What Does a Wildlife Photographer Do?

Wildlife photographers shoot photographs of wild animals in their natural surroundings. Some wildlife photographers are opportunists, meaning that they photograph any animal that happens across their paths. Others, however, are a little more particular and choose to photograph only certain species or types of animals.

Depending on where they live, some wildlife photographers might be able to do their jobs right from their backyards, or at least close to their home. Since it requires very particular subjects, however, wildlife photography as a career generally requires extensive travel. These types of photographers typically have to go where the action is, so to speak. Their destinations are usually determined by which subjects they hope to shoot. For instance, if their intended subjects are polar bears, they would travel to the Arctic Circle. If their intended subjects were lions, however, they would travel to the plains of Africa.

Because nature photographers often need to travel to the farthest corners of the globe, they should be well-versed in the ways of the world. They should truly enjoy and make an attempt to understand the native culture and language where they are traveling. Sometimes being able to effectively communicate with native inhabitants can mean the difference between going home with nothing and going home with the shot of a lifetime.

Wildlife photographers should also be very comfortable with being outdoors for long periods of time. Camping, hiking, and survival skills are usually a must for anyone interested in a wildlife photography career. At times, a wildlife photographer will spend hours, days, or even months camped outdoors, just waiting for the perfect shot.

Most wild animals also have keen senses of smell and hearing as well. This means that wildlife photographers should have the knowledge to do their jobs so as not to alert the animals of their presence. They might position themselves downwind, for instance, and avoid scented products like cologne and soap for long periods of time. They should also be able to stay silent for a long time as well. These types of actions can prevent animals from detecting their presence and fleeing or even attacking.

Nature and wild animals have a tendency to be rather difficult to predict. Because of this, wildlife photographers must be very patient individuals. They will often lay in wait for long periods of time in order to get the shots that they want. For instance, a lion pride will not chase down a zebra on command. They’ll get around to it when they’re good and ready, not when a photographer wants them to. When the time does come for a perfect shot, however, a wildlife photographer has only one chance to capture it; he must be quick and shoot quickly, since wild animals aren’t likely to repeat an action simply because the photographer didn’t get the shot he wanted.

Learn More: How to Become a Photographer