Wildlife Photography: From Camera-Ready to Field-Ready hosted by Maryland PPA

You know your camera. You understand light, exposure, and composition, and that’s a great starting point. But wildlife doesn’t pose, wait, or follow direction, so you need to adapt your approach to capture compelling photos.

This three-hour workshop will teach you how to bring your photography skills into the natural world and build the new ones you’ll need along the way. You’ll walk away with a practical foundation for making compelling images across any environment and with any subject.

What You’ll Learn:

Camera Mastery for Moving Subjects- Wildlife photography often requires split-second decisions. We’ll cover the settings and modes that give you the best chance of a sharp, well-exposed image when your subject is unpredictable: shutter speeds, burst modes, autofocus systems, and how to configure your camera before you even spot your subjects.

Reading Animal Behavior- Photographers who consistently get great shots aren’t just fast, they’re prepared. You’ll learn how to observe and anticipate animal movement and behavior, to give you the best chance of capturing those decisive moments.

Composition Under Pressure- We’ll look at how to think about framing, backgrounds, and storytelling when you have fractions of a second and no control over your subject.

Finding and Approaching Wildlife- Getting great shots starts long before you even pick up your camera. We’ll discuss how to locate wildlife, how to move and position yourself without stressing the animal or missing your opportunity, and how patience and stillness are as important as any technical skill.

By the end of this class, you’ll have a practical framework you can immediately apply in the field.