Tips for Taking Stunning Wildlife Portraits

Wildlife portraits are one of my favourite things to photograph. There’s something pretty special about capturing the character or mood of an animal—whether it’s the intense stare of a bird of prey or a sleepy wallaby lounging in the sun.

But getting a good wildlife portrait isn’t just about pointing your camera at an animal and pressing the shutter. It takes a bit of planning, patience, and some know-how to get the kind of shot that really makes people stop and look.

In this post, I’ll run through a few things that can help you take stronger, more compelling wildlife portraits—gear tips, camera settings, understanding behaviour, and more. Nothing too technical or complicated—just practical advice you can use next time you're out in the field.

Use the Right Gear

Let’s start with equipment. You don’t need the biggest, fanciest lens to get started with wildlife portraits, but the right gear can help—especially when it comes to keeping your distance while still filling the frame.

Here’s what I’d recommend:

• A telephoto lens (at least 200mm) – This helps you get close without getting too close. A longer lens will also give you that nice background blur, which helps the animal stand out.

• A tripod or monopod – Useful if your lens is heavy, or you’re sitting in one spot waiting for ages.

• Spare batteries and memory cards – Always bring more than you think you’ll need.

If you’re still building up your kit and not sure what to prioritise, I’m always happy to talk gear during a private lesson—we can work with what you have and figure out what might be worth investing in next.

Learn About the Animal Before You Go

One of the best things you can do before heading out is to spend a bit of time researching the animals you want to photograph. Knowing when they’re most active, where they like to hang out, and how they behave can really improve your chances of getting a decent photo.

Even just spending some time watching an animal—before you start photographing—can tell you a lot.

• Is it likely to stay in one spot for a while?

• Is it easily spooked?

• Does it return to the same place again and again?

When I was photographing Rainbow Bee-eaters a while back, I noticed they kept landing on the same branch after flying off. Once I figured that out, I could just wait quietly and be ready when they came back. No need to chase or move around too much.

Use Camera Settings That Give You the Best Chance

Wildlife portraits are usually about sharp eyes and a clean, soft background. To do that, you’ll want to use a fairly wide aperture (like f/4 or f/5.6) and a fast enough shutter speed to freeze any movement.

Here’s a general starting point:

• Aperture: f/4 to f/5.6

• Shutter speed: 1/1000s or faster for birds or fast-moving animals

• ISO: As low as possible without underexposing. Don’t be afraid to raise it a bit if you need to.

• Focus mode: Continuous (AI Servo or AF-C)

• Drive mode: High-speed burst

And always try to focus on the eyes. If they’re sharp, the rest of the image has a good chance of working.

If you’re still getting comfortable with these settings, this is something we can go over in detail during private lessons—hands-on and tailored to your camera.

Be Patient—and Quiet

Wildlife portraiture often involves a lot of waiting. Sometimes animals turn up straight away. Other times… not so much. But the longer you sit quietly and let nature do its thing, the better your chances.

Some tips that help:

• Move slowly and avoid sudden movements.

• Stay downwind if possible—some animals have excellent senses of smell.

• Be ready—have your camera on and settings dialled in before the moment happens.

It took me days to capture this sunbird building her nest on my back deck. Every time I got the camera out and set it up near the nest she got scared and didn't return for at least an hour. But after a few days of playing this game she realised that I meant no harm and continued to build her nest whilst I took hundreds of shots.

Frame It Like a Portrait

Once you’ve got the animal in the frame, treat it like you would any portrait subject. The aim is to show personality, character, or even just a moment of stillness.

Things to keep in mind:

• Focus on the eyes – This is what people connect with most.

• Watch your background – A messy or distracting background can take away from the subject.

• Try different angles – Get lower or shoot from the animal’s eye level if you can.

• Look for light – Soft morning or late afternoon light works best.

This bat photo was a unique opportunity, as it was awake during the day and moving around in this tree. I stood directly below the bat and angled my camera upwards towards it, using the foliage to create a frame around the creature.

Final Thoughts

Wildlife portraits can be incredibly rewarding, but they take time. There’s no shortcut, and you’ll probably come home empty-handed more than once. But when everything lines up—the light, the pose, the focus—it’s worth every minute of waiting.

If you’d like some one-on-one help to improve your wildlife photography, I offer private lessons here in Port Douglas or via Zoom. Whether you want to go through camera settings in more detail, talk about lens choices, or get out into the field and practise together, I’d love to help.

👉 Click here to learn more about private lessons