Quick & Easy Tips for Stunning Wildlife Photos

Wildlife photography is one of the most exhilarating and challenging forms of photography. Whether you're photographing birds in flight, a lion on the prowl, or young elephants playfully sparring - capturing the unique beauty and intensity of animals in their natural habitat requires a combination of technical skill, patience and a bit of luck. But don’t worry! if you’re new to wildlife photography or simply looking to sharpen your skills, there are some simple and effective camera tips that can help you get better shots quickly.

1. Use a Fast Shutter Speed

Wildlife can often move quickly and a slow shutter speed will result in blurry images, especially when capturing fast-moving subjects like birds taking flight or a predator chasing prey. To freeze motion and ensure sharp photos, set your shutter speed to at least 1/1000 sec or faster. For birds in flight, consider bumping it up to 1/2000 sec or even higher – remembering that the smaller the bird and the closer you are, the faster it moves.

A fast shutter speed of 1/3200 meant every speck of dirt and dust was frozen in motion

2. Increase ISO for Low Light

Wildlife often appears during the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon, which means the lighting can sometimes be tricky — especially when shooting in dense vegetation. To avoid blurry shots in low light, raise your ISO. Modern cameras handle high ISO settings well, so don’t be afraid to push it higher (like ISO 3200 - 6400) for those low-light situations.

Just be mindful that raising the ISO will also raise the noise in your images, so aim to find a balance between a fast enough shutter speed and acceptable image quality. You can always do a bit of noise reduction later in editing, but getting the exposure right in-camera is always the best starting point. If at any point you’re in doubt, favour a higher shutter speed – it’s better to have got a sharp photo that’s a bit too noisy than a blurry one that’s unusable.

Even though we were utilising a spotlight, this was shot at iso 3200 in order to freeze the slow and simple motions of the leopard drinking

3. Autofocus: Use Continuous or AI Servo Mode

Wildlife rarely sits still, and using the right autofocus mode can make all the difference when trying to capture that decisive moment. Switch your camera’s autofocus to continuous autofocus (AI Servo on Canon or AF-C on Nikon). This mode keeps your camera focusing on your subject even as it moves, ensuring that you can track your subject as they move around.

Animals walking toward and away from you can be challenging as they're constantly shifting focal planes

4. Use Continuous Shooting Mode

Wildlife is unpredictable, and the perfect shot can often happen in a split second. By enabling continuous shooting you can take multiple shots in rapid succession, increasing your chances of getting the perfect shot. This is particularly useful for capturing fast-moving subjects where the more frames you can capture, the better.Most cameras allow you to take anywhere from 5 to 20 frames per second (fps), so make sure your camera is set to its fastest continuous shooting speed. Afterward, you can select the best image from the series during your editing process – just be prepared ahead of time by purchasing a fast and high-capacity memory card that can keep up with all the pictures you may end up taking!

Shooting at 20fps meant there was plenty of captured frames of this black-shouldered kite taking flight

5. Use Auto White Balance

Auto White Balance (AWB) is an incredibly convenient feature in modern cameras, automatically adjusting the colour temperature of an image to ensure that whites appear truly white, regardless of the lighting conditions. This eliminates the need for manual adjustments, saving time and effort, especially handy in such a dynamic environment as the wilderness where light can change quickly.

For photographers on the go, AWB ensures that you don’t miss a shot while fumbling with settings, and it allows you to focus more on the composition and timing of your photos. While AWB might not always be perfect in tricky lighting (and don’t forget, we can always adjust later in editing), it does offer a great starting point and is often surprisingly accurate for everyday shooting scenarios, making it an invaluable tool for both beginners and experienced photographers.

This leopard was constantly moving in and out of sunshine and dark shadows, but auto-iso meant I didn't have to worry and only needed to make a basic tweak later in editing

6. Practice Basic Composition Techniques

Even in wildlife photography, good composition makes a huge difference. Use the rule of thirds to place your subject off-center for more dynamic and visually appealing images. When photographing animals in their environment, give them space within the frame to show where they are or what they’re doing. Try to keep your horizons straight and watch out for clipping tails and feet out of the frame.Additionally, try and shoot at eye level with the animal. This perspective helps create a stronger emotional connection with your audience. For larger animals, like elephants or giraffes, shooting from a lower angle often makes them appear even more majestic and imposing.

Positioning this antelope and the horizon on the lower right side of the frame allows for the space in front of it, and the vibrant blue sky behind, to be part of the story

7. Be Patient and Respectful

One of the most important tips in wildlife photography is to be patient and respectful. Animals can sense your presence and quick movements or noise can cause them to flee. Take your time, stay as still as possible, and let the animals behave naturally. By observing quietly you’re not only more likely to get a great shot, but you’re also respecting their space and ensuring that you don’t disturb their natural behaviours.

Wildlife photography is a rewarding and thrilling endeavour and with a few quick and simple camera tips, you can dramatically improve your shots. By mastering the technical settings on your camera, understanding your subjects and embracing the unpredictable challenges that lie ahead, you’ll be well on your way to capturing breathtaking images that you’ll be eager to share and look back on. Whether you're in the savannas of Africa or your local nature park, remember to stay patient, adapt to the environment and, most importantly, enjoy the experience of being in nature!