing the black & white images in his dad's darkroom.
His love of nature and the art of photography inevitably led him to a career as a wildlife filmmaker, specialising in environmental storytelling. You can read more about his filmmaking career here.
As a photographer he's been Highly Commended in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards, won the Travel Photographer of the Year Award and had photos published in National Geographic as well as books and other publications.
A few years ago Jon and his family moved from Bristol to Kingsbridge and it felt a lot like coming home. He travels less these days and spends as much time as he can immersed in the landscapes and seascapes of this very special corner of the world.
What to Bring
& Expect
No previous photographic experience is needed. If the only camera you have is the phone in your pocket, that’s absolutely fine — we can work with that.
If you are bringing a camera, it’s worth having the basics covered: spare batteries, memory cards, and anything else you’d like to experiment with.
We’ll be spending most of our time outdoors, whatever the weather, and may walk up to a mile or so to locations. Some terrain can be uneven, and at times I may encourage you to get low to the ground to explore different perspectives — entirely optional, of course.
Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing is essential.
Please also bring water and something to eat, as we’ll often be in places where there are no nearby facilities. Refillable bottles and flasks are strongly encouraged.
Requirements
No previous photographic experience is needed. If the only camera you have is the phone in your pocket, that’s absolutely fine — we can work with that.
If you are bringing a camera, it’s worth having the basics covered: spare batteries, memory cards, and anything else you’d like to experiment with.
We’ll be spending most of our time outdoors, whatever the weather, and may walk up to a mile or so to locations. Some terrain can be uneven, and at times I may encourage you to get low to the ground to explore different perspectives — entirely optional, of course.
Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing is essential.
Please also bring water and something to eat, as we’ll often be in places where there are no nearby facilities. Refillable bottles and flasks are strongly encouraged.