Usually when I tell people that I am a professional wildlife photographer they immediately comment on what a great job it must be. Well…it is! But I think a lot of people have very little understanding for what it takes to make a go of it in this line of work or of the sacrifices that must inevitably be made. So I thought I would do “5 best and worst things about being a wildlife photographer” list. Here goes…
5 Best Things About Being a Pro Wildlife Photographer
- Freedom to spend lots of time with Mother Nature…
- Visiting new places in Canada and around the world…
- Being able to daydream about something beautiful, set goals for how to photograph it, and then achieve them…
- Being your own boss, making your own hours, and not being chained to a desk (except while processing images)…
- Being proud of your work…
3 Things I Could Do Without
- Airplanes, airplane food, packing, waiting for planes, delayed flights, cramped seats, long travel days, baggage fees, and cranky gate agents…Can you tell how much I love airports??
- Uncertainty and the stress that comes from being a self-employed entrepreneur…
- Extended periods of time away from family, friends, and loved ones…
Feel free to comment on what you think would be good or bad about this job. Or even what you love / hate about your own jobs 
Just another day in the life...
#1 by Steve Boyko on June 22, 2012 - 9:24 am
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I would think being eaten alive by bugs while waiting for the perfect shot would be a significant downside… maybe I’m just impatient!
#2 by Leah on June 22, 2012 - 11:05 am
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I love the commitment you put into shots. I know how much further you go! Best thing about the job? The quiet moments with nature waiting for the shot. The worst? Mosquitoes come to mind – especially seeing your netting (gotta look into getting some of that).
#3 by Greg on June 22, 2012 - 12:44 pm
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I enjoy acquiring camera gear and taking nature photgraphs at my own pace. The fun would be gone for me if I had to do it for a living or worry about anyone stealing my images (not that they are worth stealing).
#4 by Gary Olejniczak on June 23, 2012 - 6:17 am
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As a serious amateur photographer, I totally understand the commitment you make at the professional level. I would like to thank you for the countless images that you have posted for the benefit of us, the audience. Your craftsmanship is superb and your images are truly works of art. A beautiful little piece of nature with every posting. Thank you.
#5 by Wally Nussbaumer on June 23, 2012 - 8:46 am
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I can relate to your commitment and marvel at the quality you get. I have won a few awards, but I still would like to achieve your level of results. Personally the thing theta bug me most is “BUGS” mosquitoes, black flies and ants make wildlife photography hell at times which is offset by being close to nature and having the wild animal accept my presence.. Great job Glen.
#6 by conry on July 15, 2012 - 11:04 am
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Good blog, and very very beautiful photos. Regards!
#7 by Simon on July 24, 2012 - 4:09 pm
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I am currently taking an introduction to Ecology for this summer semester. These photos are very inspiring and it leads to me thinking that biology and photography is a great mix. This is certainly going to be a great hobby for me. There are so many urban birds where I am living that I have not heard before. Hopefully I can travel around the world like you!
#8 by Faraaz Abdool on October 4, 2012 - 11:53 am
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Absolutely stunning work, we all do the best at what we love, right? I have just started (officially) as a wildlife photographer and desperately hope to become professional one day doing what I love. I did electrical engineering in university and that couldn’t have been further from what I actually love – Nature. So I’m stuck in a job that I hate until I can make a living being a pro wildlife photographer!