Be a Wildlife Photographer
Have you ever wanted to become professional wildlife photographer? With the proper techniques and by following these steps you can get paid to do something you (hopefully) love to do.
Steps
- Invest in a good camera and lens. Plan on using at least as much money on a good telephoto lens as on the camera itself.
- Sharpen your technique. For more details, see Shoot Wildlife Photography.
- When you see an animal you want to photograph, sneak up on it like a hunter. If the animal sees you or hears you it will run away. Wildlife photography requires a whole lot of patience and stillness.
- Consider choosing one area (or species) that hasn't been photographed a lot, so that you can have an edge.
- Sell your photographs. In addition to going to publishers and magazines, go to stock agencies. Your photos could end up where you least expect them. Maybe in National Geographic magazine, which would be incredibly awesome.
Tips
- Keep a steady hand or set up a tripod when you take a photo, otherwise your pictures will turn out blurry. Some digital cameras let you know when you have a shaky hand. A tripod will minimize blur.
- Keep a backup drive of all your photography. It may even be wise to keep two backups.
- Wear camouflage to blend in. Be sure you are not spotted by an aggressive wild animal. Many animals are quite dangerous.
- Have patience and stillness. Many animals are quite startled by a loud or sudden noises.
- Think about going waterproof if you want to get pictures of fish or sea turtles. Or to protect the camera from rain or water splashes you could wrap a plastic bag around the camera body.
- You probably smell of shampoo, deodorant and/or perfume. You probably can't tell it yourself, but many animals may stay away if they are downwind from you, so place yourself wisely or use hygiene products specially formulated for hunters to "blend in".
Warnings
- Some animals can be dangerous!
- Be mindful of crossing onto private property. Be sure to respect land owner's rights. You certainly don't want to be trespassing.
Things You'll Need
- Camera with Good Shutter-Speed
- Forest-Friendly Clothes
- No-Smell Deodorant Stick (optional)
- High-Tops
- Ankle Socks
- Assistant (optional)
Related Articles
- Photograph Wildlife Creatively
