The Art of Photography

Private Instruction & Photo Safaris — Park City & Surrounding Areas

Each client receives a custom-built lesson plan tailored to their skill level, goals, and style of learning. Instruction is available in your home, at the Park City Library (private conference room), or out in the field.

Pricing

Option 1 — Standard Hourly Instruction - $100 per hour — pre/post classroom support no charge.

One-on-one private instruction is available at the Park City Library or at outdoor locations within approximately 10 minutes of Park City. Each session is tailored to your experience level, with custom lessons created just for you. I provide handouts and personalized assignments at no extra charge, and I invest additional time preparing emails, guidance, and shoot planning for both pre and post event.

Option 2 — Learning Package (Best Value)

$85 per hour when you prepay for a 5-hour block
Use hours flexibly—one hour at a time or in longer sessions.

Option 3 — Auto Photo Safari (Wildlife & Wilderness)

$135 per hour — 4-hour minimum
A guided off-road photography experience into the woods and surrounding wilderness. Snacks and refreshments included.

Outdoor Experience - Learn a little fieldcraft and some outdoor skills while your learning photography.

  • Former outdoor professional guide for Jans Mountain Outfitters and Local Waters Flyfishing

  • U.S. Air Force veteran; graduate of the Air Force Survival, Evasion & Escape (SERE) program

  • Former owner/operator of Royal Wulff Fly Fishing

Instructional Program

Custom lessons built around four core pillars

1. Camera Mastery

To truly master your camera, you should be able to confidently choose the right settings for any subject—adjusting exposure, focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and modes instinctively to achieve the creative result you want.

2. Composition & Lighting

Understand how to build strong, compelling images by studying light—its direction, quality, and intensity—and by exploring the history of composition from classical painting to modern photography. Learn how timeless visual principles translate directly into creating photographs that feel intentional and artful.

3. Storytelling Through Photography

Learn to create compelling landscape and wildlife photographs by mastering timing, understanding animal behavior, and reading the relationship between subject and environment. Build stronger storytelling by capturing rare, meaningful moments that define a scene.

4. Real-World Fieldcraft & Outdoor Skills

Gain practical knowledge for shooting wildlife, landscapes, night skies, and outdoor adventure. Learn how to work safely, read conditions, stay organized, and apply your technical skills in dynamic environments.

How Lessons Are Structured

  • Custom syllabus based on your gear, interests, and goals

  • Clear handouts and quick-reference sheets to reinforce learning

  • Your choice of classroom instruction, hands-on fieldwork, or a blended approach

  • Real-world practice in the environments you want to master—wildlife, scenic landscapes, night skies, or outdoor adventure

My group Educational Presentations (2024–2026)

Nightscape Photography – November 2024

Single, stacked, and tracked exposures, Milky Way and planetary techniques, light painting, focus, checklists, and night fieldcraft.

Outdoor Photography – Bears – June 2025

Safety, fieldcraft, optics, camera settings, plus bear behavior and viewing locations in Utah, the Tetons, and Yellowstone.

Wildlife Photography – October 2025

Behavior, ethics, lighting, gear prep, focus techniques, and wildlife subjects including moose, elk, birds, ospreys, bears, and more.

Winter Photography – November 2025

Snow exposure, histograms, white balance, cold-weather gear, winter wildlife, and winter landscape strategy.

MOAB: From Vision to Print — March 23–25, 2026 | Save the Date

The IPPA Moab Photography Retreat is a landscape photography educational event developed by David Winegar for the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association. David will present a 75-minute lecture focused on intentional landscape photography, creating repeatable habits and systems, pre-visualization, planning workflows, and core technical foundations including focus techniques, exposure control, composition, and understanding light. Bruce Hucko, a nationally recognized photographer, will also present a 75-minute lecture centered on working meaningfully in iconic locations, developing a personal visual voice, editing with intent, and carrying a photograph through to a finished print. The group will travel to selected locations for self-guided photography, or participants may choose to photograph independently. On Day 2 (March 24), an optional afternoon Edit and Print session with Bruce Hucko is available for an additional $40 and includes one fully resolved image and a finished print to take home. Registration through IPPA is $250 for IPPA members and $350 for non-members. (Link coming soon) The Moab Valley Inn is offering IPPA a reduced group rate of $160 per night, plus taxes and fees. For details and registration information, contact David Winegar at Photomojo@comcast.net; questions may also be answered by David at the January 5th IPPA Photo Meeting at the Park City Library.

Let’s Connect

📧 Photomojo@comcast.net
📞 435-640-5123

I’d be happy to design a customized, enjoyable photography experience for you.

Customer Reviews

February 29th 2024

Hi David,

 I had a great time exploring the Park City vicinity with you to get some photos of the local predatory birds and to learn how I could improve my camera skills when taking wildlife photographs, especially when using the longer lenses (like my Canon 400mm lens). The tips I learned from you in our half day session regarding the camera settings, use of the histogram, note taking and accessories to enhance the photos were invaluable. The only thing I regret is that I used your Nikon mirrorless camera and 800mm lens – now I’m spoiled and looking to upgrade my gear!

 Attached is a photo of a spot breasted oriole that I took this weekend in my South Florida neighborhood close to sunset using the 400mm lens and utilizing your instruction.  When I saw the result, I definitely improved using this lens – thank you, David, for the education and wonderful experience!

 Best regards,

 Cathy XXXXXXX

Pompano Beach, Florida

Make It

Lisa XXXX, Park City, Utah

March 16th, 2024

I spent the most amazing day yesterday with David Winegar, our local award-winning photographer. Found a deal on Nextdoor for an old (2016) Nikon D7200 camera and bought it. As a novice, and this being a very complicated camera, I contacted David to see if he would offer a one-on-one session in order to learn it. He was extremely responsive, on time, and prepared with an individual tutorial for me.

We covered photography in general and nearly all functions and capabilities of my new (old) camera. Our session ended with a drive to shoot both landscape and wildlife photographs.

David is kind, passionate, professional, and experienced. The knowledge I gained over the 5+ hours has jumpstarted me into a new retirement hobby.  I look forward to testing out my newly found skills next month in both England and Norway.

Five+ Stars for David! Highly recommend you connect with him for any class, from novice to advanced. He literally knows it all! Price was fair, and he offered discounts along with great tips for local framing, equipment, and such. I even learned some of his “secret” places for viewing/photographing wildlife :)

Search for David's photos on ND and DM him if interested. Big art show at the Yarrow Hotel next week, 22 - 23 March. See you there, neighbors!

https://www.parkcityphotography.net/

June 13th 2024

3 Hours at the Park City Library and 1 hour afield.

March 19th 2025

6.5 Hours Afield


Melissa xxxx. December 11th 2026

REVIEW

I reached out to Dave for a photography lesson, and he went above and beyond. He created a fully custom lesson plan tailored to my specific camera and skill level, and even spent hours researching my camera beforehand so he knew it inside and out. He reviewed my photos with me, gave clear, actionable feedback, and then took everything into the field for hands-on guidance. He also helped me choose the right camera gear and accessories. Dave is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and generous with his time. I highly recommend hiring him if you want to improve your photography skills and confidence.

(Park City, Utah)

Image: Credit to student

Instructor Notes: A comprehensive, hands-on deep dive into Nikon Z6II, including menus, camera controls, button layout, and switchology. We will follow this with a field session photographing rescued wild horses at a local sanctuary.

Topics include:
• Understanding light—its direction, quality, and how to position your camera to create depth and dimension
• Exploring creative camera angles to isolate your subject and elevate artistry
• Using subject detection and tracking modes effectively
• Focus areas and focus modes, and when to use each
• Tripod use and image-stabilization techniques, both in-camera and optical
• A deep dive into focus theory and practice
• The artistic use of bokeh and depth of field to shape the visual story

This session blends technical mastery with creative exploration to build strong foundational skills and confidence with a new camera.

Diana XXXXX. March 19th, 2025  6 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

(From Tampa, Florida)

Dianas, Photo Safari included

-Winterscapes Photography

-Wildlife Photography - Sage Grouse, Elk, Wild Turkeys

-Instructional course on all facets of Photography, Printing, and Competition

December 29th 2025 / Marina from Baltimore, Maryland.

David,

It was a pleasure to meet you today and to have a private photography class with you. It was truly a masterclass. Your methodical teaching really helped me organize my existing knowledge, as well as gain new understanding and foundational skills. And then putting it all into practice was the cherry on top. 

Image credit to student.

Instructors Notes:
A syllabus tailored to her desires to better understand her Cannon R6 Camera, White Balance and Landscape Photography. In the classroom, I focused on building a solid foundation of photographic skills from gear preparation and setup at home to going afield. We reviewed the fundamentals of photography—exposure triangle, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus, exposure, and composition—-alongside a deep dive into her Canon R6. I introduced the 12 elements an award winning image as a standard to judge ones photography and a template for future shoots. We worked through the idea of photography as a system of thoughtful, repeatable actions supported by simple checklists to ensure nothing is overlooked then unleash creativity through revisualization and studying the masters of art. We then went afield to apply these concepts in real conditions, practicing landscape techniques and discussing winter photography considerations, including cold, snow, and gear management.