Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
15th-19th September 2025
5 days
Photography, Videography, Editing, & Marine Education
Inclusive of 5 x private boat trips
AUD $1,795
AUD $500 deposit to secure space
Expert photography and videography guidance from professional wildlife photographer Ross Long
Access to five whale swims and a dive at Flinders Reef with grey nurse sharks, turtles, eagle rays and coral reefs
Intimate Group Size of six people for better interactions
Join professional ocean photographer Ross Long for an intimate whale photography workshop on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast — one of Australia’s most spectacular locations to witness migrating humpback whales.
From June to November, these giants of the sea pass through the rich coastal waters off Mooloolaba, offering unforgettable encounters both above and below the surface. With a limited group of six, you'll have the chance to capture powerful breaches, graceful tail slaps, and tender moments between mothers and calves under the water — all guided with expert tuition and storytelling insight.
But the magic doesn’t stop with whales. These nutrient-rich waters are also home to grey nurse sharks, dolphins, curious sea turtles, eagle rays, and schools of vibrant fish. The Sunshine Coast’s unique blend of tropical and temperate marine life creates the perfect canvas for wildlife photography. We will see it all at Flinders Reef.
Whether you're new to photography or looking to refine your underwater techniques, this hands-on workshop is designed to inspire growth and connection to your craft, to nature, and to like-minded creatives.
This is what you can expect from our photography workshop:
I will sit with you to help assist and answer any questions you may have to get you where you want to be on your photography journey
I will help you to improve your marine interaction techniques so that you have better chances of capturing animals in a more ethical way
We have access to a private charter that can take us to where the whales are. That means we can search the oceans looking for interactive whales
We limit the size of our workshops so that we can provide an intimate experience. This will result in better wildlife interactions
In collaboration with the Pressure Project that has been teaching freediving for over ten years, we have access to their knowledge to help improve our techniques.
This workshop caters for all levels. Maybe you're an aspiring wildlife photographer and wanting to improve your photography, this workshop will provide you with the knowledge to become better equipped and more comfortable at using your camera. Or perhaps you're already comfortable with your camera and just want to practise your skills at photographing a new species.
This immersive experience does not focus only on camera settings. It will provide you with practical mindset techniques to help you have safer and improved interactions. It will also give you tips on improving your snorkelling and freediving techniques to help get better photos.
An underwater camera or action camera. If you do not have these available, I will have a GoPro, DJI Action 5, Insta 360, Ace 2 Pro and a housing for your phone that you can use.
We will not only encounter leopard sharks and manta rays, we will also encounter a large array of other animals including:
This outline gives you a general idea of how the week will flow, but we keep things flexible to follow the rhythm of the ocean. Weather conditions and wildlife activity can change quickly, and our goal is always to make the most of every opportunity — both in the water and on land.
We’ll kick off the week in beautiful Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, settling in and getting to know each other before diving into our welcome session. Here, we’ll cover everything you need to know about safely and respectfully interacting with humpback whales. You’ll also receive guided tips on snorkelling and freediving to help you feel confident and calm in the water. Then, it’s time for our very first ocean session, your first chance to meet these incredible whales in their element.
Our second whale swim session takes us deeper into the experience — with more time in the water to observe, anticipate, and capture powerful moments with the whales. This is where confidence starts to build and creative opportunities unfold. Back on land, we’ll dive into an education session focused on storytelling and in-camera techniques. You’ll learn how to improve your photo and video settings across both traditional cameras and action cameras, with tips on exposure, white balance, frame rates, and composition. The goal is to help you shoot with purpose, capturing images and clips that not only look great, but tell a deeper story.
Day three is all about exploring one of Queensland’s most vibrant and untouched reef systems — Flinders Reef. We’ll spend a full day on the water diving into this rich underwater world, home to an incredible diversity of marine life. From swimming alongside graceful grey nurse sharks to photographing curious sea turtles, gliding eagle rays, and thriving coral gardens, this is an experience that will both challenge and inspire you. With two dives planned, you’ll have ample time to capture wide-angle reefscapes, practice your composition and buoyancy, and deepen your connection to the ocean. It's a day filled with colour, movement, and unforgettable encounters beneath the surface. There is always the chance that we will encounter more whales.
Day four is all about transforming your raw footage into powerful stories. In our morning editing session, we’ll dive into Lightroom for underwater photo editing, explore video workflows in Premiere Pro and CapCut, and walk through how I craft engaging Instagram carousel posts and reels that connect with an audience. You’ll learn how to build a consistent visual style, choose your strongest content, and edit in a way that highlights the emotion and energy of your underwater encounters. In the afternoon, we’ll head back out for another whale swim — with fresh creative ideas and technical insights to put into practice. It’s a day of refinement, storytelling, and renewed inspiration.
Our final day begins with a relaxed morning Q&A session — a chance to ask any remaining questions, refine your techniques, and get personalised advice before heading back out on the water. Then it’s time for our last whale swim, soaking up every moment and applying everything you’ve learned throughout the week. It’s a chance to capture your strongest images yet and truly connect with these incredible animals. We’ll wrap up the workshop with a casual pizza gathering, sharing stories, reviewing highlights, and celebrating an unforgettable week of creativity, connection, and adventure.
The retreat is held on the Sunshine Coast, QLD. The closest airport is Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY), or you can fly into Brisbane and drive about 1.5 hours north. Our vessel departs from Mooloolaba. Locations for daily workshops will be communicated during the retreat week.
No, meals are not included. You will need to bring food with you on the boat.
No! You don’t need to be certified or a strong freediver to join our whale swims and ocean adventures. We offer guidance for all levels, whether you’re a seasoned freediver or a first-time snorkeller. You just need to be comfortable in the ocean and able to swim 200m unassisted for multiple days in a row.
Snorkel gear is included as part of the experience, however if you have your own I recommend bringing it. Wetsuits are also available to hire at an additional cost. Again, I recommend bringing your own.
Wetsuit, wetsuit top and wetsuit socks
Mask & Fins
Weight belt (also available to hire)
Camera gear (anything from professional gear to action cameras)
Laptop
A comprehensive list of equipment will be sent to you when you book.
While we can help with some gear, we strongly encourage you to bring your own snorkel, mask, fins and wetsuit that you have tested and are comfortable with! We have safety vests on board of our vessel.
This experience is catered for everyone from absolute beginner snorkellers to advanced snorkellers and beginner photographers to advance photographers. The purpose of the group sessions is to learn and experience together. There will be 1:1 sessions as part of the group session and individual 1:1 sessions throughout the trip.
Yes. Our experienced team follows strict safety protocols and adheres to Australian wildlife interaction guidelines. We approach every encounter with respect for the whales’ space and behaviour. As with any wildlife activity, there are always risks, but we work hard to ensure your experience is both safe and respectful.
Absolutely not, everyone will still have a fantastic experience in the water with an array of marine life. For those interested, I will have a GoPro, Insta 360 and a Joby SeaPal for phones available for guests to use.
I will have a GoPro, Insta 360, DJI Action 5 and a Joby SeaPal for phones available for guests to use.
It is recommended that all guests purchase their own travel insurance.
A moderate level of fitness is expected. You’ll be getting in and out of boats, swimming, and spending time in the ocean. Being confident in the water makes the experience more enjoyable.
Our experienced skipper and crew will assess the whale’s behaviour before deciding if we can get in the water with it. Sometimes whales are a little shy and sometimes they might be involved in a ‘heat run’ (mating behaviours). A heat run is often accompanied by lots of tail and peck fin slaps in which case it would not be safe to enter the water.
These are wild animals in their natural habitat, so whale sightings and whale swims can’t be guaranteed. That said, our team has a strong track record and deep knowledge of the area. We’ll do our absolute best to give you an unforgettable experience on the water. Over the course of five days we should almost certainly see whales.
A bad weather plan will be put in place to ensure that the experience is not badly affected.
A preset pack that actually works. I've been trying to get these colours for so long.
Cairns, Aus
I'm so grateful for the video that's included to help walk me through your editing process
Sydney, AUS
These presets actually helped me overcome that feeling of not knowing where to start. They made my images so much better.
Los Angeles, CA
I couldn't be happier with the quality of my print. The image and framing was top notch! Thanks!
Sydney, AUS
I have brought my love for turtles indoors with one of Ross's beautiful framed prints of a turtle from Heron Island.
Gold Coast, AUS
I love the details I received with my print. The story of how the image was captured and the certificate of authenticity made it feel like I have a collector's item.
Byron Bay, AUS
Really happy with my prints. Easy, no fuss, good quality and ready to be hung straight from unpacking.
Gold Coast, AUS
This was the perfect gift and showed up in no time at all. Thanks!
Sydney, AUS
A preset pack that actually works. I've been trying to get these colours for so long.
Cairns, Aus
I'm so grateful for the video that's included to help walk me through your editing process
Sydney, AUS
These presets actually helped me overcome that feeling of not knowing where to start. They made my images so much better.
Los Angeles, CA
I couldn't be happier with the quality of my print. The image and framing was top notch! Thanks!
Sydney, AUS
I have brought my love for turtles indoors with one of Ross's beautiful framed prints of a turtle from Heron Island.
Gold Coast, AUS
I love the details I received with my print. The story of how the image was captured and the certificate of authenticity made it feel like I have a collector's item.
Byron Bay, AUS
Really happy with my prints. Easy, no fuss, good quality and ready to be hung straight from unpacking.
Gold Coast, AUS
This was the perfect gift and showed up in no time at all. Thanks!
Sydney, AUS
