I know there’s been mentions in other topics that this is a difficult job to get, but I’d like to maximize my chances. Are there photography contests I can enter, or magazines that might take my pictures? Is there any chance of success in these without a gigantic, 2,000-dollar camera? I’m currently …

I don’t know about how to become a professional, but at each step in taking a photo there are a lot of things to learn. The camera is one thing, but oddly, one of the least important. Lenses are also important, especially optically good lenses. There is a difference between good and excellent, and t…

[image] earthknight: If you do talk with conservation (etc) organizations about photography, remember many of the people in this field are already pretty good photographers and that they get flooded with requests, so don’t act like you’re doing them a favor. I know there’s a whole controversy…

I would try to collect what you consider to be your very best nature images into one album. Either one album for each year, or one for each season of the current year. And/or one album for “best ever”. These will come in handy when you want to show your work to someone who may be able to coach you.…

For things like wildlife photography I’d say the best way to improve is to just do it, and learn from your experiences (successes and failures). A great first start is to be down with the prospect of potentially having to lug your equipment and trekking long distances in search for a particular ins…

If you’re only 14, it might be a little early to specialize, but one of the things that can help you stand apart from the crowd is finding a specific niche to focus on. Everybody does birds, flowers, and large mammals. It’d be hard to stand out if that is your chosen subject matter. High magnificati…

Think of yourself as an artist. Develop your skills and techniques, and aim to do so in a way that is unique and characteristic of yourself. Think Monet, Banksy, etc… A style or theme that makes your life’s work in its entirety have more impact than just the individual works, as it were. And subjec…

in terms of equipment, i think i would prioritize a computer with a great monitor, decent editing software, good/fast memory cards, a cheap tripod, and maybe even some cheap portable lighting, over a great camera. i actually think it’s worth starting on a smaller, cheaper camera (with some RAW and m…

Update: Natalie also teaches photo processing workshops in the Seattle area. Perhaps consider attending a workshop on wildlife photography and photo processing, if that could be a possibility for you. https://nataliefobes.photography/#/workshops/ Or, maybe, after reading and thinking about all the…

Hello Mara! As a (not pro) nature photographer, I was asking the same things you do, but when I was 20. I talked with some outstanding Chilean photographers that I admire very much, and there was something that they said in common, and that I keep seeing as the years passed and I discover more nat…

I’ve been semi-pro for many years so have been watching the profession and asking the same question to myself. There are a lot of ways to do it. You can find your own path. What others have said about being skilled with computers and photo editing software is true. You can’t really “just” take pict…

I'm interested in becoming a professional wildlife photographer. How can I start?

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I'm interested in becoming a professional wildlife photographer. How can I start?

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