Wildlife photography is a very exciting branch of photography, but it requires patience and dedication. It is very easy to become frustrated, but your efforts will be rewarded. Photographers may spend an entire day trying to get one particular shot! These tips are intended to either get you started photographing wildlife, or to inspire you to stick with it. There is a certain awe and beauty about capturing the natural world, particularly animals.

1. Be patient- this tip cannot be stressed enough. It is easy to get frustrated, but if you are willing to wait, you will be pleasantly surprised.

2. Keep your distance. A lot of times if you get too close, animals will not stick around. Whether you are in national parks, the wilderness, jungles, etc., it is crucial that you give animals space, and allow them to get close to you if they so choose (animals are highly curious).

3. Photograph wildlife in their natural habitat. Photographing exotic animals at the zoo is fun, but your photos will turn out better if you are able to capture wildlife where they actually live.

4. Experiment with different shutter speeds. If you photograph a cheetah running with a fast shutter speed, you will freeze the action. On the other hand, with a slow shutter speed, you will get a blurred effect.

5. If you are patient (this is where tip #1 comes into play), the wildlife may even compose a brilliant photo. Many times animals will create unique photo opportunities if you just observe them through the lens.

6. It will be in your best interest to purchase a zoom lens. Many times it will be hard to get close to wildlife, and a zoom lens gets you closer without putting you in danger and without disturbing the animal.

Remember to stay inspired by viewing the work of other wildlife photographers. You can search for wildlife photographers online or in photography magazines.