The New Age of Women in Wildlife Photography

The post was originally published by the Nature Photography Library written by Rylee Jensen. 

Finding Your Niche

A gray wolf trots across the steamy landscape of Yellowstone National Park. In this land of fire and ice, wolves simultaneously embrace negative temperatures in the winter and navigate geyser basins where the sleeping supervolcano below the surface breathes through the Earth’s crust. Yellowstone is not only a geothermic wonder, but one of the few intact ecosystems in the contiguous United States that can support native large carnivores like wolves.

In order to survive in a variety of complex environments and coexist with their neighbors, animals must carve out their own “niche” in space and time, which refers to the unique role species occupy in their respective ecosystems. This could mean being nocturnal while everyone else is out and about during the day, or specializing in a particular diet to avoid competition for resources. For example, mesocarnivores like bobcats, coyotes, and foxes all coexist through subtle changes in diet and habitat use: bobcats prefer brushy habitat where they can avoid detection and ambush small mammals, coyotes spend time in open meadows and often scavenge from larger carnivores, and foxes lie somewhere in the middle. In this way, these three species are able to persist and share the same space without conflict.

Photographers, too, must find our own niche in this rapidly changing modern world. Social media has changed the game when it comes to visibility, networking, finding opportunities, and boosting our careers. The field is saturated with millions of photographers on apps like Instagram and Facebook, not to mention the ever-growing prevalence of AI infiltrating artistic spaces. Wildlife photography, in particular, is a specialized sphere of visual media that comes with its own set of challenges; it can be physically demanding, mentally taxing, and expensive with gear and travel costs. It often seems like there are no images that haven’t already been captured before, or “secret gem” locations that have not already been revealed. Additionally, women in this field often encounter hurdles that highlight the unique reality we face on a regular basis compared to our male colleagues:

– Planning out travel routes and backup plans carefully when shooting solo.

 – Trying to appear agreeable and not “high maintenance” to senior colleagues who make us uncomfortable.

 – “Did you really take those photos?” being asked of us at every art market we participate in.

Standing Out From the Crowd

So how do up-and-coming female wildlife photographers stand out from the crowd?

Photographers serious about selling prints for income must become marketing gurus, video editors, social media managers, and accountants all in one. We need to simultaneously follow social media trends but also express our own style and personality through the photos we capture in order for our work to get noticed. For multifaceted artist Alyson Yates, this unspoken rule never sat well. She expressed:

Two Egyptian slit-faced bats (Nycteris thebaica) swoop under the thatched roof of a building in Kasanka National Park, Zambia, where they roost during the daylight hours.

“My photography covers a wide range of subjects and conceptual ideas, which has made it challenging for me to build a cohesive body of work on the Internet. I intend to continue working in multiple different themes and mediums, and I hope to eventually cultivate an online presence that accurately represents my photography.”

Alyson’s work centers around misunderstood species like bats, as well as abstract feminist themes and ideas. Artistic influence can be greatly enriched by the support of other photographers that serve as mentors and role models. In Alyson’s case, the vision for many of her own photos is drawn from the work of photographers like Art Wolfe, whose “impossibly vibrant colors and cinematic compositions” exposed her to the world of art and photography early on.

Another one of Alyson’s inspirations, Morgan Heim, also serves as a mentor for wildlife photographer Jessica Hadley. Jessica is a bear technician who spent the last six years working in national parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and now Grand Teton. She spends her days documenting human-wildlife interactions throughout the park, from “bear jams” to food-conditioned foxes. However, her career path did not start off on a bright note:

A food-conditioned fox begs for food on the roadway in Grand Teton National Park. Because this fox has been fed by visitors, he could be hit by a car or euthanized for aggressively seeking out handouts from people. Feeding wildlife is illegal in National Parks, but it still happens frequently despite the National Park Service’s efforts to prevent it.

“I had a bad experience in my first year of college when a photography professor told me to stop taking pictures of nature. Thankfully, I didn’t listen.”

More recently, to overcome self-doubt and lack of inspiration, Jessica says she took a step back and studied the work of other photographers like Jen Guyton, Steven Gnam, and Corey Arnold; this allowed her to focus on the bigger picture in her work moving forward.

My own career has taken many twists and turns over the years. I am formally trained as a scientist, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology & Management in 2019 and currently finishing up a Master’s degree in Biology this year. I have published research projects on killer whale behavior, carnivore interactions, seabird mortality, and—soon—about African herbivore gut microbiomes. However, when I decided to take a step toward pursuing photography as a career in 2019, I was clueless. I knew little about camera gear, manual camera techniques, or the social media game. Due to my nomadic seasonal work around the country, I also did not have a physical community to grow and learn from. Then I discovered an organization known as Girls Who Click in 2022.

Ambassadors

Girls Who Click is made up entirely of female photography ambassadors and mentors from around the world with the aim of encouraging other women to develop a lifelong passion for capturing—and striving to protect—the natural world. Alyson, Jessica, and I all joined as photography ambassadors with this organization in the past few years.

“It is easy to feel inspired when you are surrounded by supportive peers with great creative achievements,” says Alyson.

New ambassadors with the program are paired up with mentors during their first year to boost their career goals and home in on project ideas. This community has profoundly shaped my own outlook on the impact my photography can have and expanded my professional network in a way I never would have dreamed. Jessica adds that:

 

“The Girls Who Click community has fueled my confidence and inspired me to continue pursuing a photography career.”

With an inclusive community like this comes fresh, creative ideas for showcasing our work, encouragement during tough times, and confidence building with every meeting. Learning from diverse perspectives and finding commonality with other photographers rather than competition allows us to open ourselves up to endless possibilities. In this way, it is much easier to see the bigger picture when we inevitably end up with tunnel vision at times. For instance, one of my long-term goals is to delve more into the world of photojournalism and use my background in science to communicate important conservation stories to a general audience through visual media. Alyson hopes to exhibit her work at a Portland gallery where she is based, and is currently building up a new body of work centered around “feminist themes in the Internet age, with a focus on body image, sexualization, power dynamics, and domestic feminine ideals in contemporary media.” Jessica strives to combine her work with bears in the National Parks with her images on human-wildlife interactions into a final, published product, which she calls her passion project.

Conclusions

Despite the challenges that come with breaking into photography in such a hectic world, young women like us are finding our niche every day and motivating others to do the same. Finding role models and community early on can provide an enormous source of support and encouragement as we navigate the jungles of social media and discover our creative edge.

Jessica advises aspiring photographers to apply for everything and to not be afraid to contact other photographers who inspire you. Additionally, throughout my own career, I have personally strived to never lose my curiosity and to always pursue what brings me joy. There is always a story waiting to be told and, in the end, you will be amazed at how far you’ve come.

Rylee Jensen is a 27-year old biologist, guide, and wildlife photographer. Her early role models included the likes of Steve Irwin, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, and Ingrid Visser who inspired her to pursue a career in wildlife biology; she earned B.S. in Wildlife Ecology & Management from Utah State University in 2019 and is finishing up a M.S. in Biology from Northern Michigan University. Throughout this journey, she also naturally gravitated toward capturing the natural world through the lens of a camera. Rylee’s photography has earned her accolades such as the grand prize of PetaPixel’s Wild Personalities contest in 2022, an ambassadorship with Girls Who Click in 2022, and a project role with NANPA’s College Scholar Program in 2023. Her long-term ambition is to build a career in scientific communication and craft a photography portfolio centered around local wildlife conservation issues.

Meet Rylee Jensen (pictured above), a passionate photographer and ambassador for Girls Who Click—the empowering organization, founded by Suzi Eszterhas, dedicated to bridging the gender gap in nature photography for young women aged 13-30. In this guest blog, Rylee shares her insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating social media, tackling gender biases, and finding her unique niche as a photographer. Explore how mentorship and community has empowered Rylee and her peers to break barriers, pursue their passions, and shape conservation narratives through visual storytelling. Throughout the blog, Rylee has handpicked imagery from Nature Picture Library’s female photographers, spotlighting the groundbreaking work of women who are reshaping the landscape of a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Meet the 2024 Ambassadors!

We are thrilled to introduce the stunning roster of our 2024 Girls Who Click Ambassadors! Following an intensive selection process, we’ve carefully curated a collection of 16 outstanding New Ambassadors and welcomed 22 Continuing Ambassadors from a pool of over 160 fiercely competitive applicants. These adept photographers and videographers, representing diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, add a kaleidoscope of perspectives to our program.

Beyond their technical prowess and dedication to launching their professional photography careers, these creatives are also champions of conservation. We invite you to explore their captivating portfolios and follow their artistic journeys. Supporting these emerging talents not only nurtures their development but also fosters optimism for a luminous future. 

Join us in applauding these exceptional ambassadors.


  1. Alejandra Rendón, Spain
  2. Alicia Hayden, England
  3. Anna Sapp, U.S.A.
  4. Andrea Sherry, U.S.A.
  5. Beth Hotchkiss, U.S.A.
  6. Chelsea Mayer, U.S.A.
  7. Emma Balunek, U.S.A.
  8. Hallie Cowan, U.S.A.
  9. Jo Davenport, England
  10. Karabo Magakane , South Africa
  11. Katie Waddington, France
  12. Laia Soler,  Norway
  13. Lana Tannir, Germany
  14. Lea Milde, Germany
  15. Maddy Rifka Brunt, U.S.A.
  16. Mya Van Woundenberg, Canada
  17. Neo Mokoena, South Africa
  18. Nicole Holman, Canada
  19. Ningjing Wang, England
  20. Rylee Jensen, U.S.A.
  21. Sadie Hine, U.S.A.
  22. Viktoria Pezzei, Germany

A Fruitful Year Ahead

Each Ambassador has been thoughtfully matched with one of our Partner Photographers, forming a dynamic duo poised to hopefully help take their careers to new heights. These amazing individuals, the backbone of the Girls Who Click Ambassador Program, generously contributes their expertise and mentorship, for which we are profoundly grateful.

Beyond personalized guidance, Ambassadors gain access to Girls Who Click’s nature photography workshops and portfolio reviews, chances to utilize the GWC Social Media platform for their own work, and peer-to-peer connection all over the world in Ambassador-Only virtual meet-ups.

Many of our Continuing Ambassadors, some with us since 2021, will continue into leadership roles, embodying the mission of Girls Who Click.

Get Mentored by a Pro: Girls Who Click Launches the Ambassador Program

A letter from Suzi Eszterhas, GWC Founder and Executive Director

To our wonderful Girls Who Click Community,

As you may have seen on social media and on our website, in addition to offering our free online workshops, Girls Who Click is launching a totally new program this fall. This program will supercharge our ability to empower young women in nature photography

And I am SO excited to tell you about it.

The Ambassador Program is a dream come true for Girls Who Click. We have designed this program to propel diverse women into the professional arena and break the glass ceiling that has defined professional nature photography for too long. Through this new initiative, we will take a more personalized, long-term approach to supporting individual young photographers as they work towards their career goals and navigate the photography industry.

We are committed to reaching female or female-identified photographers from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and, like all of our programs, the Ambassador Program is completely free for participants.

The Ambassador Program will guide young female or female-identified photographers/videographers ages 16-25 through a year-long mentorship. We pair each Ambassador with a professional photographer who will guide her in several key areas: developing a portfolio, breaking into the industry, and cultivating a network of supportive individuals. We welcome our Ambassadors to stay with us for years to come — even after their “official” mentorship has ended — and hope that one day they will join the list of Girls Who Click’s Partner Photographers as seasoned pros. GWC is in this for the long-haul!

How do you become an Ambassador? It’s simple. Complete our online application and send us a portfolio of 40 images. We want everyone who is interested to be able to apply. You don’t need references, you don’t need anything fancy, we just want to see your photos (or videos), learn about you, and hear how this program will help you meet your career goals. And, if you have any questions or need any help, you can email us at info@girlswhoclick.org at any time.

Who are the Ambassador Program mentors? We have brought together a dedicated group of professional photographers and videographers, all women, who want to share their knowledge and skills with the next generation. Many of these women are also GWC Partner Photographers.

There’s more. In addition to being mentored by a pro photographer, Ambassadors will also get access to all Girls Who Click workshops (in person or online), a free camera bag from our sponsor ThinkTank, promotion of her work through Girls Who Click social media and website, and the opportunity to do a week-long takeover of GWC social media to highlight her photography or videography. What’s more, two lucky ambassadors will receive a complimentary year-long membership to our sponsor Wild Idea Lab.

I founded Girls Who Click in 2017 to empower girls to enter the male-dominated field of nature photography and use their work to further conservation efforts around the world. I am so moved by the diverse community that has built up around Girls Who Click. Without these amazing professionals, volunteers, donors, and of course our wonderful participants and families, the Ambassador Program would not have been possible. Thank you.

Here’s to the next generation of talented and strong women in nature photography!

With gratitude and excitement,

Suzi Eszterhas,
Founder and Executive Director, Girls Who Click

Girls Who Click featured in Four Seasons Magazine!

GWC founder Suzi Eszterhas (Suzi Eszterhas Wildlife Photography) wrote “[The article is] about women in wildlife photography and why I founded Girls Who Click. With the current situation across the globe, it is doubtful that anyone will be in their hotels to read it. But I am still so pleased that this kind of magazine would be interested in the issue enough to ask me to write about it. That means that our awareness campaigns are making a difference, and though we have had to cancel recent workshops, I remain so hopeful and proud of this little organization and what we will continue to accomplish.”

You can read the piece online at Four Seasons Magazine’s website! 

Workshop Participant’s Photo Published in New Jersey Monthly Magazine!

Annabel with her winning photograph!

GWC workshop participant Annabel Weiman was surprised when she found out that her photograph was runner-up in New Jersey Monthly magazine’s cover photography contest.

We are very proud of Annabel and encourage all of our participants and followers to enter photographs into local and national contests: you never know what the results might be!

Annabel was a participant in our August workshop in New Jersey. The workshop was taught by Ashleigh Scully and Denise Ippolito. It took place at The Raptor Trust, a wild bird rehabilitation center in Morris County, New Jersey. Workshop participants were allowed to learn about these amazing creatures and photograph them outside of their enclosures. This was a rare treat for our participants: it is not often that we get to see these birds at a close distance. These birds can be dangerous and we were lucky to have Raptor Trust staff present to work with the wild birds. The Raptor Trust captured some great photos from all participants.

Annabel is a sophomore in high school. She’s loved photography since 8th grade because she’s “able to find unique things and capture them.”  Her mother encouraged her to develop her skills and Annabel eventually invested in a nicer digital camera.

The GWC New Jersey workshop! Photo courtesy of Denise Ippolito and The Raptor Trust.

Annabel uses a digital SLR and zoom lens. Her winning photograph was taken when Raptor Trust handlers took out the Kestrel falcon from its enclosure. The striking aspect of Annabel’s photo is she was able to remove the background through zooming in on the subject while also capturing the falcon’s direct gaze. Capturing an animal’s direct gaze helps the viewer relate to the animal and creates a personal connection — one that can develop into a deep appreciation of nature, even at a young age! Conservation photographers depend on building these relationships between subject and viewer in order to create awareness about conservation.

We got the chance to ask Annabel a few questions after she won big!

What was your favorite moment during the workshop?  My favorite moment in the GWC workshop was taking photos of the barred owl.  When I used my zoom lens and looked at it, I got really excited because I knew the pictures would come out good.  One of them was actually used in a Raptor Trust Facebook post!

Did Denise and Ashleigh teach you anything in particular that helped you improve your photography?  Denise and Ashleigh were great teachers; they were nice and they let us work independently yet they were there for us when we needed some advice.   Advice they gave me that made my photography more appealing was using the “rule of thirds” guideline in making our compositions. 

What did you learn about raptors and conservation at the Raptor Trust?  The Raptor Trust is a great place for injured birds of prey.  They try to cure them so they can be released back into the wild. 

Check out Denise Ippolito’s blog post about Annabel!

Suzi Eszterhas on the WilderKids Podcast

Wilderkids Podcast with Suzi

You don’t wake up one morning and decide to become a nature photographer. It starts with a passion – often stemming from childhood. And it includes years of practice, failed attempts to make beautiful photographs, and lots of frustration. But with persistence can come triumph, as it did for Suzi Eszterhas, founder of Girls Who Click. In this podcast, hosted by Wilderkids, we learn about Suzi’s journey and what inspired her to start Girls Who Click.

Ashleigh Scully

Ashleigh Scully – GWC Spokeswoman

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Ashleigh Scully has joined Girls Who Click as our spokeswoman. There is nobody better suited for this role of inspiring teens to join the male-dominated field of nature photography!  As a teen herself, Ashleigh is passionate about both nature photography and conservation.  You would never guess that she is only a high school sophomore – her work is sophisticated and demonstrates a keen eye for composure. She has mastered the art of telling stories through her beautiful photographs, many of which she captures near her home and on her travels. True to the Girls Who Click mission, she not only composes beautiful images, but she uses her work to educate others about conservation topics and wildlife preservation.

Ashleigh Scully Fox Photos

Ashleigh’s honors include the 2017 Nature’s Best Windland Smith Rice Youth Photographer of the Year and the 11-14 year old winner in London’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. She has been published in National Geographic Kids, Shutterbug, Outdoor Photographer and Amateur Photographer magazines. In 2017, Ashleigh was chosen by Adobe as one of the top young photographers in the world and selected for their “Adobe Rising Stars” campaign. In 2015, Ashleigh was one of five talented teenage girls selected for Ellen DeGeneres’ “GirlPower” campaign for The GAP. Her images have been exhibited in London’s Natural History Museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. and in other top galleries and museums in more than 70 countries. Ashleigh is on the advisory council for Wyoming Untrapped and is an active contributing writer, photographer and youth workshop co-leader for The Canid Project.

Girls Who Click nature photography workshop for teen girls

Nature Photography – Where Are the Women?

It’s an undisputed fact; there are fewer women in the arena of nature photography than there are men. But why? Do men bring something special to the arena? Or is it simply a stereotype that this is a man’s profession? There doesn’t appear to be a clear reason for the disparity between the numbers of men and women in this profession.