Nature Photography Jobs: How to Make It As a Pro
Nature photography jobs, whether in wildlife photography or landscape photography, require more than just the ability to take beautiful photos. They necessitate a deep understanding of the natural world, the patience to wait for the perfect shot, and a willingness to sometimes work in challenging conditions.
As such, a good nature photographer is often as much an adventurer as they are an artist.
Working as a nature photographer can often lead you into some of the most stunning and remote corners of our planet. Wildlife photographers may find themselves tracking elusive animals in dense forests or waiting patiently in hides to capture birdlife.
Landscape photographers might hike up mountains or brave harsh weather conditions to capture that perfect sunrise or storm.
As a nature photographer, you must be prepared to travel to where the shots are and be comfortable spending extended periods in the outdoors, often alone.
Nature Photography Jobs and Finding Employment
It’s essential to understand that the majority of nature photographers work on a self-employed basis. Often, this means developing a photography business where you’ll provide services to various clients or sell your photos directly or through stock photography websites.
As a freelance photographer, your income will fluctuate based on the number of assignments you undertake and the sale of your photographs. Many successful photographers supplement their income by teaching workshops, selling prints, and entering photography competitions.
Read more: 13 Ways to Make Money with Nature Photography
A career as a nature photographer can be challenging due to its unpredictable nature, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.
How much can you earn as a nature photographer?
When it comes to income, nature photography jobs can be a mixed bag.
According to different sources, a professional photographer can expect to earn anywhere from $20,000 to $70,000 per year. Factors influencing this include experience, location, and specialization.
Notably, photographers working for major publications such as National Geographic can expect higher earnings, although such positions are highly competitive.
It is those resident photographers for National Geographic, and other similar publications, that are the only properly “full-time” photographers. The exception to this is the increased rise of resident photographers working in places like Safari lodges.
However, working as a self-employed individual allows you to remain in control of your images and allows you to retain the copyright to your work.
Could you make it as a National Geographic photographer?
For those new to the idea of having a nature photography job, the visualisation of being a National Geographic photographer can seem like the ultimate measure of success.
National Geographic has resident photographers who shoot for their magazine on commission. These photographers rarely work elsewhere, and shoot exclusive content for the magazine and website.
It’s important to note, however, that such photographers are at the absolute top of their game. Not only that, but they have managed to network their way into the belly of the beast!
There are very few positions available as an in-house photographer, and ultimately it will be very hard to achieve such a nature photography job. Instead, it is better to focus on the wider picture for a career as a nature photographer and not focus solely on one publication like National Geographic.
However, if you are dead-set on seeing your work published in the magazine, Nat Geo do take contributions from photographers. These are known as “contributing National Geographic photographers,” and are not retained throughout the year but instead paid for their story on a semi-regular basis.
Working as a Resort Photographer
In recent years, more and more photographers have been hired as resident photographers by safari lodges, or other similar set-ups in South America.
This can be a fantastic opportunity to build on your portfolio of images, whilst earning a regular income.
Such nature photography jobs are often temporary, running for a tourist season (typically 4-6 months).
Securing such a job is definitely easier than being hired by National Geographic, but still presents its challenges. Often, it comes from networking with those who run safari lodges and deal with tourists on a face-to-face basis.
If you do get hired as a resident photographer, you will be expected to provide images for marketing and quite possibly teach photography to the tourists visiting the location. Not only that, but you might be asked to present talks on your photos of the area to those who have come to visit.
Contracts and Commissions as a Nature Photographer
Finding clients and work in nature photography often involves self-promotion and marketing. Building your website to showcase your best work can attract potential clients, and optimizing it for search engines can help you reach a larger audience.
Additionally, social media sites like Instagram provide an excellent platform to share your work, engage with your followers, and network with other professionals in the field.
Entering photography competitions is another great way to get noticed and achieve recognition, and subsequently attract clients.
Selling prints at local galleries or online, contributing to stock photo websites, and offering workshops or tours are also viable options for income.
While nature photography jobs can be competitive, it’s a career path that offers immense satisfaction to those passionate about the natural world. With dedication, persistence, and a continuous effort to improve and adapt, you can turn your passion for capturing the natural world into a rewarding profession.
In conclusion
Remember that success won’t come overnight in the field of nature photography. It takes time to build a portfolio, make connections, and establish a reputation.
But with passion, skill, and persistence, you can turn your love of the natural world and photography into a fulfilling career.
