The Do's and Don'ts to Keep in Mind

Don’t bring your kids (unless you want to spend all day getting photos of your children). Should you should bring your children, then bring your spouse to watch over them whilst you do your thing. As a parent, you'll want your children to have fun, and will want to spend time with them… consider them to the zoo Prior to you go back and shoot it your self, which will give you a opportunity to familiarize yourself with the layout.

Don’t go on a Saturday or Sunday, on a school holiday. Way too numerous individuals and as well numerous distractions.

Don’t go when it's raining. You've to worry about your gear obtaining wet, and the animals will look downtrodden when wet.

Do not consider taking your camera bag filled with all kinds of gear. Plan your shoot, and take only what you'll need. I suggest 2 bodies (if you have them), a single with a wide angle zoom and one having a tele-zoom. Consider an external flash. Unless you're planning on shooting macro, that’s all you need. I usually sling a D40 with an 18-55 VR on one shoulder (or a Kodak Z712IS point and shoot, depending on what I'm performing) and a D300 with either a 70-200 VR or even a 55-200 VR (depending on the zoo and circumstances). I carry an SB-600 in my pocket, two circular polarizers and that’s the entire kit I use. No camera bag. My wife carries a D80 with and 18-200 VR and nothing else.

Don’t consider a tripod. You do not require one, you'll just get in everybody’s way and there’s a decent opportunity some kid will knock your equipment over when tripping on it. I have seen a Mk 5 Canon with a 70-200 f/2.8L knocked more than and smashed whilst on the tripod by an excited 6 year old who was climbing as much as see the bears. An ugly scene ensued. A tripod will NOT assist you get significantly better pictures of zoo animals when utilizing equipment that's appropriate to be dragging around a zoo anyways. Should you simply can’t handhold your lens, take a gorilla pod or even a monopod… or even a beanbag. keep in mind that there's Always some thing to brace your lens on at a zoo.

Don’t use a flash when the zoo posts a "no flashes" sign, especially in "creatures of the night" exhibits and in certain aquarium areas (some fish are very sensitive to it). If the zoo doesn’t want you to use a flash, they will tell you (generally having a BUNCH of signs). If you are inside a no-flash zone, take your flash off your camera if you are utilizing an external flash. Animals who hate flashes are smart enough (well, OK, the fish aren’t) to know what one looks like and even the sight of the flash might agitate them.

DOS

Do learn how to properly hold your camera so you do not need a tripod at all, and can limit the use of a monopod or gorilla pod. I'm a photojournalist by training, and by mastering proper handholding techniques, you are able to truly set your self as much as be an elite "walk around" photographer. Keep in mind, this isn’t wildlife shooting in a remote environment… it's getting pictures in a fluid, often crowded situation where you're going to get bumped and jostled.

Do learn about animals. The a lot more you know about a specific type of animal, the better your chance of getting a great picture of it.