South Texas Wildlife | Muench Workshops

South Texas is renowned as one of the best birding hotspots in the continental United States. More than 590 species of birds can be found in this environmentally diverse region, and many of these are not found anywhere else in the country. Our South Texas Wildlife workshop is designed to make the most of this stunning variety. The free-ranging wildlife comes to us as we photograph from comfortable custom-built blinds near attractive water features and natural food sources. This allows us to capture behaviors and interactions in the ideal light, at calibrated distances, and with photogenic backdrops. Our primary focus is birds, but we hope to photograph mammals as well, including deer, armadillo, peccaries, and—with luck!—bobcat.

Our setting for this workshop is a privately-owned 300-acre ranch that has been preserved under conservation easement. Photography is the only activity allowed on the ranch, so the wildlife is abundant and relaxed. There are a total of six blinds around the property: four in-ground for ground-dwelling critters and two that are elevated for raptor photography. We have exclusive use of the ranch during our time here, so you don‘t have to worry about crowds or not being able to get in the perfect position for the shot.

We stay in the ranch’s private guesthouse, where you have a private bedroom and shared use of the two full bathrooms. There is plenty of space for dining and photo editing, and a projector and screen for our signature image reviews. The guesthouse is located only a few minutes from the blinds, so we can easily access them during great light! Meals are classic South Texas fare, prepared for us by our personal chef. Vegetarian and gluten-free diets can be accommodated on request.

Lisa LaPointe is your pro and guide. She has extensive experience photographing birds and a wealth of knowledge about them as well. She’s accompanied by an expert local guide and photographer familiar with the ranch. Together, they’ll make sure you receive unparalleled one-on-one attention in the field and during image reviews, and that you come home with vibrant, detailed, and intimate images.