Online Portfolio Reviews

NANPA Foundation has teamed up with some of nature photography’s best to offer online portfolio reviews. Each 30-minute review is $45 with part of that fee going to the photographer for his/her expertise and part staying with NANPA Foundation to be invested in other nature photography initiatives.

Interested in getting feedback from a reviewer? The process is easy:

  1. Find a reviewer from the list below that matches your goals and photography type.
  2. Click on the “Register” button at the bottom of this page and pay for the review. Each review is $45.
  3. A separate email (beyond the payment confirmation emails) will be sent to you from NANPA Foundation with the photographer’s contact information and specific instructions on what to prepare for the review.
  4. Once you have the photographer’s contact information, you will set up a mutually convenient time with the photographer to conduct a review of up to 5 images via an online platform such as Zoom, Facetime or Skype. Telephone reviews are an option, too. Reviews will last no longer than 30 minutes.

“As an intermediate level hobby photographer, I am starting to get into more bird photography, so I felt a portfolio review might be useful…Using Zoom we analyze and discussed each shot in detail. As we worked together, it was apparent that Lisa is a caring, sharing and teaching instructor who really cares about her student and his/her work.” — Larry

Several of these industry-leading nature photographers and agents are making room in their schedules for these reviews while tours and workshops are on hold. Please be patient as they get to your emails to set up a time to review your portfolio.

Contact NANPA Foundation with any questions about the online review process.

“I had a great discussion with Brenda today. She provided good information and had very helpful feedback and suggestions regarding my images. I found the process extremely beneficial!” — Deborah


Our Reviewers


Michael DeYoung

Types of Reviews: I welcome reviews from all levels of photographers from enthusiasts to aspiring pros.  Having widespread editorial and advertising publication credits, I offer more of a commercial and editorial perspective than fine art.  I’ve been an active contributor to multiple stock agencies for over 30 years as well as doing national level editorial and commercial assignments so I can offer expertise not just in nature, wildlife and landscape but also in related genres such as adventure and travel.  

Availability: I am frequently available, but availability is still unpredictable at times. I do my best to work with participant’s schedule. We can do Zoom or Skype, whichever is easiest. 

Michael’s Website: Learn more about Michael’s work at activephototours.com and michaeldeyoung.com.

Meet Michael DeYoung

Michael DeYoung is an award winning, full-time landscape, travel and adventure photographer. Starting in Alaska in 1992, he has transformed his Air Force meteorological and weather forecasting expertise into mastery predicting and capturing optimal outdoor lighting. As a major contributor to several stock image agencies since the early ’90s, his lifestyle, adventure and landscape images have appeared in countless national magazines, books, calendars, catalogs, brochures, websites and many other commercial uses.  Michael has executed many editorial and commercial assignments in the travel and tourism industry in Alaska and beyond.    

Select awards include a first place winner in a Photo District News Great Outdoors Photo Contest, and a highly honored recipient in the Nature’s Best, Windland Smith Rice awards featured at the Smithsonian, and being featured as a master of outdoor lifestyle photography by Digital Photo Pro Magazine. Michael teaches and guides landscape, adventure and business related workshops for notable institutions focusing on creativity, vision and mastering of weather and light. On their own, the DeYoungs lead custom tours in Alaska and the Southwest under Active Photo Tours.


Gordon Illg

© Cathy Illg

Types of Reviews: Gordon has knowledge of most kinds of nature photography, and is willing to critique photographers wanting feedback on a selection of their images.

Availability: Until it is safe to lead photo tours again, Gordon is available about any time with a week’s advance notice.

Gordon’s Website: Learn more and view some of Gordon’s work at https://www.advenphoto.com.

Meet Gordon Illg

Gordon and his wife, Cathy, have been working as full time professional nature photographers since 2000. Their work appears in nearly every major nature and travel publication, including numerous covers of magazines like Backpacker, Defenders, National Geographic Young Explorer, National Geographic Kids, National Wildlife and Ranger Rick. In the extreme print category, several of their images decorate the tails of Frontier Airlines’ jets. They have also done well in photo contests, the highlight of which was being flown to London to accept awards in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. Their livelihood now revolves around sharing the magic of wild things and wild places with other photographers because they lead photo tours under the name Adventure Photography. 


Rosamund Kidman-Cox

Types of Reviews: Roz will the following types of portfolio reviews: book proposals, magazine submissions, portfolio submissions and general critiques.

Availability: Roz is generally available 10.00 to 21.00 British Summer Time. She can do reviews via Skype, Zoom and telephone.

Meet Rosamund Kidman-Cox

Roz is an editor, photo-editor and writer specialising in wildlife and environmental issues. Editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine for more than 20 years, she now project-manages, edits and writes photography-led books. Roz is author of 50 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year and The Masters of Nature Photography for the Natural History Museum, London, as well as the Unforgettable photography titles. She has judged the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition over nearly four decades and edits the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio books. Other titles she has project-managed include Our Planet, and for BBC Books, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, The Hunt and Planet Earth II. She is an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers.


Lisa Langell

Types of Reviews: I welcome the beginner through advanced nature photographer with an emphasis on wildlife, floral and abstract work.  Reviews will provide in-camera techniques, composition, use of lighting and also suggestions as-needed for post-processing tips using Photoshop.

Availability: Lisa can generally do reviews during the day or evening hours PDT on weekdays. She can conduct reviews via Zoom.

Lisa’s Website: Learn more about Lisa’s photography and work at www.langellphotography.com

Meet Lisa Langell

Lisa Langell is a full-time, award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, galleries and more. She currently sits on the board of directors for the North American Nature Photography Association. She is also an ambassador for Tamron and FotoPro. Whether it was working as a master floral designer, a licensed psychologist, university faculty, an international consultant in K-12 education, the chief business development officer of an education technology company, a researcher, a writer, or an artist—she enjoyed meeting each challenge. Still, her strongest calling was photography–ever since childhood–when bird watching ignited her lifelong love of nature and the camera. In 2010, she turned her passion for photography into a business—and in 2015 she successfully transitioned to photography full-time and left the corporate and consulting world behind. The journey with photography has definitely been Lisa’s favorite – she loves combining her diverse background and skills into her photographic art and instruction. Bringing joy to others brings joy to her! She thrives on creating innovative learning experiences and pushing photographic boundaries. She equally enjoys enriching, stimulating and expanding fellow photographers’ minds emotionally, creatively and intellectually.


Mary Ann McDonald

Types of Reviews: I am happy to review portfolios from all photography levels, beginners to professionals. Even though my emphasis is on wildlife photography, I am open to review images from clutural to commercial as well as all subjects related to nature and wildlife. I can also help with digital workflow issues, writing articles to highlight your images and using the Olympus camera system when it comes to special features and setting up your menus.

Availability: As Joe and I get busy again with photo tours and in-person workshops, my availability will vary. It’s best to contact me for open times. Zoom is the best means for doing the reviews.

Mary Ann’s Website: Learn more about Mary Ann’s work on her website.

Meet Mary Ann McDonald

Mary Ann McDonald is a NANPA Fellow and a founding member of the organization. She has emceed several summits and volunteered to contribute to both the high school and college student programs during the summits. Mary Ann is a full-time professional wildlife and nature photographer who, along with her husband Joe, has taught photo workshops and lead photo tours around the world for the past 34 years. She is the author of 29 natural history children’s books and a coffee table book on The Amish. Her images have appeared in all of the major natural history publications and calendars and she recently published the Hoot Hollow Cookbook. She’s a contributor to the couple’s YouTube Channel. Mary Ann has won numerous times in the prestigious BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, has named a baby mountain gorilla in the Kwita Izina Naming Ceremony in Rwanda, has participated in several conservation conferences and, along with Joe, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from NANPA in 2021.


Susan McElhinney

Types of Reviews: Susan can be most useful to people who are trying to put together a story with their photos either for a magazine, a book or just to share in their Christmas letter. There are many stories to be told and shared about nature. We are all story tellers, some of us just need to work on it a little.

Availability: This is a little tricky, but it can be worked out – basically, time zone: east coast; evenings, Fri pm and weekends.

Susan’s Website: I’m scattered about on the web, have a sketchy LinkedIn account and a website related to my sculpture.

Meet Susan McElhinney

Susan has been the photo editor for Ranger Rick magazine for close to 20 years and was a photo journalist and editor for 20+ years prior to that.


Cindy Miller Hopkins

Types of Reviews: Cindy is happy to review images by photographers with a skill level from beginner to professional. She enjoys providing creative critiques as well as sharing technical advice on wildlife and travel images. Her true expertise is centered on metadata, marketing images and the business of photography.

Availability: Cindy is available to review on Sundays from 8am to 12pm MDT and Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm MDT. She can connect with you via Skype, Zoom, Facetime or telephone.

Cindy’s Website: View Cindy’s work and learn more about her at https://cindymillerhopkins.myportfolio.com/

Meet Cindy Miller Hopkins

Cindy is a full-time travel and wildlife photographer with 25 years’ experience and over 6,000 publications to her credit. Cindy has more than 100,000 images represented by two major photo agencies, one in the U.S. and one based in the U.K. Her images can be seen on the pages of thousands of text books, travel brochures, calendars, fine art prints, consumer products, U.S. and international TV spots, magazines and newspapers. Her freelance, assignment and workshop career has taken her to all seven continents and to over 150 countries. Some of her clients include National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Wells Fargo, American Express, Microsoft, AAA and Frommer’s travel guides, Smithsonian Journeys, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Quark Expeditions, Silversea Expeditions, Blount Small Ship Adventures, Chester Zoo, BING homepage images and TV’s Food Network and the Discovery Channel. She has images on permanent display at the Museum of the Bible and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Her 2018 shot of 5-species penguins in one frame is thought to be the only one like it in the world and is currently the lead image in a campaign to fully protect South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Along with her stock photography business, Cindy teaches digital photography classes and workshops, works as a pro-photographer/lecturer on expedition ships and leads photo safaris around the world. She is past president of the NANPA Foundation board of trustees and a current NANPA Foundation board member. On average, Cindy is out of the country more than 200 days a year. When not traveling, which isn’t often, she lives at home with her husband in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.


Sonia Wasco

Types of Reviews: Sonia will review images with skill levels from beginner to professional. Sonia will bring an agent’s perspective to the photographer and will offer a discussion on sales potential to the creator. Sonia enjoys sharing potential marketing experience with her reviewees.

Availability: Sonia is available to review Mondays through Saturdays most times during the day and can arrange evening times, if necessary. She is able to offer you Skype, Zoom, Facetime or telephone review opportunities.

Meet Sonia Wasco

Sonia S. Wasco is president and CEO of Grant Heilman Photography Stock Photo Library which is the world’s most noted source for American agriculture images, natural science including a significant horticulture and wildlife collection, and lifestyle and travel.  The collection contains nearly a million high-quality images which represents the work of more than 100 photographers.  Sonia is responsible for contracting all new photographers and reviewing incoming imagery. She has 35 years’ experience in the stock photo business and is past president of Picture Archive Council of America (PACA), now Digital Media Licensing Association, and has served on their board of directors for over 20 years. She has volunteered and served on the board of directors of several conservation organizations for more than 30 years.  Sonia is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been a presenter at past NANPA Summits, PACA International Conferences, ASPP events, and PhotoPlus Expos.  Sonia also serves as a trustee on the NANPA Foundation board of trustees. She will bring the specialty agency perspective to the panel of reviewers.


Tom Wear

Types of Reviews: Tom has 30+ years of stock photography editing experience, both for commercial and editorial markets, so that is the perspective he brings to reviews, along with general composition and technical advice including post-production for appeal to stock agency clients. Any skill level is fine.

Availability: Typically available 10am to 6pm PDT Monday – Saturday. Tom’s preferred platforms for conducting reviews are Zoom and Skype.

Meet Tom Wear

Tom Wear is currently Content Manager and Senior Editor at Danita Delimont Stock Photo. He is also a consultant and editor for stock photo agencies and photographers. His 30+ years of experience in the photo industry include positions as manager of contributor communications at Getty Images, director of photography and editorial services at Digital Railroad and art director and senior director at Getty Images, Corbis and Comstock.