Question: Getting started in landscape and wildlife photography
One aspiring landscape and wildlife photographer has questions about getting started on the right foot, and about what to expect from the profession.
Danny in Canada asks:
I want to become a photographer (landscape and maybe wildlife) right now I don’t have experience at all, but I might take some courses. I am not sure how much money you might get, and who can or will employ you, and what courses do you have to take? Are there many magazines/organizations who need photographers? And if you work for National Geographic, do you travel around the world and get good paid, and how much is the average and what skills are required?
Dear Danny:
Thanks for your question.
If you want to become a wildlife photographer, there are a few things you’re going to need to keep in mind.
1.) Many millions of people are passionate about photography, and rightly so, but only a very small percentage are able to make a living at it. Still, it’s a pretty small percentage that actually makes the plunge to attempt to do it full time, so don’t feel like it’s a lost cause.
2.) Many of the thousands of professional photographers in North America are passionate about nature photography in particular and dream of doing that specifically full time. Only a very small percentage of them end up making any money at it. Most people end up doing other types of photography work to support their wildlife and landscape habits.
Keeping those things in mind, we encourage you to pursue your passion.
Taking some classes would be a very intelligent first step if you want to approach photography as a career rather than a pastime. However, photo editors at National Geographic magazine generally recommend that photographers get a college degree in something other than photojournalism. That’s advice you should take to heart. Studying something else will both give you a more well-rounded perspective and give you the skills you’ll need for a backup career if photography doesn’t prove lucrative for you.
You should also aggressively pursue as many internships and assistantships as you can squeeze in. Seek out those photographers in your area whose work you respect and try to glean as much information from them as you can (while helping them out, of course).
We’d encourage you to get a digital SLR–since you’re just learning it doesn’t necessarily have to be the latest, greatest, top-of-the-line camera–and start taking as many pictures as you can. Forget the automatic settings. Get to know how adjusting aperture, ISO and shutter speed can change the look of your photos under various lighting conditions. Look at the artists you admire and try to emulate those aspects of their work you like the most, and start thinking about what you personally could bring to the table.
About working for National Geographic: As you probably know, the photographers who contribute to National Geographic are generally considered to be among the world’s best. The National Geographic Society typically uses fewer than 100 photographers worldwide, and most of them already had years of wildlife photography experience before shooting for the prestigious magazine. Those photographers they hire make thousands of dollars per assignment, and they do indeed travel all over the world on photo shoots. Check out National Geographic’s FAQ page for aspiring photographers to learn more. Also, we’d recommend checking out Michael “Nick” Nichols’ Web page. He’s been among National Geographic’s few staff photographers since 1996, and he offers plenty of info about breaking into wildlife photography.
We won’t get into specific nature photography tips here, but keep in mind that just like breaking into the world of photojournalism, it requires loads of dedication, patience and persistence to get the images you’ll need.
Keep us posted on your progress!
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