"Bird Photography Tips & Tricks"

If you’ve ever wondered how professional wildlife photographers consistently capture clean, sharp, and artistic bird photographs, you’ll want to watch this special replay with world‑renowned bird photographer Alan Murphy.

This exclusive bird photography training dives into the techniques Alan has refined over decades — from designing natural perches to using simple attraction methods and mastering both perched and in‑flight shots. Alan’s approach combines ethical fieldcraft with artistic composition, giving photographers the tools to create award‑worthy images without relying on chance.

What You’ll Learn in This Training

This isn’t just a handful of quick tips — Alan takes you through the full process he uses in the field, step by step.

1. Designing the Perfect Perch

• How to select a perch based on your target bird’s behavior and size
• Tips for trimming and shaping perches so birds land exactly where you want
• Positioning perches for ideal light and background separation

2. Creating Clean, Distraction‑Free Backgrounds

• Choosing natural backgrounds that enhance your subject instead of competing with it
• Using distance and depth of field to blur busy backgrounds
• Tricks for matching background color tones to your subject

3. Natural Attraction Methods

• How to use moving water as a powerful bird magnet
• Building portable drip ponds and water features for home or travel
• Alan’s suet recipe and feeding strategies that work without creating dependency
• Using native plants and seasonal food sources to bring birds closer

4. Birds in Flight – Made Easier

• Setting up for predictable flight paths so you can anticipate the action
• How Alan uses a decoy owl to get raptors banking in flight
• Fast shutter speed and autofocus tips for sharp, mid‑air shots
• Freezing hummingbird wings without multi‑flash rigs

5. Storytelling & Composition

• When to fill the frame vs. when to show habitat for context
• Capturing reflections and environmental elements for stronger narratives
• Selecting the best images from a large shoot — what to look for and what to avoid

6. Ethical Fieldcraft

• Approaching birds without stress or disturbance
• Setting up scenes that look natural and wild, even in controlled conditions
• How to leave no trace in the environments you photograph

What Attendees Said About the Training

“The information presented tonight by Alan was incredible. So many good tips!” – Brad Locke

“Amazing presentation!!! Thank you so much.” – Sergio Gregório

“Fantastic presentation!!!” – Christy

“Super presentation, Alan. Thank you.” – Sandy Zelasko

“Alan is a master of bird photography. His photos allow people to see wildlife in a way that is just impossible otherwise.” – Sergio Gregório

About Alan Murphy

Alan Murphy is one of the most respected names in bird photography today. His images have been published in National Geographic, Birding, and Bird Watcher’s Digest, and his work has been recognized in the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year competition. He is known for clean, artistic compositions and innovative field techniques — from designing multi‑perch setups to working entirely with natural perches in wild settings.

Transform Your Bird Photography with a Proven Field System

A How-To Training Series to Help You Plan, Attract, and Capture Award-Worthy Shots

Learn More