How to start wildlife photography: Plan Your First Field Shoot With Confidence

You’ve chosen your camera. Maybe you’ve even tried photographing a squirrel in the garden or a robin at the feeder. But when it comes to heading out into the field, you might be wondering:

  • Where do I start?
  • How do I plan a wildlife shoot?
  • What should I look for?

The good news? You don’t need to travel far, have expensive gear, or know everything about birds to begin.

Wildlife photography starts with curiosity, quiet observation, and a bit of gentle planning.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to start wildlife photography - from choosing a location and understanding animal behaviour to composing thoughtful images and practicing with confidence.

This is about building experience, one walk at a time.

Let’s begin.

Planning Your First Wildlife Shoot

You don’t need to head into the wild with military precision—just a bit of thoughtful preparation can make a big difference.

Here’s what I look for (and bring with me) before I head out.

1. Choose a Nearby Location You Can Revisit

Start somewhere you can return to regularly—a local reserve, woodland, lake, or even your garden.

  • You'll start to notice patterns in animal behaviour
  • You can learn how the light changes throughout the day
  • And most importantly—you’ll feel more comfortable each time you go

Many of my favourite shots were taken from indoors looking through the window!

A group of House Sparrows gathered around a birdbath in a garden, perched on the rim with greenery in the background.You don’t need to travel far to capture eye-catching moments. I took this gathering of sparrows in the garden—full of life, energy, and perfect poses.

2. Research the Wildlife in the Area

You don’t need to know every species, but a bit of background helps.

  • Look up what animals are commonly spotted at your chosen site
  • Find out when they’re most active (dawn, dusk, seasonal?)
  • If it’s a reserve or hide, check recent sightings boards or local wildlife groups

I keep a little notebook or use my phone to jot down animal patterns and lighting notes on each visit.

3. Consider the Time of Day

  • Early morning: often the best light and quietest atmosphere
  • Golden hour (late afternoon): beautiful warm tones, longer shadows
  • Midday: can be harsh light—but good for active insects and butterflies

Even cloudy days are worth trying—soft light is great for wildlife portraits.

4. Keep It Simple the First Time

  • Bring one camera and one lens (don’t overpack)
  • Don’t worry about getting the “perfect shot”
  • Just focus on observing, slowing down, and learning how it all feels

You’ll learn more in one quiet hour of patient watching than ten minutes of rushing around.


Field Tip: Don’t measure the success of your first shoot by how many photos you take. Just being out in nature, noticing things more closely—that’s a win in itself.

Composition Techniques for Wildlife Photography

You don’t need to be a professional photographer to compose a beautiful photo.

Good composition is really just about helping the viewer's eye land in the right place—so they feel something when they look at your image.

Here are a few simple techniques that make a big difference:

1. The Rule of Thirds

Imagine a grid overlay on your photo—two horizontal and two vertical lines. Try placing your subject where the lines cross.

  • Creates a natural, balanced feel
  • Helps the image “breathe” without looking too centred
  • Especially helpful for birds on branches or animals in a landscape

I often use this when photographing garden birds—placing them off to one side gives a sense of space and movement.

A Wood Mouse sitting in short grass among daisies, positioned off-centre in the right third of the frame, holding a seed or petal.I didn’t plan it at the time, but this turned out to be a lovely example of the rule of thirds. Placing the mouse off to one side gave the image room to breathe—and let the daisies tell part of the story too.

2. Leading Lines

Use natural elements—like paths, rivers, shadows, or branches—to gently draw the viewer’s eye toward your subject.

  • Adds visual interest and flow
  • Great for wide shots or framing animals in their environment

Grassy trails and fence lines can work beautifully without stealing the scene.

A Robin standing alert in low green ground cover, surrounded by sticks and soft spring growth.This Robin appeared during a local dog walk, pausing just long enough for a photo. Look how the twigs act as gentle leading lines, drawing your eye right to the bird.

3. Frame Your Subject

Look for opportunities to “frame” your animal using the surrounding environment.

  • Think: a bird framed between tree trunks, or a fox peeking through tall grass
  • Adds depth, mystery, and a sense of discovery

This is one of my favourite techniques when I'm sitting quietly and just waiting—it often happens naturally.

A Jackdaw on the ground in bright sunlight, leaning forward on short grass with a curved grass stem arched above its back.Natural framing can be simple but effective. Here, a single curve of grass mirrors the shape of the Jackdaw’s back—an unplanned little gift from nature that gently draws the eye.

4. Include the Environment

Not every shot has to be a close-up. Sometimes the most powerful images are the ones that show the animal in its wider world.

  • Use wider focal lengths or step back
  • Creates scale, mood, and storytelling

Even a small subject can make a great photo when surrounded by space.

A Mute Swan gliding across still water on a misty morning, with soft reflections and blurred surroundings fading into the background.Including the landscape tells a fuller story—this Swan drifting through morning mist was as much about the quiet mood as the bird itself.

5. Break the rules (On Purpose)

Once you’ve tried a few techniques, feel free to go off-script.

  • Try unusual angles, crops, or compositions
  • Let instinct and mood guide you
  • Photography is art, not homework

Some of my most memorable images came from bending the “rules” just enough to make the moment feel alive.


Try This on Your Next Walk: Pick one composition idea—like framing or using the rule of thirds—and look for moments where it naturally appears. Don’t worry about getting it perfect. Just notice what feels interesting to your eye, and experiment from there.

Ethical Wildlife Photography: Respecting the Subject

One of the most rewarding parts of wildlife photography is the quiet connection we feel with the animals we photograph.

But with that comes a gentle responsibility: to protect the wellbeing of the creatures we’re observing.

Here are a few of the personal guidelines I follow on every shoot:

1. Keep Your Distance

Getting a close-up doesn’t mean getting physically close.

  • Use a longer lens to avoid causing stress
  • If the animal changes its behaviour because of you, it’s a sign to step back
  • Let the animal remain wild, curious, and unbothered

Some of my best photos happened when I sat still and waited—the animal came to me.

A pair of Mute Swans tending their nest, facing one another with curved necks and soft lighting in a bed of reeds.This looks like an intimate moment—and it was. But I photographed it from a long distance using a telephoto lens and extender, so I could keep well away from the nest.
Getting too close to nesting birds can cause stress, or even lead to them abandoning their eggs.
Always let your lens do the walking.

2. Avoid Using Flash

Flash can startle or disorient animals—especially birds and nocturnal species.

  • Natural light is quieter, softer, and more respectful
  • If it’s too dark for the photo, it might just be a moment to experience instead of capture

3. Leave No Trace

Nature is the star of your photo. Let it stay as wild as you found it.

  • Stay on established paths or trails
  • Avoid trampling plants or disturbing nests and dens
  • Take all your rubbish (and memories) with you

On one trip to Fermyn Woods we found a lovely little spot for photographing butterflies. It seems others discovered it too, the next day it had been trampled by uncaring photographers!

4. Follow Local Guidelines

Some places have protected zones, seasonal closures, or dog restrictions for very good reasons.

  • Check signs, websites, or ask local rangers
  • Respect rules meant to protect breeding sites or fragile species

We were saddened to see a loose dog chasing panicked sheep across the meadow at Summer Leys early one morning. Its owner called out again and again, but the dog didn’t respond.


Tip: The most rewarding photos come when animals feel safe enough to act naturally. That’s the moment worth waiting for.

Practice Locally: Build Confidence Close to Home

You don’t need to travel far—or wait for a rare species—to become a wildlife photographer.

Some of the best skills you’ll build come from photographing what’s already around you. It’s quieter, less pressured, and a perfect way to grow.

1. Start in Your Own Garden (or Balcony)

  • Set up a bird feeder or shallow water dish
  • Sit quietly with your camera and watch what shows up
  • Learn how to track movement, adjust settings, and stay patient

I practiced on robins and blackbirds for weeks—and I still love photographing them

2. Visit a Local Park or Reserve

  • Look for squirrels, ducks, moorhens, rabbits, or even butterflies
  • Walk slowly. Stop often. Let the landscape come to life around you
  • Try to photograph the same subject in different light or settings

One park, four visits, four completely different moods—that’s how you start building your eye.

3. Try a Zoo or Wildlife Centre

  • While not wild, zoos offer a chance to practice composition and timing
  • Use natural framing and shallow depth of field to avoid fences or backgrounds
  • Focus on behaviour and storytelling, not just documentation

Zoos helped me learn how to photograph movement—and gave me ideas I could apply later in the field.


Tip: Revisit the same spot regularly. You’ll start to notice patterns—where the light falls, where the birds land, and when the action tends to happen.

Celebrate Your Progress (Even the Small Wins)

Wildlife photography is a journey, one built on small moments, missed shots, and quiet breakthroughs.

You don’t need to “get it right” to be proud. Just the fact that you showed up, slowed down, and tried something new? That’s worth celebrating.

Here are a few gentle ways to mark your progress and stay inspired:

1. Join an Online Photography Community

  • Share your work in beginner-friendly forums or social media groups
  • Learn by seeing how others approach similar subjects
  • Get kind feedback and encouragement that helps you grow

Places like Flickr, ViewBug, and Reddit’s r/WildlifePhotography can be incredibly supportive.

2. Share on Social Media (If You’d Like To)

  • Post your work on Instagram or Facebook with simple captions like:
    “A robin I spotted on my morning walk. Still learning, but proud of this one.”
  • Use hashtags like #wildlifephotographybeginner, #naturephoto, or your local nature hashtag

You never know who you might inspire by sharing a photo you nearly didn’t take.

3. Enter a Local Competition

  • Check if your local newspaper, nature reserve, or wildlife trust runs seasonal contests
  • It’s not about winning—it’s about pushing yourself to finish and submit something
  • Sometimes, just the deadline helps spark creativity

That first Mayfly photo? I entered it on a whim. It changed everything.


Tip: Revisit your old photos every few months. You’ll be surprised how far you’ve come—and how much more you notice now.

Wherever you go next—whether it’s your back garden, a local woodland, or a misty lake at sunrise—remember:

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to get the shot every time.

Just showing up, watching quietly, and learning as you go…

That’s how every wildlife photographer starts.

I hope this guide has helped you take your first step into something meaningful.

Happy walking. Happy watching. And whenever you're ready—happy shooting.


Photo of Carol

About the Author

Carol is a UK-based wildlife photographer and nature writer with a passion for peaceful walks, patient observation, and capturing life’s quiet wonders.

Through her lens and words, she shares the stories of the natural world — from bluebells and butterflies to birds like the great crested grebe.

Read more about Carol

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