What does a wildlife photographer do?

What is a Wildlife Photographer?

Wildlife photographers capture evocative images of wild animals, their behaviors, and their habitats. Dedicated to documenting the beauty, diversity, and untamed aspects of the natural world, often in remote or challenging environments, these photographers are called upon to exercise patience in their pursuit of the perfect shot that celebrates the wonders of wildlife, while upholding ethical standards and raising awareness of conservation and endangered species issues.

What does a Wildlife Photographer do?

Duties and Responsibilities
Wildlife photographers combine their passion for nature and wildlife with photography skills. Here’s a snapshot of their key activities and responsibilities:

• Observation and Patience – Spend long hours observing wildlife in their natural habitats and waiting for the perfect moments to capture images.
• Fieldwork – Travel to various locations, often in remote and challenging environments, to photograph wildlife in their natural settings.
• Understanding Animal Behavior – Develop in-depth knowledge of the behavior and habits of the animals being photographed to anticipate and capture unique moments and interactions.
• Equipment Proficiency – Use specialized camera equipment, such as long telephoto lenses and tripods, to capture distant or fast-moving subjects. Proficiency in operating this equipment is essential.
• Ethical Photography – Ensure that photography practices do not harm or disturb the animals or their habitats, following ethical guidelines and respecting wildlife.
• Conservation Advocacy – Use their photographs to raise awareness about wildlife conservation and environmental issues, helping to protect endangered species and their ecosystems.
• Post-Processing – Edit and enhance photographs using photo editing software to improve image quality while maintaining the integrity of the natural scene.
• Storytelling – Create visual narratives and photo essays to convey the beauty of the natural world, wildlife behavior, and the need for conservation. This may involve collaborating with writers and scientists to provide context and information.
• Publication and Exhibition – Share their work through various media, including books, magazines, websites, exhibitions, and educational materials, to reach a broader audience and educate the public.
• Education and Workshops – Offer workshops, lectures, and educational programs to share their knowledge and skills with aspiring wildlife photographers and conservation enthusiasts.

Types of Wildlife Photographers
Now that we have a sense of the general wildlife photographer’s scope of work, let’s look at some different types of wildlife photographers:

• Bird Photographers – Bird photographers focus on capturing images of birds in their natural habitats. They may specialize in bird species from a specific region or have a broader interest in avian photography.
• Mammal Photographers – These photographers concentrate on mammals, ranging from large predators like lions and tigers to small mammals like squirrels and rodents. They often photograph the natural behaviors and interactions of their subjects.
• Underwater Wildlife Photographers – Underwater wildlife photographers use specialized equipment to capture marine life and underwater ecosystems, including coral reefs, fish, and other sea creatures.
• Macro Wildlife Photographers – Macro photographers capture close-up shots of small creatures, insects, and details within the natural world, revealing the intricacies of these often-overlooked subjects.
• Landscape and Wildlife Photographers – These photographers combine wildlife and landscape photography to create images that showcase the relationship between wildlife and their natural environments, such as animals in sweeping landscapes or striking wilderness scenes.
• Ethnographic Wildlife Photographers – Some photographers focus on documenting the interactions between indigenous or local communities and wildlife, often highlighting the importance of coexistence and conservation.
• Conservation Photographers – These photographers have a strong emphasis on using their work to support conservation efforts. They often collaborate with conservation organizations and document critical issues related to endangered species, habitat destruction, and conservation success stories.
• Scientific Wildlife Photographers – Some wildlife photographers work closely with scientists and researchers to document and provide visual data for scientific studies, helping to advance our understanding of wildlife biology and behavior.
• Behavioral Photographers – These photographers specialize in capturing specific animal behaviors, such as mating rituals, hunting, or parenting. They typically require an in-depth understanding of the animal's habits and behavior patterns.
• Adventure Wildlife Photographers – These photographers thrive in extreme or challenging conditions and may document wildlife in harsh environments, such as the Arctic, desert, or high-altitude regions.
• Travel and Tourist Wildlife Photographers – These photographers lead wildlife photography tours, workshops, and expeditions, helping enthusiasts and tourists capture wildlife images while sharing their knowledge and expertise.
• Urban Wildlife Photographers – Urban wildlife photographers capture wildlife that inhabits or interacts with urban environments, such as city-dwelling birds, mammals, and insects.

While these are some common categories, wildlife photographers may overlap or combine specialties based on their interests, skills, and the regions they explore.

Some wildlife photographers may choose to specialize even further, focusing on very specific niche photography. Here are a few examples:

• Big Cat Photography – focusing on large predatory cats like lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs, often in African or Asian wildlife reserves
• Polar Wildlife Photography – capturing wildlife in polar regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, including polar bears, penguins, seals, and other cold-adapted species
• Reptile and Amphibian Photography – specializing in reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, and amphibians like frogs and salamanders
• Night Wildlife Photography – specializing in capturing wildlife activity at night, including nocturnal animals and astronomical phenomena like astrophotography

What is the workplace of a Wildlife Photographer like?

Wildlife photographers can be employed or commissioned by various individuals, organizations, and entities, depending on the nature of their work and their specialization:

• Magazines and Publishers – Wildlife photographers often contribute their images to magazines, books, and other publications. Nature and wildlife magazines, travel magazines, and field guides are typical clients.
• Conservation Organizations – Many wildlife photographers work with conservation organizations and NGOs to document wildlife and habitats, raise awareness about conservation issues, and support their campaigns and initiatives.
• Stock Photo Agencies – Wildlife photographers may contribute their images to stock photo agencies, making them available for purchase and use by various clients, including publishers, advertisers, and designers.
• Tourism Boards and Travel Companies – Photographers specializing in nature and wildlife photography can be hired by tourism boards and travel companies to create promotional materials, brochures, and websites that showcase the natural beauty of travel destinations.
• Zoos and Aquariums – Wildlife photographers may work with zoos and aquariums to capture images of their resident animals for promotional and educational purposes.
• Research Institutions – Scientific and research institutions may employ wildlife photographers to document animal behavior, conduct fieldwork for studies, or provide visual data for research projects.
• National and State Parks – Photographers are often hired by national and state park authorities to document the beauty of their parks and the wildlife they protect. These images can be used for park promotion and educational materials.
• Adventure Travel Companies – Companies specializing in adventure travel may hire wildlife photographers to lead wildlife photography tours and workshops for clients interested in photography and nature exploration.
• Wildlife Documentaries and Filmmakers – Photographers with expertise in wildlife may work with documentary filmmakers to capture footage for nature documentaries and television programs.
• Educational Institutions – Colleges, universities, and schools may employ wildlife photographers to teach photography courses or lead educational programs in wildlife and environmental studies.
• Private Individuals – Some photographers work on a freelance basis, selling their wildlife images to private collectors, art galleries, and individuals interested in wildlife art and decor.
• Non-profit Organizations – Nonprofits focused on wildlife, conservation, and education often engage wildlife photographers to produce visual content for their websites, presentations, and fundraising materials.
• Self-Employment – Many wildlife photographers are self-employed and make a living by selling their work directly to clients, licensing their images, and offering prints for sale through their websites and galleries.

Photography studios and digital darkrooms are not the predominant workplaces of wildlife photographers. Regardless of their employer, these photographers spend a significant amount of time outdoors, in weather conditions that range from scorching heat to freezing cold. Their careers unfold in diverse environments, including forests, rainforests, grasslands, wetlands, savannas, mountains, deserts, and aquatic ecosystems. Wildlife photographers are called upon to adapt to different terrains, from mud to snow, from sand to rocky landscapes. They may use specialized camouflaged shelters called ‘hides’ or ‘blinds’ to conceal themselves while photographing wildlife. This photography job is literally an adventure.