Wildlife photography is one of the most amazing photographic genres. Professional wildlife photographer take pictures of wild animals in their natural environment.
It is definitely a beautiful and meaningful photographic career. But it also needs a lot of work, time, and patience.
Get The Right Gear
Like other niches in photography, wildlife photography also begins with equipment. It may be a bigger investment at the beginning of your photography career, but when you start making money from your photos, it will all come back.
For sure you will need a fast camera, a telephoto lens, tripods, and memory cards. Beanbags, rain covers, headlamps, and maybe even camouflage clothing can all come in handy.
Learn To Take High-Quality Photos
This might be an obvious tip: you need to take high-quality photos to become a professional wildlife photographer.
Your wildlife photography has to be exceptional if you expect people to pay for it. There are many photography schools out there. You can even get a degree and learn how to become a professional.
Sure, workshops and courses are great for improving your photography. I’m all about lifelong learning. But I don’t think you need to get a certificate to become a great wildlife photographer.
What you need is practice, patience, and a lot of effort. Get comfortable with the use of your camera and learn a lot about lighting. You could even help a wildlife photographer and learn from them.
If you don’t have this option, take a look at the portfolio of the best wildlife photographers. His images of him offer great sources of inspiration. You can learn about composition and even the best poses for certain species.
Work As A Freelancer
Many future wildlife photographers dream of working for magazines like National Geographic. But there are only a handful of positions and they are already filled.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t get your photo published in a famous magazine! Most wildlife photographers are self-employed.
It is true that being self-employed does not provide a constant income. But you can decide who to sell your photography to and choose your own clients.
Research The Market To Set Your Prices
Speaking of making money, surely you already have an important question in mind. Can you make money as a wildlife photographer? And how much money does a wildlife photographer make?
It depends on your region, your experience, and what you focus on. Wildlife photographers who dedicate their lives to spotting rare species earn more.
But this does not mean that you should follow his path. In general, you could earn between $25,000 and $62,000 per year from wildlife photography.
The best way to set your prices is to research local prices and your competitors. You can also ask other wildlife photographers for advice.
Start With Photographing Basic Species
Photographing lions in Africa or tigers in Asia sounds like a dream. But you don’t have to start so big at the beginning. Especially since traveling to the best places to photograph wildlife can cost a fortune.
Start with basic species that you can spot near your location. Take a walk in the woods or go hiking in the mountains. Get photos of birds, rodents, or deer.
Take your time to practice before photographing more exotic animals.
Be Very Patient And Be Ready
Wildlife photography requires a lot of patience. The animal you want to capture may not appear for hours or even days. Or time is not in your favor and you have to come back another day.
But you also need to make sure you’re ready when the perfect time comes. You often have to capture wild animals on the move. It is essential that you know how to take sharp pictures of moving objects.
Think of wildlife photography as a lion hunting its prey. It may not arrive for days and the lion will be left hungry. But he never gives up and when the time comes, the lion is ready to chase and capture his dinner from him.
Prepare To Travel
Sure, you can take photos of the animals near your house. But the typical wildlife photographer has to travel a lot. This means time away from loved ones and additional expenses.
The destination depends on the type of wildlife photography you specialize in. Watching whales means going to the ocean, while the lions wait in the savannahs.
Being travel-ready also means you’ll be exposed to various cultures. Make sure you make the effort and get to know the local culture.
You may even want to learn a few words in the local language. You never know, it can help you find the right spot for wildlife.
Prepare To Spend Time Outdoors
As a wildlife photographer, you need to work outdoors. You have to be able to adapt to weather conditions and pack your gear and camera safely and quickly.
It’s also a plus if you like hiking and camping, and if you’re ready to leave civilization behind.
Meet The Animals
Getting to know the animals and their natural habitat can go a long way in helping you take great photos. Knowing how the animal behaves, when it goes to sleep, how it acts when it is nervous can be very useful.
If you learn about the species, you will recognize the best poses and situations in which you can capture it.
Consider Offering Additional Services
Many professional wildlife photographers offer additional services in addition to taking pictures. They teach wildlife photography courses or workshops to earn extra money.
Teaching courses can also improve your photography work. Your students can ask questions that help you dig deeper. Or they can show you their photos that can inspire you.
You can also start organizing tours. In this way, you can teach your groups the secrets of wildlife photography in real settings. The more diverse your profile, the more outstanding wildlife photographer you can become.
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