What Do Wildlife Photographers Do on a Rainy, Stormy Day?

For wildlife photographers, a rainy, stormy day can feel like nature hitting the pause button—but that doesn’t mean the work stops. In fact, some of the most important parts of the creative process happen when the skies are gray and the gear stays dry.

First, it's a prime time for editing and culling. With a backlog of thousands of raw images, stormy weather offers the perfect excuse to revisit old shoots, discover hidden gems, and refine favorite frames into portfolio-worthy art.

Second, many use the day to scout locations digitally, planning future shoots with topographic maps, satellite imagery, and local wildlife reports. It’s also a chance to clean and check gear, update metadata, organize files, and prep for upcoming projects.

And for the creative soul, it’s ideal for concept development—thinking through compositions, textures, color treatments, or even writing blog posts, social media captions, or storylines behind the images.

In short, when nature rests, wildlife photographers recharge, reorganize, and reimagine. Because no matter the weather, the wild calls—and preparation is always part of the craft.

-Kelley Parker