Our Experts

Captain Neil McDermott

Captain Neil McDermott is the owner and lead captain of A Whale’s Song Expeditions, a company dedicated to immersive wildlife photography tours in Southeast Alaska. Known for his deep curiosity and lifelong passion for the natural world, Neil brings both technical maritime expertise and a scientist-informed perspective to every expedition.

From an early age, Neil immersed himself in learning about wildlife through books, documentaries, and hands-on exploration. Watching every Jacques Cousteau special sparked a lasting fascination with marine mammals-especially whales-that ultimately shaped his professional path.

Neil holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master License and maintains First Aid and CPR certification, ensuring a high standard of safety and professionalism on all voyages. He continually advances his knowledge by attending international marine science, conservation, and wildlife tourism conferences, and by collaborating with leading whale researchers and scientists who visit Southeast Alaska. These relationships allow his expeditions to remain grounded in the latest research while also supporting ongoing data collection and conservation efforts.

His professional affiliations include:

• Associate Member, Society for Marine Mammalogy
• Partner Member, World Cetacean Alliance
• Partner, Whale SENSE Alaska
• Member, North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA)
• Associate Partner, Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA)
• Contributing Author, The Last Frontier Magazine

Captain Neil’s guiding philosophy blends ethical wildlife practices, scientific literacy, and photographer-first expedition design. His goal is to provide guests with respectful, meaningful encounters with Alaska’s wildlife while creating the conditions for powerful, authentic photographic storytelling.

Lione Claire – Professional Photographer & Naturalist

Lione Clare was born and raised in Sitka and fell in love with nature at a young age. Her passion for nature photography that budded at 13 has since led to her special photography experiences, including a North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) high school scholarship and being the guest young photographer on a wildlife safari in Tanzania. Lione holds a degree in resource conservation and minors in climate change studies and media arts from the University of Montana. She is excited to share her local knowledge and passion for photographing the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world with you on our expeditions. View her work on her website.

Simon Hook – Professional Photographer & Naturalist

Simon Hook discovered the natural world in his childhood, adventuring in the redwood forests of California. The adventure of Alaska has captured his curiosity and continues to inspire him. Simon’s interest in the landscape and wildlife of Alaska presents a wonder for exploration and subjects to photograph. From the tiniest plankton to the tectonic plates that make mountains; Simon’s curiosity has sought out scientists and cutting-edge researchers at symposiums and lectures to further an understanding of the natural world. Simon is also extremely handy with a camera, with several awards for photos of Alaska’s wildlife and landscapes to his name. You can view some of Simon’s outstanding photographic talents on his website.

Karen Mead – Owner and Chief Motivational Executive

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Karen has always appreciated beautiful, lush forests and waterways. Whether camping, hiking with llamas, fishing, or exploring, she is happiest enjoying the wonders of nature. After spending most of her adult life pursuing outdoor activities and teaching her children to appreciate and care for our natural world, she is excited to do the same for her clients.