Our Story

Rylee Jensen

Rylee was born and raised at the foot of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, with red rock playgrounds to the south and powder-soft ski trails to the north. Inspired by icons such as Jonathan Scott and Ingrid Visser, her passion for animals found an outlet through the camera lens. Initially a pastime, photography became a mission to support conservation efforts through visual storytelling. From Alaskan brown bears to the wolves of Yellowstone National Park, Rylee's photographs capture creatures and moments. She is an ambassador for Girls Who Click, mentoring aspiring women photographers from around the world.

Rylee graduated from Utah State University in 2019 with a degree in Wildlife Ecology & Management. Her studies sent her deep into the field, from Utah and Oregon to Alaska and Africa.

Rylee pursued full-time guiding in 2021 to stay connected to wild ecosystems and show travelers the wild places she loves. She has guided winter snowcoach trips into Yellowstone's interior, flown to remote islands in Southeast Alaska to view brown bears and kayaked with humpback whales in Juneau. As a Nat Hab Expedition Leader in U.S. national parks and Alaska, she gets to connect travelers to these wild places and lead adventures focused on conservation and sustainability. When not guiding, Rylee still has a nomadic heart and enjoys travel. You can often find her on a pair of skis in the wintertime and backpacking the Rocky Mountains in the summer.

What's in My Camera Bag

My Packing Philosophy

Keep it light and waterproof! You never know what you're going to come across in the field; I always keep my telephoto and landscape lenses on me, as well as a basic lens cleaning tools and rain cover. Although I have plenty of gear, I consolidate the essentials in one camera bag when I'm on the go for easy access.

Cameras

Canon EOS 80D

Canon EOS R5

Lenses

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 IS STM

Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art

Other

Gitzo Tripod Mountaineer Series 2 tripod Gimbal fluid head

Vivitar 10" rubberized spider tripod

RODE DDC-GO fur microphone cover

Ultimax automatic flash / LED video light

LowePro Adventury 30L backpack

Vortex Optics Crossfire HD binoculars

What Our Guests Say

She’s extremely knowledgeable and competent. She took time to help individually as needed with camera issues, and in general to have personal conversations with all the group members. She wore her passion about bears on her sleeve and shared the mission to preserve the bears through responsible viewing practices.
Brian W.
Rylee was an exceptional guide for our group. She was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to all the details that made our activities enjoyable and relaxed. Rylee is a real asset to Nat Hab.
Donald W.
Rylee was fantastic: knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. She made the trip fun and enjoyable. I would take another trip with her without hesitation.
Alice R.

Upcoming Adventures with Rylee