Wildlife Photo Chat — Episode 252

Guest: Richard Campion
Host: Ray Hennessy
Date: March 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this rich, candid episode, longtime friends and professional wildlife photographers Ray Hennessy and Richard “Rich” Campion dive into the creative and practical realities of building a life around wildlife photography. Five years after his first appearance, Rich returns to reflect on his transition to full-time photography, the challenge of maintaining passion amidst routine, the evolving demands of clients and social media, and why the experience behind the images often outweighs the photos themselves.

Major Themes and Insights

1. Five Years of Growth and Creative Evolution

• Transition to Full-Time Photography

  • Rich recalls leaving his job in finance, buying a campground, and starting with just a few one-on-one workshops.
  • (01:48, Rich) “I left my job in finance in October, bought a campground... It wasn't until about the February March where I started doing my first one on one workshops… I was kind of like, I’m just going to run with it, see how this goes.”

• The Highs and Lows of Being Self-Employed

  • Both discuss the up-and-down nature of freelance creative work and how comparing “where you are” to “where you were” can be both motivating and comforting.
  • (00:37, Rich) “Sometimes you just focus so much on how far you want to get that you forget to look at how far you’ve come.”

2. Rekindling Joy and Avoiding Burnout

• Passion vs. Work

  • The frequent risk in turning passion into profession; at times, photography feels like “just work.”
  • (03:23, Ray) “A lot of what I was doing was feeling too much like work and I was starting to lose the fun… Every outing is a scouting trip… I had lost the ability to shoot for myself.”

• Breaking the Rut

  • Strategies: switch up gear/technique, change subjects/locations, or intentionally step back to return with fresh eyes.
  • (06:17, Rich) “Sometimes you probably just need to either mix things up, change how you’re shooting that subject or just step away from it for a bit.”

• The Importance of Hobbies Outside Photography

  • Ray discusses mountain biking as essential for balance and keeping things fresh.
  • (09:29, Ray) “I can’t do this every day. I just can’t...if I do, I just get tired of it and I need something else mixed in there.”

3. Working with Challenging Conditions & Adventure

• Physically Demanding Outings

  • Rich describes photographing ptarmigan in harsh, freezing mountains and the satisfaction it brings—even when it means missing a shot because of frozen gear.
  • (12:16, Rich) “The light was killer, the subjects were there, and I didn’t even get my camera out of the bag. What’s going on?...Then the battery started to go low…I couldn’t open the battery door, frozen shut…by the time I did, the bird had moved out of the scene.”

• Adding Value Beyond Photos

  • Crafting trips as full experiences: good food, company, adventure—especially crucial when wildlife is elusive.
  • (17:02, Rich) “If you can create a good day out, the photography almost becomes...not the least important bit, but it’s about the whole package.”

• Client Experience: Adventure as Reward

  • Both agree that the challenge and adventure of getting the shot creates far more lasting memories for participants.
  • (16:15, Ray) “When you make it an adventure for them, it’s just more fun and it’s more rewarding for them.”

4. Guiding Photographers and Managing Expectations

• Balancing Clients’ Desires with Wild Nature

  • The tension between wanting clients to get the perfect shot and managing the realities of wildlife.
  • (20:58, Ray) “When it doesn’t work out, it’s just so hard to let that go, you know. It’s just so hard to be like, oh yeah, it’s wildlife. I’m like, yeah, but you’re paying me a lot of money. I want this to happen.”

• Patience and Trust in Fieldcraft

  • Teaching newcomers to sit tight and trust their guide’s experience.
  • (24:07, Ray) “It’s so damn hard to just sit tight and wait versus going out and searching...It drives me mad in those moments.”

• Imposter Syndrome and Confidence

  • Both share stories of second-guessing early on and the gradual growth of confidence with experience.
  • (24:07, Rich) “You kind of think, hey, these people have booked with me—did they think I was someone else?”

• The Value of Recce (Scouting) and Long-Term Approach

  • Rich emphasizes joy in finding new locations and putting in the time (rather than just seeking instant results).
  • (26:35, Rich) “One of the things I enjoy most actually about wildlife photography is just wrecking locations.”

5. The Social Media Conundrum

• AI, Editing, and Authenticity

  • Both discuss the rise of AI, over-editing, and how this affects expectations, especially among newer photographers.

  • (29:00, Rich) “People are just wanting instant gratification…It’s a pity.”

  • Ray explains why he shares RAW files: to show authenticity and transparency in an age of deep editing and AI skepticism.

  • (33:02, Ray) “There was two parts of me sharing that RAW file… Number one is to show…you can do most of this in camera... And the other part of it was...a wonderful way to show I’m not using any of that. This is real.”

• Liberation from Social Pressures

  • Both feel it’s freeing to shoot for themselves and share work selectively.
  • (38:18, Rich) “It’s been so liberating just posting what I want, posting what I want... No more posting for likes.”

6. Diving Deep with Favorite Subjects

• Repeat Work with the Same Species

  • Rich’s ongoing obsession: the dipper. He’s continually seeking new compositions, perspectives, and behaviors, despite a decade with this bird.

  • (46:55, Rich) “It’s still the dipper… There’s just so much more I could do with this bird. And I just need…”

  • Aspirations: better environmental images, behavior, split-frame water scenes, and perfecting compositions affected by river conditions.

  • (49:50, Rich) “If I had more water, it’s going to give me faster water behind...And it also means that I can clean this foreground up...So those were two of the main things.”

  • The never-ending search for “the shot”:

  • (50:02, Ray) “Anybody, any photographer, would be so proud to have that. And you’re like, yeah, not good enough. I got some other ideas, I can improve on it…”

• Stories and Wildlife Drama

  • Rich describes extraordinary wildlife moments, like a dipper nest being attacked by a stoat and the emotional rollercoaster he felt watching nature’s dramas play out.
  • (52:19–55:33) Notable, heartstring-pulling story of heartbreak (his, not the bird’s) when a male dipper instantly replaces a lost mate:
  • (53:53, Rich) “The guy hadn’t even waited 12 hours before he brought in a new female… So there’s me spending 12 hours heartbroken for this guy. He did not give a hoot.”

7. The Future & Evolving the Business

• New Directions and Growth

  • Expanding tours, collaborating with other photographers, and considering new, farther destinations like Norway.
  • (62:48, Rich) “Continue doing what I do, but…introducing a couple more tours, perhaps working with other photographers..."

• Building Community Off Social Media

  • Rich is creating a membership section on his website for deeper connection—regular videos, group chats, competitions.
  • (66:02, Rich) “I want to be more consistent with that, but without some of the stuff that comes with social media...So I thought this would be a great place to upload those videos regularly…but keep it to a smaller community.”

• Why Experience Matters Most

  • Prioritizing the overall journey for clients (adventure, camaraderie, teaching moments) over just “getting the shot.”
  • (69:57, Rich) “I want to have what I offer just completely dialed in…rather than just saying I could fly people off to these places…for me, just the whole experience and the getting people out in the element search of stuff is what I enjoy.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On creative ruts and returning passion:

  • “You just have to step back sometimes and go, man, we’re blessed to do what we do for a living.” (03:23, Rich)

• On authenticity and AI:

  • “There’s so much of that shortcut mentality…Who gives a shit how you took the photo? …That’s really sad. It’s a loss of craft, it’s a loss of caring.” (29:09, Ray)

• On teaching and mentorship:

  • “The feeling when you feel like you can offer value…being able to offer that to other people and see them appreciate it—it’s such a dealing.” (68:33, Rich)

• On perfect images and perpetual learning:

  • “If you think you’ve completed it…you're in the wrong game. You never want to be the smartest one in the room.” (50:28, Rich)

• Wildlife drama:

  • “He didn’t even wait 12 hours before he brought in a new female…” (53:53, Rich on the dipper post-stoat attack)

Key Timestamps

• [00:12] — Five years since Rich’s last appearance; reflecting on growth
• [03:23] — How making photography a job can dampen enjoyment
• [06:17] — The value in mixing up technique, gear, or subjects
• [09:29] — Integrating other hobbies (mountain biking) to stay motivated
• [11:16] — Harsh conditions & the adventure of wildlife shoots
• [17:33] — Evolution of workshops to full experiences/holidays
• [20:58] — The pressure of client expectations and “damage control”
• [24:07] — Patience, trust, and managing group dynamics
• [29:00–34:38] — AI and authenticity in modern wildlife photography
• [38:18] — Liberating self from the pressure to create for social media
• [46:55] — Rich’s ongoing creative pursuit with dippers
• [52:19–55:33] — Rich’s gripping stoat-and-dipper behavior story
• [62:48] — Looking to expand tours, build an exclusive online community
• [66:02] — Shifting educational and community efforts away from social platforms

Where to Follow Richard Campion

• Website: richardcampionphotography.com
• Instagram: @mywildlifeimages (occasional updates)
• Member community: Currently in development for deeper interaction and learning experiences

Closing

An inspiring, conversational look into the realities of creative life, this episode is a must-listen for wildlife photographers or any creative professional seeking longevity, balance, and authenticity in their work. Both Rich and Ray emphasize the unmatched reward of the experience—the adventure, the process, the stories—over the image alone.