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Hi,
Wildlife photography requires a great passion for wildlife and photography skills.
Professional wildlife photographers generally take assignments from editors of newspapers, magazine, publishing companies, advertising agencies, and government agencies. Most of them prefer to work independently and share their work with various media agencies and wildlife NGOs. Besides, they can also host exhibitions and send their work to photography contests to get their talent identified and recognized in the industry.
Travel and nature magazines also work with wildlife photographers on a regular basis. Some of these publications might even hire full or part-time wildlife photographers as staff members.
What it needs to become a professional wildlife photographer?
-As a wildlife photographer you often need to travel quite a lot.
-As with most other photographers, the majority of wildlife photographers work as freelancers. This means that they take photographs in hopes of selling them, or they are commissioned to take photographs of certain animals.
-You must be physically fit because you could be spending long periods in very cold, hot or wet conditions waiting for the right shot.
-Digital photography has made it easier for people to pick this up, at least as a hobby at a relatively low cost.
Skills Required:
. Extreme amounts of patience
. Presence of mind
. Strong communication skills
. Deep respect for nature in all its forms
. A naturalist's sensitivity
. Ability to blend in and maintain silence
Employment Opportunities:
-While many work independently
-freelance photographers
-magazine publishers
-production studios
-government agencies and
-wildlife organizations employ staff photographers.
The Payoff (India)
When one starts out, one should do as much independent work as one can. Then, one could share the work with newspapers, magazines, wildlife NGOs, or one could host exhibitions and enter photography contests. The objective is to get one's work noticed. One could use one's photographs to design cards and calendars, maybe even launch a brand of these. Income at this level is around Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000 a month, depending on one's ingenuity.
Famous Institutes to pursue a course in Wildlife Photography:
Canon Education Portal
National Institute of Design (NID)
Asian Academy of Film and TV, Noida
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