If you had told me in 2021 that I would become a professional sports and wildlife photographer, I probably would have laughed.
Because photography started for me by mistake.
In 2022, I bought a DSLR camera as a gift for my wife. She had always wanted one. After some research, I narrowed it down to the Nikon D3500 because it was user-friendly and budget-friendly. At that point, budget was a real constraint for me, so I needed something practical.
The kit came with:
18–55mm lens
70–300mm lens (which I believed would be great for wildlife)
I did quite a bit of research before buying it. I checked reviews, watched YouTube videos, compared brands. I didn’t want to buy something blindly.
Ironically, my wife used it only a couple of times. But I got addicted.
And that’s how my photography journey actually began.
My first proper photography outing was to the Delhi Zoo.
I have always loved animals, so wildlife photography naturally attracted me. I relied completely on autofocus. No manual mode. No advanced tricks.
But when I came home and saw the pictures on my laptop, I was genuinely impressed.
The sharpness.
The details.
The ability to freeze a moment.
That’s when I felt — maybe I should take this seriously.
Soon after Delhi Zoo, I planned a trip to Ranthambore National Park.
And I was lucky.
Bumper tiger sightings. That trip boosted my confidence and it showed me how much I didn’t know.
Different lighting conditions, fast movements, shadows inside bushes — I realized that pressing the shutter is easy. Understanding light is not.
Let me simplify it for you.
Don’t overthink it.
Yes, research is important.
Yes, understand your budget.
Yes, understand what genre you want to explore.
But at some point — you have to start.
Today, mirrorless cameras are more advanced and are clearly the future. But that doesn’t mean you must start with the most expensive gear.
Start small.
An entry-level or mid-level crop body camera is more than enough to begin. Learn it fully. Use it to its maximum potential.
When you upgrade, your reason must be specific.
Not:
“Sony colors are amazing.”
“Everyone is buying Canon.”
“Mirrorless is trending.”
Instead:
Do I need better low light performance?
Do I need faster autofocus for sports?
Do I need a higher frame rate for action?
Your reasoning should match your use case and these quetions can coorectly be answered anl when you know your camera inside out
Also remember — your gear defines your ecosystem. Stick to one brand. Whether it’s Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm — stay consistent so that lenses and bodies remain compatible.
When I started, I relied heavily on autofocus and auto settings. And that’s okay.
Spend time on auto mode. Understand:
How the camera focuses
How it exposes
Then slowly move to:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
For the first 2–3 years, I used Aperture Priority extensively. It’s one of the most versatile modes, especially for wildlife and sports.
Manual mode should not be your starting point.
Even when I moved to manual mode on my Nikon D850, I used Manual + Auto ISO. That setup helped a lot in wildlife situations.
Imagine you're in a jungle. Bright open area on one side. Dark bushes on the other. An animal suddenly walks out.
If you're fully manual without flexibility, you might miss the shot.
Manual + Auto ISO adjusts ISO automatically while you control shutter and aperture. It’s extremely useful in varying light.
This is non-negotiable.
Shutter Speed
Aperture
ISO
Understand how these three work together.
Wildlife taught me composition.
Sports taught me shutter speed.
Cultural events like Theyyam taught me how important wide aperture lenses are in low light.
Conference photography taught me flash usage and professional etiquette.
Different genres sharpen different skills.
There are many free and paid courses online.
I personally purchased a course by Sudhir Shivaram to understand wildlife photography better. It helped me understand animal behavior, positioning, and technical basics.
Having mentors accelerates growth.
For wildlife, my friend Ramgeet helped me tweak settings and think differently.
For sports, especially cricket, I learned a lot by observing the work of Saikat Das.
You don’t grow alone in photography. Networking matters.
For a deeper look at how an enthusiast photographer turned a passion into a full-time career, check out this story from a fellow photographer on From Amateur to Pro Sports Photographer — it provides practical insights into developing your niche, building experience, and growing your skillset as you evolve from hobbyist to professional.
You can also read Joseph B’s personal reflection on his photography journey, where he shares the early challenges, experimentation, and mindset shifts that helped shape his path from passion to purpose.
Trial and error is your biggest teacher.
Start at home.
Photograph family.
Shoot pigeons on your balcony.
Practice on sparrows and crows.
Move to local parks, Attend local sports events, Join weekend birding groups, Network with photographers.
If you love sports photography like I do today, start with small local matches. Learn how players move. Understand peak action. Anticipation is everything.
Push yourself into different situations:
Slow action vs fast action
Bird in flight
Animal running
Silhouette photography
Backlit subjects
Early morning golden light
Harsh afternoon light
You will fail many times. But every failure builds instinct.
Photography is not about buying the best camera.
It’s about:
Understanding light
Understanding timing
Understanding your subject
I started by mistake.
I bought a camera as a gift.
It became my obsession.
It became my profession.
If you are thinking of starting — don’t wait for the perfect time.
Buy a camera within your budget.
Pick it up every chance you get.
Learn your settings deeply.
Upgrade only when you outgrow your gear.
That’s how you build real skill.
And that’s how a simple gift in 2022 turned into a full-fledged photography journey for me — from wildlife in Ranthambore to professional sports coverage today.
Start simple — buy a camera within your budget and begin shooting immediately. Stick to the brand you pick all the major brands (Nikon, Canon, Sony) are good enough - this will determine your ecosystem.
Interested in more such tips - Read through my other blogs and pages
If you’re looking for a versatile sports photographer in India who truly understands the craft and has honed his skills through years of hands-on experience, your search ends here
Jithin Thomas is a Delhi-based sports and wildlife photographer with over five years of field experience. He has been an accredited photographer for the World Para Athletics Championship (2025) and the W35 Women’s International Tennis Tournament (2025). As the official photographer for the Harish Sharma 3x3 Basketball Tournament, he specializes in capturing decisive sporting moments under real-time pressure, delivering editorial-quality imagery with same-day turnaround capability