FREE LESSON

Learn Bird Photography in Just 14 Minutes

In this FREE lesson, I’ll share my ready-for-action camera settings for bird photography. 🐦

In just 14 minutes, you’ll learn how to use shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focus to capture stunning action shots without needing to be an expert.

Then it’s your turn: go outside, have fun, and take photos that make people say “wait… you took that?”

Fill out your name and email to get access to this FREE lesson right away👇

Who is Tim Laman

Tim Laman is a National Geographic photographer with a deep passion for birds and wildlife who also has a background in ornithology, having obtained his PhD in biology from Harvard University.

He has photographed 25 assignments for National Geographic magazine on a range of wildlife subjects, but with a strong emphasis on birds, which have always been a favorite subject. He is the first and only person to photograph all 39 species of birds-of-paradise in the wild.

His work has garnered numerous international awards, including the overall title "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" in 2016.

Tim has worked on many major natural history documentaries for the BBC, Netflix, and National Geographic and produced many short films. A couple of them are “Planet Earth II” and “Our Planet – Jungles”.

Through sharing his knowledge and experience, he hopes to help other photographers create images with more impact so they too can inspire people around the world to be better stewards of wildlife and wild places.

What You'll Learn In This FREE LESSON

The exact ready-for-action settings I use in bird photography, so you can capture clear and sharp images.

Why Shutter Priority Mode is the easiest place to start

How to track a flying bird with autofocus.

Real photo examples showing how I use these settings in the field

Why you don’t need to understand everything about the camera to take stunning photos.

Why you should stop using your shutter button to focus and what to do instead

  • Daniel Chan

    Great introduction! Lots of sample and good explanation to understand from those master skillset.

  • Matt Nicklin

    I learnt so much!

    Thanks Tim, you have helped me get better at bird photography and photography in general. I was able to watch a video then take your lessons straight out into the field and notice a big difference to the quality of photos I was getting. Keep up the good work!!

  • Blake Irvin

    My favorite course in this category! Maybe it’s because of the shared biology background, but Tim’s approach really works for me. His tips on focus for birds are especially helpful.

  • Mark Heilman

    Clear, Concise, and Inspirational! This course exceeded expectations. There is an abundance of practical information presented in a very clear, concise manner with ample examples. At this point I am not sure if I am more enamored with Tim the photographer or Tim the presenter...

  • Raffaella Chersoni

    Best course ever on bird photography! By far it is the best bird photography course I have ever seen with a lot of tips on different types of situations with different birds. Also, thanks Tim for the great work you have done in this course explaining in a very simple way some concepts...

Do You Want To Learn More About Bird Photography?

This free lesson is the first episode of my popular course: Birds, Camera, Action

and gives you the best possible start without needing to watch hundreds of hours of content.

So if you really want to master bird photography once and for all, the full course shows you everything you need to know in 8 short and concise lessons.

Inside the full course, you’ll learn things like:

✅ How shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together and how to master them in bird photography
✅ How to expose perfectly in tricky situations: bright skies, dark forests, backlighting, and more
✅ How to track and shoot sharp, detailed photos of flying birds
✅ The secrets of autofocus: back-button focus, continuous tracking, and when to switch to manual
✅ Why “burst mode” is your best friend for unpredictable wingbeats

Perfect for both beginner photographers and more experienced shooters.

Read more about Birds, Camera, Action →

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It’s easy to believe you need the newest, most expensive gear to take great photos. And of course, companies love to sell you that idea because they want you to buy their new equipment. Sure, good gear can help. But it’s not what you own that matters… It’s how you use it. In this course, I’ll show you how to get stunning results with the camera you already own. You’ll surprise yourself with what’s possible, and as a bonus, you’ll impress everyone around you.

  • Then this course is perfect for you. You’ll start with the basics and gradually move into more advanced techniques, all explained in a simple, step-by-step way. You can achieve SO much more than you think even if you start from zero.

  • If you can’t find uncommon birds, take uncommon photos of common birds. Even the birds in your backyard can make for stunning shots when you know how to approach them. So yes, you’ll be just fine.

  • If you already know how to use your camera settings to photograph birds in any situation, then my next course, Getting Creative, is definitely for you. In this course, I’ll teach you my creativity framework and show you how to capture those award-winning photos you see in magazines like National Geographic.