How To Get Ready For A Wildlife Photography Session

Wildlife photography is an exciting genre for both hobbyists and professionals. In previous articles, I’ve covered preparation tips for landscape, portrait, and lifestyle photography. This time, we’ll focus on how to get ready for wildlife photography—a genre that often requires patience, skill, and the right equipment. Let’s explore the essential steps to prepare for a wildlife photography session.

What is Wildlife Photography?

Wildlife photography, as defined by Wikipedia, is “a genre of photography concerned with documenting various forms of wildlife in their natural habitat.” Wildlife photographers often need a combination of photography skills and fieldcraft, such as understanding animal behavior to predict their actions. Capturing great wildlife photos can come down to the right gear, timing, and technique.

Preparing For A Wildlife Photography Session

1. Understanding Light

Unlike other types of photography where you can manipulate or control light, wildlife photography depends on the natural light available in the environment. Lighting can change quickly, especially outdoors, so having a fast lens (with a lower f-stop number) is invaluable. Fast lenses allow more light to enter the camera, reducing the chance of missing a shot due to dim conditions.

Tip: Early morning or late afternoon (golden hours) often provide the most beautiful light for wildlife shots, creating warm tones and softer shadows.

2. Choosing The Right Lenses

Wildlife photography requires specialized lenses. A long telephoto lens is crucial for photographing animals from a distance without disturbing them. If you’re planning on shooting small creatures like insects, a macro lens will also be helpful. Since wildlife can move fast and light conditions may vary, a lens with a large aperture (e.g., f/2.8) is ideal for handling different lighting situations.

Tip: Telephoto lenses with focal lengths of 400mm or more are recommended for most wildlife scenarios.

3. Mastering Camera Settings

Shutter Speed

Wildlife often moves unpredictably, so a fast shutter speed is essential to avoid motion blur. The speed you need depends on your subject. For example:

• Fast animals (like cheetahs): 1/1000s or faster
• Slow-moving animals (like turtles): 1/250s or slower

As a starting point, 1/500s is a good baseline. Since you’re likely using a long telephoto lens, a faster shutter speed can help prevent camera shake.

Aperture

In wildlife photography, the most critical setting is usually the shutter speed. For this reason, many wildlife photographers opt for Shutter Priority mode (TV), allowing them to set the shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture automatically.

ISO

It’s best to use the lowest ISO possible to avoid noise, but wildlife photography often requires quick adaptations to changing light. Setting your camera to Auto ISO can be a lifesaver in these situations. Make sure to set a limit for the maximum ISO, so you don’t end up with overly grainy shots in low light.

Tip: You can set a max ISO of around 1600 or 3200 to balance quality with flexibility.

Drive Mode

Wildlife moments are fleeting, so using Continuous Drive Mode ensures you capture multiple shots in a sequence. This increases your chances of nailing that perfect moment—whether it’s a bird taking flight or an animal in motion.

4. Managing Camera Shake

When shooting with long telephoto lenses, camera shake becomes a common problem. To counteract this, use a tripod or monopod to stabilize your camera. Even with fast shutter speeds, stabilizing your setup will improve your shots, especially in low-light conditions or when waiting long periods for a shot.

Tip: Image stabilization in lenses can also help minimize camera shake if you’re shooting handheld.

5. Studying Animal Behavior

Before heading out to shoot, research your subject. Understanding animal behavior will give you an advantage in predicting movement and capturing unique moments. For example, knowing when certain species are most active or how they react to changes in their environment can significantly improve your photography.

6. Preparing For The Field

Wildlife photography often involves spending long hours outdoors, so preparing for comfort and safety is essential. Bring extra layers, plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen if needed. Wildlife encounters are unpredictable, so it’s important to pack everything you might need, including extra batteries and memory cards.

7. Be Patient

Wildlife photography is as much about patience as it is about skill. You might wait hours for a single shot, but the reward of capturing a breathtaking moment in nature is well worth the effort. Always be prepared and don’t rush your shots—nature works on its own schedule.

Conclusion

Getting ready for a wildlife photography session involves more than just grabbing your camera and heading outdoors. From choosing the right lens to understanding animal behavior, every detail matters. By following these tips, you’ll be better prepared to capture the beauty of wildlife in its natural habitat.

At Omnilargess Photography, we offer workshops that cover various genres, including wildlife photography, to help you hone your skills. If you want to dive deeper into mastering your camera or improving your post-processing skills, consider signing up for one of our private lessons or group classes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, we’ve got something for everyone!

Explore our workshops and private lessons to enhance your wildlife photography and beyond!