The Teton Photography Club was born in 2013 from a concept of “Teton Outdoor Photographers” that became the Teton Photography Group.
The TPC was inspired by some of Jackson’s best known photographers, Tom Mangelsen, David Brookover, and Henry Holdsworth, through informal discussions in the winter of 2012-2013. An organizational committee convened in January and February 2013 and the organization was chartered on March 11, 2013 with 12 founding members. The first monthly public meeting was held on May 20, 2013 at the Center for the Arts and meetings have been held more than once every month since. In five years membership swelled to over 650 virtual members in 2018.
The Teton Photography Club was founded by local photographers for the purpose of sharing the joy of photography with others in the greater Teton area through education, networking, and promoting discussion that improves the art of photography. The Club promotes quality photography through partnerships between the Club and resources throughout Teton County, Western Wyoming, and Eastern Idaho. Loren Nelson was the first chairperson of the Steering Committee and in 2016 became the first president.
By January 2019 the TPC had sponsored more than 60 monthly public presentations, 24 photo critique nights, 14 local field shoots, 3 Yellowstone snow coach trips, and 5 educational symposia in its first 6 years. The fall 2018 symposium, called Shoot Like a Girl, showcased women wildlife photographers and was attended by visitors from around the US and Europe. The Club has hosted several internationally known photographers and partnered to produce educational programs with several local organizations.
TPC members have provided numerous educational programs through regional organizations and have had two summer photography gallery exhibitions at Jackson Whole Grocer and a third larger juried exhibition at the Teton County Library in the winter of 2017 and in the fall of 2019. They have had several local photo competitions and plan future regional photo competitions and exhibitions.
The Peer Mentor Group is the best thing about my membership!
– Aaron L., Idaho
In 2016 member and retired educational psychologist, Randy Isaacson, started the Peer Mentor Program with a dozen local photographers with the shared interest of working together to advance their photographic skills in the field and with focused discussions and critiques of their photos. This program has been a model for adult learning and has grown to more than 40 members.
In 2018 the Club started a new Teton Photography Club education program (TPCed) bringing a series of educationally sound classes, workshops, and future educational symposia to live up to their tagline of “Photography Education in the Tetons.” Every class and workshop in 2018 and 2019 sold out.
In 2018 the TPC became a registered non-profit corporation in the state of Wyoming and and an official 501(c)3 federally registered non-profit organization.
Later in 2018 The TPC built a new website that shares images, information, and photographic resources with its members. In October 2019 David Navratil became the second President of the TPC.
The TPC has not only provided monthly public educational events but also has been involved in public service activities partnering with the Wyoming Stargazers to create a program for Preserving the Dark Skies in Jackson Hole and partnering with the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton National Park, the JH Bird and Nature Club, the JH Conservation Alliance, and the JH Wildlife Foundation to create a public educational program for ethical and responsible wildlife photography called Shoot To Care.
The Club currently holds is monthly public meetings and some other educational activities at the office of the Jackson Hole Real Estate Associates. The Peer Mentor Program is now meeting monthly at the Meridian Trust Federal Credit Union.
The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020/2021 forced the TPC to change its meetings and presentations to a virtual Zoom format but we plan to return to physical, in person meetings as soon as it is safely possible.
Current Executive Committee Members