Most of the large wildlife photography companies not have very high vetting standards. They hire people who have the best qualifications in the field. Apart from qualifications you also need to have a strong portfolio before you think of applying for the job and getting that first interview. A career in photography has to start with getting an education in a photography school. A two year associate degree will be sufficient. You can also get a bachelor’s degree to top it up. From the degree you will gain all the advanced technical skills for an advanced career in wildlife photography.
A degree in zoology and a minor in photography is another way to start a professional career as a wildlife photographer. These concentrations will give you the necessary experience in animal behaviour and capturing the best animal moments.
Becoming a wildlife photographer without a college degree.
You can become a wildlife photographer without a college degree. But the journey is long and requires someone with the passion and will to achieve this high fit. It mostly centres on building a great portfolio and learning techniques from other wildlife photographers. A college degree is not the only way of getting your foot into wildlife photography.
You can also choose the autodidact route. The autodidact route to becoming a wildlife photographer starts with getting quality equipment. It’s important to ensure that you have industry standard cameras and lenses. To make sure you are in the right track you need to compare your photos to the photos of photographers who are already in the industry.
Becoming a wildlife photographer through short courses
Another affordable route to learn photography fast is to take online short courses designed by people already in the sector. You can find such courses on Udemy, skill share, and Coursera. Try and learn as many techniques as possible