Famous Wildlife Photographers To Follow in 2025
Wildlife photography gives a voice to animals. Photographers play a crucial role in protecting the planet from climate change and habitat loss. The right lens can make a big difference.
The best part? These photographers do not only capture beautiful images. They can use their cameras to spark change, support conservation, and link millions to nature. All this happens with one stunning image at a time.
Uncover the finest and most famous wildlife photographers to follow in 2025. Their breathtaking imagery ignites your spirit for outdoor escapades. Let their captivating visuals fuel your adventures in the great outdoors!
Are you ready? Let’s explore the wild together.
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1. Joel Sartore
Wildlife photographer Joel Sartore is a conservationist. He tells nature’s stories through his photos. He founded the National Geographic Photo Ark. Over 30 years ago, he started capturing wildlife. He is dedicated to preserving nature. Also, he photographs endangered species and ecosystems.
After his wife’s cancer diagnosis, he created the Photo Ark in 2006. He has since taken pictures of over 15,000 species. His notable works include “Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals”. Besides, he has collaborated on “National Geographic TV specials like Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark”.
2. Paul Nicklen
Paul Nicklen is a leader in polar wildlife photography. He captures both the beauty and the brutality of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Nicklen’s photography serves a greater purpose, and his work indeed is a call to conservation.
Every shot tells a story, and with Paul, it’s a remarkable gift to storytelling. His photographic journey has taken him to heights with National Geographic, where awards are accolades for his art. Yet, beyond the frames, Nicklen emerges as a fierce champion for Earth’s icy frontiers.
3. Brian Skerry
Skerry was the first one to emerge as a photographer for National Geographic, focusing on the underwater world. His works enable viewers to travel through the oceans’ magical realms. The camera of Skerry captures vividly the numerous and wonderful forms of marine life.
He started his journey after developing a passion for the sea’s hidden gems. For over four decades now, he has been actively photographing sea creatures. It scales the captivating and often unseen treasures of the oceans. He chronicles everything from tiny sea animals to giant whales. Skerry has a unique ability for storytelling through photographs.
Well! He has a way of pulling the viewers right into the very essence of seawater. His numerous awards as a photographer for National Geographic verify his extraordinary talent. Another award he received was a Nikon Ambassador Certificate, which further proved his immeasurable influence.
4. Konrad Wothe
Konrad Wothe is a German wildlife photographer and filmmaker with a degree in biology from LMU Munich. He learned from pioneer Heinz Sielmann and worked for Germany’s ZDF broadcaster.
Wothe is a freelance nature photographer and filmmaker. He travels worldwide, capturing animals in their natural behavior. Wothe won the “GDT Nature Photographer of the Year” award in 2025 for his photo “Dipper flying through waterfall.” He spent 20 years waiting for the shot, finally capturing it with modern digital gear.
5. Ronan Donovan
Ronan Donovan’s wildlife photography, particularly with primates, gives us a greater understanding of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. His career as a photographer is fascinating and diverse, just like his subjects. With a degree in wildlife biology and conservation, Donovan’s views are distinct.
His fascination with primates stems from the study of wild chimpanzees he conducted in Uganda for Harvard. This experience honed his understanding of animal behavior.
Exactly! His photos capture more than mere wildlife moments. They are vivid, sometimes humorous, and always evocative portraits of nature. His artwork asks, What have we done to our delicate ecosystems?
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6. Steve Winter
A big cat enthusiast, Steve Winter is a prominent wildlife photographer who captures their enchanting essence. However, through his lens, he also reveals the beauty in their suffering. Winter advocates for conservation, focusing on the daily challenges these regal animals encounter.
Each of Winter’s photographs is a story about a big cat. A mesmerizing and artful story that screams patience and skill. His images are captivating and echo the undying struggle of these animals to stay alive and the countless threats they face.
No doubt, they are a reminder of the fragile balance of nature and the ecosystem. His work in wildlife photography has gained much recognition. As a National Geographic photographer, he has won many awards for his efforts.
7. Richard Peters
One of Europe’s most sought-after and famous wildlife photographers, Richard Peters, came to prominence due to his elegant approach to capturing wildlife. In 2015, he gained the title “The European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015”.
His works have a combination of strong highlights and minimal backgrounds. Peters often steps back to showcase animals in their environments, highlighting the beauty and scale of nature.
Well! His work isn’t only about photography’s beauty. It focuses on connecting with the subject. His images often provoke thought. Richard Peters’s unique style questions the usual ways of capturing wildlife.
8. Shannon Wild
Shannon Wild is not just another name that deals with wildlife photography. She is an Australian who traded in her city job for the unrestrained charms of Africa. She shredded the city chain not because of the countdown for headlines, but because the wild beckoned her.
Every photo she takes feels real. Honest. Alive. That’s what sets Shannon apart. She doesn’t just show you wildlife—she makes you feel it. That’s the kind of storytelling people can’t scroll past. Through her lens, Wild reveals the wilderness’s hidden stories, igniting wonder. Crafting art that transcends mere talent, she captures Africa’s wildlife in exquisite detail.
Moreover, she showcases not just iconic species but also the lesser-known ones. This includes moments and behaviors that reveal their lives. Her work highlights nature’s beauty and the need for conservation.
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9. Shaaz Jung
Wildlife photographer and filmmaker Shaaz Jung is known to the general public because of his documentaries. Shaaz became famous due to his work on India’s big cats, especially leopards. He operates safari lodges in the forests of southern India, which are his prime areas of interest.
Through his photographs, Jung captures their beauty and grace, stealth, and power. He knows their interesting behaviors very well and invites viewers into the fascinating world of leopards.
Jung’s photographs tell a story revealing the heart of these majestic creatures. You see everything, from their playful antics to their serious survival tactics. Each snapshot unfolds intricate dances with nature alongside vivid tales filled with challenges.
10. Austin Thomas
Austin Thomas focuses on the specialized area of wildlife photography, particularly avian photography. This specialization makes him unique in the industry. He photographs numerous bird species to capture their essence, behavior, and beauty. His understanding of birds and attention to detail sharpen his work.
The skill and patience he demonstrates as a wildlife photographer are made clear through his ability to capture great action. In addition to his bird portraits, he fills his photos with creativity and reflects the spirit and individuality of each bird.
Thomas captures numerous species, and with each photo, he portrays striking visuals and critical details in a way that brings them to life. Most importantly, his works showcase the beauty we have and the need to preserve it.
11. Beverley Joubert
Beverley Joubert is the world’s leading wildlife photographer in the limelight everywhere. With her husband Dereck Joubert, together she is a relentless advocate for the protection of wildlife. Her lens immortalizes Africa’s majestic cats with mastery. The lion kings and phantom leopards leap off the wall, a testament to her prowess.
Her photographs are more than stunning images. They expose the harsh realities that magnificent animals face in the wild, revealing these struggles in every frame. Her lens blends art and wildlife expertise. It captures both their beauty and their challenges.
Beverley Joubert’s photography reveals her subjects’ true nature. With her husband, she makes acclaimed wildlife films like “The Last Lions” and “Eye of the Leopard” that inspire and educate.
12. Jon Cornforth
Wilderness photographer Jon Cornforth has achieved prominence in the field and received numerous awards. He has captured a lot of different subjects throughout his lifetime. It represents his appreciation of nature and his skill in beautifully filming it.
Cornforth is diverse in his approach to angling and underwater photography. Furthermore, he captures alluring pictures from both above and below the surface. Cornforth is known for his ability to describe places and living creatures in his photographs.
The photographs demonstrate the imbalance between man and nature and the need to preserve our natural environment. They not only depict beauty but also amazing educational and advocacy materials.
13. Suzi Eszterhas
Suzi Eszterhas is known for capturing stunning images of animal families in their natural habitat. She is recognized for the close-up details of animal behavior. Her work highlights the close moments of animal behavior.
Eszterhas shows animal families as tender, playful, and tough. Her photos feature various species and habitats. Each image reveals something about its subjects. They provide insights into their lives and highlight the common family bonds found in the animal kingdom.
Suggested Article– Essential Wildlife Photography Gear.
To Conclude
Photography has the capability of gently reminding the audience, evoking deep feelings of empathy towards wildlife. For the prominent wildlife photographers we learned about, it is much deeper than just pieces of art – it is a call to action. Every captured frame serves as a vital instrument to motivate viewers toward proactive stewardship.
Let such marvelous images do more than grab attention. Besides, let them evoke profound feelings like curiosity, admiration, hope, and urge us to take a stand. Only then will we come to realize that wild places can be saved if we change our views?
