Beyond Animal Portraits: Elevate Your Wildlife Photography by Leighton Lum

Whether you're off to some distant corner of the globe or clicking closer to home, small shifts in your approach to wildlife photography can unlock new levels of creativity and impact. Here are a few of my favorite insights - earned through countless hours in the field - to deepen your connection with wildlife and transform your photos into visual stories that go beyond mere documentation.
 
Let Light Be the Story - Great wildlife photography isn’t always about the wildlife. Sometimes the critters play second fiddle to light itself. Photo • graphy, after all, literally means ‘to write with light.’ Sun rays piercing storm clouds, golden reflections off wet feathers, or the dramatic interplay of light and shadow created by backlighting - these fleeting conditions can transform an image from mundane to magical. Become a connoisseur of light and look for opportunities to make light the star attraction.

Understanding Animal Behavior – luck plays a role, but compelling wildlife images are more often a result of insight than chance. Recognizing subtle cues—a penguin about to preen, an albatross lifting into flight, a grizzly poised to lunge at a passing salmon—allows you to anticipate moments rather than react to them.

Embrace the Elements - rain, wind, cold, freezing sea spray - Nature often delivers less than comfortable conditions, but that’s where the drama lies. ‘Bad’ weather challenges both you and your gear, but it also gifts you with unforgettable images: penguins huddled in a storm, sea mist swirling over volcanic cliffs, animals enduring a rainstorm. For me, there’s nothing more depressing than a bluebird day. Nature never waits for perfect weather, and neither should you.

I hope these ideas have sparked new ways of thinking about your craft. The wild has so much to teach us—if we slow down, pay attention, and embrace the unpredictability. Let light guide you, let behavior reveal the story, and let the elements shape your vision. Most of all, get out there, put these ideas into action and make them your own. Wishing you bold adventures and beautiful light—happy shooting!