Since 2018 we have been taking interns and volunteers during our black grouse and capercaillie season. In this period you will work in a small team led by the company owner Floris Smeets. You will learn all the ins and outs of guiding nature photographers and running a small business. We are looking for interns / volunteers who are socially skilled, are eager to learn and are not afraid of a challenge. Each grouse season we take one male and one female intern / volunteer. So far we have had interns and volunteers from Norway, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Latvia and Poland, with the age ranging between 24 and 33 years old. If you are studying, it is possible to do the internship with an Erasmus+ intern grand. Find below more details about the available positions. 

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Periods.

• 1st of April – 10th of May 2025. This is the black grouse and capercaillie photography season. Both positions are taken.

• 1st of April – 10th of May 2026. This is the black grouse and capercaillie photography season. Both positions are taken.

• 1st of April – 10th of May 2027. This is the black grouse and capercaillie photography season. Both positions are available.

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General summery.

This period is one of the busiest periods of the year. For a period of just over 5 weeks we will be busy with the black grouse and capercaillie lekking season. From the 7th of April until the 7th of May we will have guests from all over the world, who come here to photograph the grouse from our hides. We have to make sure that all the hides are standing at the right locations, that there are good paths to walk to the hides, cook the meals for the guests, transport the guests from A to B and lots of other things to make sure that our guests have the best experience. 

 

You will work closely together with Floris Smeets, the owner of Photo Tours Norway, professional nature photographer, Sony Ambassador and guide. You will help to prepare and guide photo tours / workshops. You will do a lot of the work together. After some time you will be expected to do some of the work by yourself. The work during the entire period will in particular consist of the following tasks:

• Helping with packing / unpacking outdoor equipment for the tours

• Helping setting up and taking down photo tents 

• Placing, moving and checking camera traps on the capercaillie leks

• Picking up and drop off customers at Oslo airport

• Bringing customers to the grouse leks and pick them up again

• Helping the customers with getting the photo equipment to the hides

• Helping the customers with setting up their photo equipment

• Drive customers around to photograph moose and owls

• Maintenance of bird feeders

• Helping with household chores during the tours (shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.)

• Spending nights on the black grouse and capercaillie leks to monitor the activity of the birds and find the best places for the photo hides

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Read here more about the grouse tours. 

 

Ideal candidate:

• Socially skilled and interested in guiding (most important!)

• Nature and wildlife interested

• Good physical condition

• Speaks well English and preferably another language 

• Interest and knowledge in nature photography (not required)

• Between 21 and 30 year old (only required for intern). A volunteer should be 21 or older.

• Currently following an education on bachelor or master level (only required for intern)

• You must have at least two years of driving experience

• Not allergic for dogs

 

What will you gain out of it?

• This internship / working experience will give you first-hand experience in nature (photography) guiding

• It is a great way to learn how it is, and what it takes to work in this branch

• You will have the opportunity to work closely with a professional nature guide / photographer 

• You will learn a lot about northern ecosystems

• You will get to see a lot of wildlife

• You get to stay for more than 5 weeks in the most beautiful nature of Norway  

 

Compensation.

• Housing. You will live in one of the the guest rooms at Floris's house. 

• During the whole period all your meals are provided and paid for.

• All costs made for transport connected to the tours (transport to and from Norway and transport during your stay).

• You can occasionally use the black grouse and capercaillie hides free of charge.

• If you are studying you can apply for the Erasmus+ internship grand.

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Contact Floris if you are interested or have questions. We gladly plan a digital face to face meeting to see if you are the right fit for us. 

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