Mastering the Art of Lion Photography in the Wild

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

Wildlife photography is one of the most popular types of photography worldwide, and one animal found on every wildlife photographer’s fantasy shot list is none other than the king of the jungle himself—the lion. If you want to realize your dream of photographing lions like a pro, this article is for you!

Below, we’ll share a handful of tips designed to help you master the art of lion photography. We’ll discuss key elements of lion photography, like studying lion pride dynamics, strategies for capturing their expressions, documenting their hunting behavior, and the best practices for photographing lions in different light conditions.

Additionally, we’ll recommend our favorite lion photography tours for those who want to explore the great plains and Serengeti with experienced local guides and photographers. Now, without further ado, it’s time to discover how to take your lion photography skills to the next level!

Check out the video above by Simon d’Entremont to learn more wildlife photography tips that will help you get stunning results while photographing lions and other animals.

Studying Lion Pride Dynamics
Strategies for Capturing Expressive Lion Photography
Documenting Hunting Behavior in Lion Photography
Photographing Lions in Different Lighting Conditions
Tap Into the Expertise of Guides for Improved Lion Photography
Recommended Photography Gear

Studying Lion Pride Dynamics

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

Unlike many other big cats, lions are social animals who usually live and travel in groups, known as prides. Lion prides consist of male and female lions (as well as cubs) and can have anywhere from three to thirty lions. Prides are a core component of a lion's life, and studying their dynamics is crucial for good lion photography.

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

If you encounter a lone lion in the wild and are patient, there’s a good chance it will lead you back to its pride. Once you’ve found the pride, you can capture amazing photos of lions socializing, lion cub photography, and possibly males and females mating. However, since a pride's territory can span hundreds of miles, there’s no guarantee you will run into large groups of lions.

Strategies for Capturing Expressive Lion Photography

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

The number one key to capturing expressive lions is patience. Just like in the rest of life, patience brings good things to lion photographers willing to wait for the perfect shot. We hate to break it to you, but you are sadly mistaken if you expect to stroll into the Serengeti and take spectacular photos immediately.

Other strategies for expressive lion face photography include making eye contact with lions, shooting young/playful lions, and looking for lions that are feeding or drinking. Moreover, some of the most memorable lion photography images we’ve seen are of lions sleeping, particularly in trees.

One super important thing to remember is that you are only an observer of lions (or any other animal). When taking photos of wild lions, please be aware that you are in their home, so you should always respect their space and never do anything that could endanger yourself or a lion.

Documenting Hunting Behavior in Lion Photography

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

If you are lucky enough to view a lion pride on hunting day, consider yourself fortunate because hunting and feeding images make epic lion photography. In lion society, the females are the primary hunters. This means that if you stumble upon a group of female lions on the move, there’s a good chance they are searching for food.

Lions like to stalk their prey, and they can spend hours waiting for the perfect time to strike to best conserve their energy. Once they’ve committed to an attack, they ambush their prey as a group, with all the lionesses chasing, biting, and clawing at the animal. Only after the kill will the males come to eat. The ideal time to see lions hunting is during the Great Migration.

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Photographing Lions in Different Lighting Conditions

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

Light can play a huge factor in lion photography. Front lighting eliminates shadows and is considered the best light for wildlife photography. That said, backlighting can lead to jaw-dropping images, especially when it shines through or illuminates the mane of a male lion.

The two best times of day for lion photography are golden hour (just before sunset) and blue hour (just after sunrise). If you have a tripod and are comfortable with long-exposure photography, you can also get excellent images at night.

Tap Into the Expertise of Guides for Improved Lion Photography

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

Lastly, have you ever considered going on a professionally-organized lion photography tour? If so, there’s no better time than today to make it happen. They’ll take you to the most beautiful destinations on the planet, help you capture once-in-a-lifetime photos of lions, and organize everything (travel, accommodation, meals, etc.) from start to finish. You can’t beat that!

One company we love is Exposure Tours. They are an experienced tour operator that has run lion photography expeditions in Africa for over 30 years. Their director of photography (Bryan Pereira) is an award-winning photographer, and their tour director (Simon Ball) has led trips in Africa for 10+ years and has a degree in zoology.

^{Photo courtesy of Exposure Tours}

If that wasn’t enough, their small-group experience and one-on-one instruction provide value other companies can’t compete with. For starters, all their tours have a maximum enrollment of six people. Second, only two people travel in each safari truck, meaning better views and a more comfortable experience for you. Third, every guest receives individual feedback on their photos from the professional guides.

Besides lions, you can photograph many other rare and elusive African animals with the help of Exposure Tours. With that in mind, here are some of their most booked trips:

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