Main Facts
The journey from a passionate amateur holding a newly purchased digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera to becoming an internationally recognized, full-time professional wildlife photographer requires patience, resilience, and an unwavering connection to the natural world. In a recent installment of Nature TTL’s “From Amateur to Professional” interview series, South African-born and UK-based wildlife photographer Victor Soares reflected on a remarkable two-decade evolution.
Once balancing a demanding career as an engineer with his artistic ambitions, Soares officially transitioned into professional wildlife photography in 2024. Today, his portfolio includes widespread publication credits, accolades in prestigious international competitions—including reaching the final round of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards—and a thriving career leading specialized photographic tours across Europe and Africa. His story serves as a masterclass in perseverance, technical mastery, and the profound art of animal storytelling.
Chronology: A 20-Year Evolution in the Field
The Spark (2004–2006)
Soares’s romance with photography began almost by accident. Growing up in South Africa, he was constantly surrounded by nature, using binoculars to observe the country’s rich avian diversity as an escape from a complex world. In 2004, drawn to the burgeoning wave of digital technology, he purchased his first DSLR—a Canon 300D—primarily to record holiday memories.
A routine visit to a local photo lab in Kruger Park sparked a life-altering mentorship. When Soares admired a striking print of a Cattle Egret displayed by the lab owner, Johan Combrink, the veteran photographer invited Soares to bring his camera back the next day. Combrink provided invaluable, pro-bono guidance on camera techniques, lighting, and post-processing, serving as both a technical instructor and an emotional anchor during Soares’s early struggles.
Early Milestones and the 2012 Breakthrough
By 2007, equipped with a Canon Rebel XT gifted by a friend, Soares captured his first image that he truly valued: a focused, well-lit shot of a Steenbok. Although constrained by the technological limitations of early digital sensors—avoiding ISO settings above 400 to prevent digital noise—his enthusiasm continued to compound.
The defining validation of his artistic potential arrived in 2012. Out of more than 48,000 global entries, one of Soares’s images reached the final round of the Natural History Museum’s prestigious photography awards (then known as the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition). Though the image did not progress to the gallery exhibition, the notification email provided the psychological turning point that convinced him he possessed professional-grade talent.
The Professional Transition (2023–2024)
For years, Soares maintained engineering as his primary profession, recognizing that stable corporate salaries far outpaced the volatile income of a budding wildlife photographer. However, he began dipping his toes into commercial education in 2023 by guiding small groups and teaching workshops in his spare time.
The definitive catalyst arrived in early 2024 when a corporate restructuring resulted in his engineering position being made redundant. Backed by the unwavering support of his wife, Soares seized the opportunity to turn adversity into momentum, formally launching his career as a full-time professional wildlife photographer.
Supporting Data & Technical Mastery
Soares’s transition from an amateur snapping distant, blurry subjects to a professional capturing award-winning behavioral moments is underpinned by profound technical shifts in his workflow:
- Equipment and Perspective: Soares favors low-angle photography—getting physically as close to the ground as possible—to create an intimate connection between the viewer and the subject. His weapon of choice is the classic EF 300mm f/2.8 lens, which yields phenomenal sharpness and a uniquely shallow depth of field.
- Camera Settings: Moving away from Auto-Priority (Av) modes and fixed, low-ISO safety nets of the mid-2000s, Soares now shoots almost exclusively in Manual mode. Modern camera sensors and forgiving ISO performance have freed him to prioritize shutter speed and aperture to isolate emotional expressions over mechanical perfection.
- Geographic Range: While his early formative years were steeped in African safaris—learning how to anticipate wildlife action from vehicles—his relocation to the United Kingdom introduced him to new ecosystems. He now regularly documents the seasonal UK deer rut and urban wildlife, famously capturing a red fox yawning in a Sutton park amidst autumn leaves and visible cold breath.
Official Insights: Reflections on the Craft
Reflecting on the psychological hurdles of entering a saturated artistic industry, Soares emphasizes that the biggest barrier for aspiring photographers is internal motivation.
"It’s hard to be surrounded by such impressive work from others and feel that you are simply not good enough," Soares notes. "What I have learnt is that you place these photographers on that pedestal yourself… Even if you feel you haven’t made it, the important thing is to keep going. Persevere."
Addressing the modern temptation to rely on technological crutches, Soares warns against measuring skill by hardware specifications.
"I was no different, often measuring my progress by a new camera feature rather than my ability to take photographs. If a new camera had a higher frames-per-second rate, I thought I was quicker… But that’s not true unless I already had the skills to be quick and focus accurately."
He summarizes his foundational philosophy with a single mandate for newcomers: Be patient. Whether waiting out animal behavior in the field or mastering the timeless fundamentals of light and composition over gear, enduring artistry requires time.
Implications for Aspiring Wildlife Photographers
Victor Soares’s journey from a casual holiday shooter to an established industry professional offers critical takeaways for contemporary visual artists:
- Embrace Community and Mentorship: Soares’s rapid progression in his early years was entirely dependent on the generosity of a local mentor, Johan Combrink, and his continued participation in camera clubs. Professional growth rarely happens in isolation.
- Accept Feedback as Currency: Soares actively encourages creators to "put yourself out there" and listen equally to positive and negative critiques. Criticism is framed not as a personal failure, but as essential data for artistic refinement.
- Redefine Success Beyond Commercial Safety: While financial stability initially kept Soares anchored to engineering, the forced interruption of corporate life demonstrated the value of aligning one’s livelihood with a lifelong passion. For Soares, photography is not a destination with a finished product, but an ongoing, daily education in observing the natural world.
