Yellowstone Photography Guide: 4 Vital Tips for Taking Photos in Yellowstone

Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities for Incredible Yellowstone Photography

Whether you’re hoping to get that perfectly-timed shot of Old Faithful erupting on a cloudless afternoon or you’re up early to see the sun’s first rays hit the surface of Yellowstone Lake, there are innumerable opportunites to photograph Yellowstone National Park’s natural splendor.

Hobbyists and freelance professionals alike capture amazing images of Yellowstone each year. If you intend to join them, there are a few things you need to know about making the most of Yellowstone photography.

Here are the things every photographer, regardless of skill level, gear quality, or experience, should think about regarding Yellowstone photography.

1. Safety is Crucial to Successful Yellowstone Photography

We all want that perfectly focused shot that makes your audience feel up close and personal with Yellowstone’s wildlife. Fortunately, there are a variety of techniques and pieces of gear you can use to achieve this effect without actually approaching animals.

Entirely too many people, some photographers included, treat Yellowstone like a theme park. It isn’t one — it’s wild, and the wildlife will respond if they feel threatened.

Always view animals from a distance of at least 25 yards. For grizzly bears and wolves, maintain a safe distance of at least 100 yards. Never approach wildlife in your Yellowstone photography work.

Instead, let zoom lenses do the work for you.

If you’ve never worked in bear country before, don’t take it lightly. Bears, especially grizzly bears, can seriously injure or kill you if provoked. Always carry bear spray, and take the time to review these bear safety guidelines before you visit Yellowstone.

One more safety note: Use pullouts to park along highways. There’s already enough congestion on Yellowstone’s roadways, and abruptly stopping on the shoulder — sometimes, even in the middle of the lane — only contributes to this growing problem.

Keep your safety and that of your fellow motorists in mind, no matter how alluring or fleeting the photo opportunity may be. While you’re at it, if this is your first time visiting Yellowstone, have a look at these important recommendations for driving inside Yellowstone National Park.

2. Leave It the Way You Found It

Yellowstone was established in 1872 as the world’s first national park in order to preserve and protect this incredible area, its natural beauty, and its wildlife. Preservation is still at the forefront of the National Park Service’s approach in Yellowstone, which is why you’ll see minimal infrastructure throughout the park.

Yellowstone is wild, and park administrators aim to keep it that way. You can help by minimizing your footprint.

Stay on trails and boardwalks, especially in thermal areas. Leaving the trail contributes to erosion.

Thermal areas are fragile, especially the bacterial mats that give sites like Grand Prismatic Spring their astonishing colors. Stepping into these sensitive areas can cause irreparable damage, sullying the experience for other visitors.

As you pursue your Yellowstone photography, remember that every park visitor has a responsibility to do their part in preserving Yellowstone. Stay on trails and boardwalks.

In addition, leaving the boardwalk in thermal areas is a safety risk. You could fall through the thin, brittle ground in these areas and be seriously injured — or worse — by the scalding, incredibly acidic water right beneath the surface.

3. Ditch the Drone

Fortunately, this one doesn’t require much explanation.

Drone use is prohibited in Yellowstone National Park. 

You can’t launch them, land them, or operate them. Period. Desperate for an overhead view of Yellowstone? Try Google Earth.

4. Engage in Yellowstone Photography with Your Fellow Visitors in Mind

We’ve touched on this point already, but it deserves its own section.

You’ve rearranged your schedule, traveled a long way — likely at considerable expense — and worked hard to prepare for your long-awaited Yellowstone photography opportunity.

The thing is, so did everyone else.

As with all things, Yellowstone photography comes with trade-offs. It’s not a zero-sum game, either. Don’t be pushy, be considerate of the people around you, and pack your patience.

Remember, we all share Yellowstone National Park, and it’s every visitor’s responsibility to help the people around them enjoy their visit.

At a minimum, don’t detract from the Yellowstone photography of others. Don’t hog a prime spot for too long, and if there’s no room, don’t force your way in.

In general, simply follow the golden rule: Treat others the way you’d want to be treated.