{"id":22497,"date":"2019-06-03T19:49:23","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T18:49:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/?p=22497"},"modified":"2025-07-29T10:49:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T09:49:54","slug":"10-wildlife-photography-tips-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/10-wildlife-photography-tips-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Wildlife Photography Tips for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re interested in wildlife photography, you\u2019ve probably come across an image that has left you slack-jawed and speechless at some point. If it really<\/em> captured your attention, you might have even found yourself silently muttering something along the lines of, \u201cHow <\/em>did they get shot?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truthfully, the majority of stunning wildlife photos don\u2019t come easy. It takes a whole lot of time and practice \u2014 and an incredible amount of patience \u2014 to get a truly spectacular image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re just getting started in the world of nature and wildlife photography, use these essential beginner tips and tricks to take your photos to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n

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See Also: <\/em>Photography Tours and Trips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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1. Master your camera<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you take away only one tip from this article, let it be this one: master your camera. Give yourself plenty of time to learn your camera\u2019s ISO capabilities, exposure compensation, focusing modes, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything happens fast when you\u2019re photographing wildlife, and it\u2019s not like shooting landscapes where you can take time to adjust your settings. If you\u2019re not familiar with your camera, its settings, and the abilities of your lenses, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll end up missing out on some fantastic photo opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, learn as much about your gear as you can, and practice at home before you head out on that dream safari<\/a> or adventure holiday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Elephant
Always be ready to capture moments like this | \u00a9 Casey Allen\/Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. Always be ready<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Picture this: You\u2019re sitting in a safari vehicle with your camera resting on the seat beside you and, suddenly, a lioness appears and begins to approach the vehicle. Slowly, she inches closer and closer and \u2014 just for a second \u2014 she locks eyes and pauses directly in front of you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not poised and ready to shoot, there\u2019s no way you\u2019ll have enough time to capture that once-in-a-lifetime shot. So, remember to set your baseline settings before you head out, and make sure you\u2019re fully ready to pick up your camera and shoot at a moment\u2019s notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Shoot during the golden hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Light is one of the most important factors in any form of photography \u2014 especially when it comes to wildlife photography. The easiest way to use light to your advantage? Shoot during the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, two times of the day known as the \u201cgolden hours\u201d in photography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During these times, the angle of the sun is low and the light gives everything a softer, warmer look. Locations that are overexposed at noon on a bright sunny day may be perfectly lit in the early morning or late afternoon, turning an ordinary photo into an extraordinary one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"African
Shooting during sunset means softer light and a gorgeous glow | \u00a9 Sergey Pesterev\/Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Be prepared to wait<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Patience is the name of the game in wildlife photography. Wild animals are highly unpredictable, and you (unfortunately) can\u2019t ask them to look your way, pose on cue, or move where the light is better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to be there \u2014 and ready \u2014 to grab your camera when they decide to appear or do something interesting. So, be prepared to wait and wait (and wait some more). It takes a long time to get good wildlife shots, and it takes even longer to capture remarkable ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Compose carefully<\/strong>
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Whether your subject is moving or you\u2019re waiting for it to do something interesting, try implementing the following two guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n