How to become a professional Wildlife Photographer?

Chilt

Chilt

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Nick
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Hey all, now I’m not saying my photos are professional grade, I’m still learning and getting better, but I just think to become a professional wildlife photographer would just be amazing.

Where would I start?
I mean I’ve had people tell me to send my photos to country file, don’t really know where to start with that, I’ve got a few photos on stock sites but I don’t think wildlife photography does that great on there.

Selling prints?
So this would maybe be a option, gets some pints made up and sell them on sites and maybe make a website selling them, but then again, would this work?

Im just a little stuck at where I’d even begin to look at becoming a full time world life photographer here in the UK.

Some of my photos are over on Flickr so if you fancy it take a look :)

Thanks for any help
Nick
 
I think I'd start with identifying and approaching specialist publications? You have produced some great butterfly and bird shots.
 
Most professional wildlife photographers have had to move into running workshops etc to make any money, I'm not sure that just taking photos is enough in that field of photography any more.
 
Its very hard to make it unless, as Gramps said, workshops - guided tours and secret hide location are how many dedicated Wildlife Photographers I know personally make it

I love wildlife Photography and have in fact sold images , I supplement this with shooting weddings and other such events - Wildlife Photography alone does not pay my bills :(

I wish you all the luck in the world

Les :)
 
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One thing for sure, you won't sell much from a website, it's probably important to have a website but you won't make much from it.

Selling prints is probably best done through local galleries, shops, fairs, etc. but unless you get lucky it will take a long time to build up that business.
 
I'd add to the general gloomy tone of the replies by saying that it will be very difficult to earn a living from wildlife photography. So look for some other way to pay the bills and keep going at the wildlife. If you're committed enough you might be able to gradually make the switch at some stage in the future.

One thing i would stress is that you need to keep on learning about wildlife as well. I'm amazed at how little some aspiring wildlife photographers know about actual wildlife!
 
Professional photographers I know have found that they can no longer make a living from just capturing straight nature images. Reluctantly they have had to arrange workshops or nature holidays, sell books or gain sponsorship from TV etc. It appears that it is hard for an experienced pro to survive so just starting out will be very challenging. Personally, I never had any urge to become a professional photographer as I knew I could always earn more money from using other skills. However, having photography as a hobby is great.

Dave
 
All Doom and Gloom I am afraid

I presume "become a professional wildlife photographer " means to make a living from it going by your other comments... Theres little or no chance of you acheving that by taking photoes alone and still little chance doing what others above have said.... the problem is that every year photography gets cheaper and cheaper as it becomes more affordable for everyone to do..

To be fair even before the industry started to flop.. wildlife photography was always one of the hardest areas to make an actual living from....

Sorry :(


PS Although the answer are not what you want to hear...believe me it's the truth and best your told as early as possible :)
 
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Now that just about everyone has a camera of some description those that publish photos have their pick of people who will just give them the images they want, country file calender is a great example, have you read the t&c.

Only the very best ever make it to professional, usually because they can offer something joe public just can't get, days, weeks or even months concentrating on their chosen subject in all weather and times of day.

If you want to appeal to publications I would guess you may need to put a sizable portfolio together, try and get an RPS title you can add after your name too.

Think of it as a very long term goal and be prepared to put the work in now to get yourself noticed.
 
Selling prints? No. You'll certainly not make a living from this.

Be realistic. You want to be a professional, which means earning at least 25K as a starter. If you could get £25.00 a print, this means selling a thousand a year. Do you really think you can do that? how are people even going to see your prints? and why should they choose them over the countless thousands of prints available out there? If I want a print for my wall, I can afford a bit of time to look for the best, because why you hang anything else on your wall?

Stock. Same issue. If right now I want a stock photo of whatever I have the choice of LOADS, and once again I'm only going to go for the best.

You can approach magazines and other companies, but once again just how many photographers do you think approach them? They have loads of choice and once again they are only going to choose and use the best photographers and best images.
 
Karl.t1965 said:
try and get an RPS title you can add after your name too.
Click to expand...
In the 1970s, a very good friend of mine (who was also a very successful specialist photographer of fine art objects) had some cards printed up with NMRPS after his name. He claimed that no-one ever asked what the initials stood for. :exit:
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
In the 1970s, a very good friend of mine (who was also a very successful specialist photographer of fine art objects) had some cards printed up with NMRPS after his name. He claimed that no-one ever asked what the initials stood for. :exit:
Click to expand...

I have seen plenty of images from LRPS and ARPS that I would have moved to the recycle bin too. But having the right to put *RPS after your name may just catch somebody's eye
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
In the 1970s, a very good friend of mine (who was also a very successful specialist photographer of fine art objects) had some cards printed up with NMRPS after his name. He claimed that no-one ever asked what the initials stood for. :exit:
Click to expand...

That would be " None Member of the Royal Photographic Society then would it :LOL::LOL::LOL:
 
Lez325 said:
That would be " None Member of the Royal Photographic Society then would it :LOL::LOL::LOL:
Click to expand...
He pronounced it "Not member of the Royal Photographic Society" but close enough... :naughty:
 
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