Wildlife Photography: From Camera-Ready to Field-Ready
By Ellen Zangla, M.Photog., Cr., CPP, MAI
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.
Ellen Zangla
Ellen Zangla, M.Photog., Cr., CPP, MAI, has been a professional pet photographer in Loudoun County, VA, since 2009. Beyond her work with clients, she's an award-winning wildlife photographer who travels extensively to photograph animals in their natural habitats, with a particular love for wolves, bears, other mammals, and birds of prey. Manitoba and Alaska are among her favorite places to work.
In 2024 and 2025, Ellen was selected to represent Team USA in the World Photographic Cup, one of the most prestigious photography competitions. Her wildlife images were among just three chosen to represent the United States in that category.
Her background as a pet photographer gives her an edge in the field. She's spent years reading animal behavior and training her eye for composition under pressure, and this translates directly to wildlife work.
What keeps her coming back is simple: there's nothing quite like witnessing wild animals living on their own terms. The behaviors, the moments, the environments — it never gets old.
Ellen earned her Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer designations through the Professional Photographers of America, and is a Master of Animal Imagery through Animal Image Makers.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, son, two dogs, and four cats.