Wildlife Photography

Take your wildlife photography to the next level with this advanced module, designed to sharpen both your technical skills and creative eye. Learn to master essential cameras, lenses, and accessories, work with natural and artificial light, and capture subjects with precision using shutter speed, eye-level perspectives, and dynamic composition. From framing portraits to telling stories through environmental shots, you’ll gain the skills to produce images that are both striking and meaningful.

This module also covers researching animal behaviour, ethical photography practices, and developing a professional workflow for editing, portfolio building, and publishing. You’ll explore avenues for selling your work, from stock photography and fine art prints to competitions and magazine features. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge, confidence, and creative vision to create compelling wildlife images that stand out.

Wildlife Photography Advanced Module

Capture fascinating wildlife images during your expeditions and professional projects!

This module guides you through essential camera and lens choices, mastering exposure and natural light from golden hour to twilight, and applying creative composition techniques to produce inspiring images. You’ll learn how to anticipate decisive moments, work ethically in the field, and refine your workflow from capture to final edit, empowering you to create unique wildlife photographs that are both technically strong and creatively distinctive.

Wildlife images by #pistudent John Pelechosky Image Source: #PIstudent John Pelechosky @pelechosky

Module Topics

In this module, we will cover the following topics and beyond:

Introduction to Wildlife Photography
Photographic Equipment: The Essentials
Requirements of a Wildlife Camera
Principal Advantages
Is a Second Body Necessary?
Lenses for Wildlife Photography
Essential Accessories
Essential Skills for Wildlife Photography
Practical Understanding of Exposure
Auto Exposure (AE) Lock
Grass, the Natural 18% Grey Card
Understanding & Working with Natural Light
The Light Protractor
Midday Light
Teatime Light (Mid-morning or Mid-afternoon)
The Golden Hours
Twilight
Low Contrast Light
How to Take Advantage of Light Direction
Front Lighting
Side Lighting
Back Lighting
Silhouettes
Artificial Light & Flash Photography
Fill Light
Imagining Images
The Slightest Expression is Everything
Avoid Camera Shake
Composition & Creativity
Composing Wildlife Photographs
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Odds (three)
Golden Triangle
Leading Lines
Diagonal Lines
Natural Frames
Centre Eye Dominance
Patterns & Repetition
Isolate the Figure from the Background
Symmetry & Reflections
Negative Space & Simplification

How to Practice Photography
Types of Images in Wildlife Photography
Wildlife Portraits
Full Body Portraits
Frame-filling Portraits
Environmental Portraits
Storytelling
Gesture
Creativity in Wildlife Photography
Depth of a Photograph
Creative Shutter Speed
Freezing Time by Shooting with a Fast Shutter
Handholding a Telephoto Lens
Slow-moving Subjects
Fast-moving Subjects
Blurring Time, Slow Shutter Speeds
Useful Slow Shutter Speeds
Eye-level Photography
Researching & Understanding Animal Behaviour
Creatures of Habit
Photographic Guides, Safaris & Tours
Dedicated Photographic Tours & Safaris
Private Photographic Guides
Ethics of Wildlife Photography
Image Processing & Workflow
Workflow
Image Editing & Processing
Basic Wildlife Processing in Lightroom
Basic Edits
Non-destructive Editing
Selling Wildlife Photographs
Your Portfolio
Getting Noticed & Published
Learn to Write
Wildlife Stock Photography
What is Stock?
Selling Photography & Fine Art Prints
Photography Competitions
Things to be Aware of
Local Wildlife Magazine Competitions
International Wildlife Competitions

Module Outcomes

By completing the Wildlife Photography Advanced Module, you will:

Confidently select the right cameras, lenses, and accessories for a wide range of wildlife situations.
Precisely control exposure and light, from harsh midday to golden hour, twilight, and low-contrast scenes.
Apply strong compositional techniques to create impactful wildlife portraits, environmental visual stories.
Anticipate behaviour, movement, and expression to capture decisive moments ethically and creatively.
Develop a professional workflow for editing, portfolio building, publishing, and selling your wildlife photographs.

Are you passionate about wildlife photography and want to refine your workflow and technique?

Wildlife Photography Advanced Module is available exclusively to students enroled in our online Photography Course. You’ll also receive a free six-month course extension and the support of a dedicated tutor who will guide you through the module and help you apply the lessons to your own wildlife photography projects.

Capturing unique wildlife images involves technique, awareness and patience. Join us on this adventure! Learn new skills and understand the necessary steps to turn your passion into a profitable venture or simply elevate your abilities as a hobbyist.