Bighorn Ram on Guanella Pass, Colorado
Over the years, I’ve noticed a shift in my photographic focus. While I initially identified as a landscape photographer, I gradually gravitated towards wildlife photography. Reviewing my work, it’s clear that wildlife became a significant focus around 2012.
I deeply enjoy both landscape and wildlife photography, finding equal satisfaction in capturing the grandeur of nature and the fleeting moments of animal behavior. However, over the years, I’ve invested more time and resources into wildlife photography, finding it more challenging and exciting. Wildlife photography demands greater planning and a more proactive approach.
From a commercial perspective, my landscape photography significantly outsells my wildlife work. As a commercial photographer, I prioritize creating work that is marketable. While I appreciate the artistic merit of both, landscape photography consistently generates more sales. My top-selling images are predominantly landscapes.
This commercial success isn’t solely attributed to superior landscape photography skills. I’ve created many compelling wildlife images, but the market demand for landscapes is simply higher.
Landscape photography enjoys broader commercial appeal. It finds a wider range of applications in publications and print sales, catering to a larger and more diverse customer base. This observation aligns with the experiences of other successful commercial photographers.
I have been concentrating on doing more landscape work these past 5 years. I can’t live on past glory and to be honest, the wildlife photography is getting boring to me. I’m fortunate to live in Colorado, a state that offers unparalleled access to both landscape and wildlife photography opportunities. While I can pursue both passions, the market reality is undeniable; for me, landscape photography remains a more commercially viable pursuit.
