40-hour work week as a wildlife photographer

In the vlog this week we use the photography blind to try and capture some wildlife images during my "normal" work week. There has been some wild weather lately in the Maine midcoast that required me to move around my @tragopanphotographyblinds to multiple locations throughout the week. Be sure to subscribe to be alerted to my free photo print giveaway once we hit 1,000 subscribers!
KZbin: @liamdmcinerney
Instagram: @liamdmcinerney
TikTok: @liamdmcinerney
X (Twitter): @liamdmcinerney
The gear I use (no sponsorships, besides my bank account!):
Lenses:
Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens
Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS Lens
Sony Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens
Cameras:
Sony Alpha 7 IV
Sony Alpha a7R II
GoPro HERO10 Black
Tripods:
Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod
Robus RCM-439 4-Secton Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65”
Leofoto MPG-01 Side Saddle Tilt Head
Sirui PH-10 Carbon Fiber Gimbal Head
Leofoto LH-55 Low-Profile Ball Head with Quick Release Plate
Wimberley AP-620 Replacement Lens Foot for Sony 200-600 G OSS
Accessories:
Tragopan Grouse V+
North Mountain Gear Ghillie Suit - Camo Hunting Suit - 3D Leafy Suit
Browning Spec Ops Elite HP5 Trail Camera
ROLANPRO Waterproof Lens Cover Camouflage Rain Cover for Sony FE 200-600mm
B+W 95mm ND-Vario MRC Nano XS-pro Variable ND Filter Schneider Kreuznach
RODE Wireless GO II Compact Digital Wireless Microphone System/Recorder
RODE VideoMic NTG
Ventusky Weather App
Thule Covert 32L DSLR Camera Backpack
0:00 Introduction
1:58 Monday
8:43 Wednesday
14:21 Friday
18:12 Photo Print Giveaway

[@ChadHensiak]

Just found your channel. I am a former photojournalist currently making a living as a concert and band photographer. As a hobby, I am a novice wildlife shooter who truly enjoys being outdoors. I wish you all the best with your photography and your KZbin channel. I am happy to like and subscribe to help support you Liam. I look forward to seeing what you do next.

[@liamdmcinerney]

Hey Chad, I’ve always been envious of you concert photographers. At one point in time I thought about photo journalism and then editorial photography but landed with landscapes. Funny how we all end up with wildlife haha. I appreciate your kind words and happy to have you along for the ride. See you back here soon

[@jyotin.sengupta3712]

It’s tough to do wildlife photography while we work Monday through Friday. You can’t slice the time so thinly. We all go through this challenge. However, when you capture a good image, it’s an immense pleasure. Spotting rare birds and other life is a skill. We finally learn. Good luck.

[@liamdmcinerney]

It's all part of the fun! The reward might not feel as grand if we had all the time in the world to be out there. Thanks for stopping by!

[@davidbirminghamjr.2600]

You just showed what 90% of what wildlife photography is all about. You have to pre plan and deal with mother nature. I've been doing this for 45+ years. (Tip) Buy the longer aftermarket tent stakes for all of your blinds. The ones that come with them are a joke. Great video!

[@liamdmcinerney]

That’s a great tip, David! Ordering them now. Thanks for watching!

[@hla5955]

The drone shots are amazing! Well done

[@Mikedegot]

I will visit this Maine that you speak of.

[@Papajuanz]

Invite on the fridge let’s go

[@liamdmcinerney]

You're famous

[@Kari-Bond]

Great video. Ive just purchased the Tragopan Grouse hide. Ime pleased to see it help up in the storm.

[@aaronramos6056]

yea, this is good publicity, im considering as well xD

[@liamdmcinerney]

Held up just fine! You’ll love the blind, good luck with it

[@Uncle_Yankee]

Great video, Liam! It makes me want to get back into photography! -Sam LA

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thank you and you definitely should! Thanks for watching Sam

[@naturallyadriftphotoadvent123]

Nice video, I just ordered a trail cam in hopes of finding out what wildlife is around me besides birds and very skittish deer. You must have had that blind well staked!

[@liamdmcinerney]

Awesome, I’m sure you will be presently surprised to see some new critters! Of course we love to photograph with our normal camera setup, but the trail camera is just as exciting. Well staked indeed, phew. Good luck out there!

[@OntarioHikingTrails]

Thanks for the tips its hard to find time for photography when you have a full time job.

[@liamdmcinerney]

It's definitely difficult, but would never give it up! Thanks for watching

[@AndiusTeijgeler]

One way you might be active during working hours is camera trapping. It is difficult but can be rewarding.

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thats a great idea, thanks! Ive seen some great images (especially mountain lions) from camera traps and have always wonders what goes into that form of photography. Will definitely look into it

[@lucaamvs5951]

great video! I wish you all the best, Greetings from italy

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thank you and thanks for watching out there in Italy!

[@frodeaardal]

Nice video! Love the topic and the mood. 🙂

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by to watch!

[@frodeaardal]

@@liamdmcinerney make sure to check out mine as well! 😉😍

[@ilpoheikkila4773]

Great video! Made me subscribe.

[@liamdmcinerney]

I appreciate you joining me on the channel! See ya again soon

[@oklahomaokie]

Congratulations on topping the 1000 subs. Just did it myself a few months ago. What song did you use as your intro? Enjoyed the video!

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thank you and congrats to you as well! Just subscribed to your chanel. The song at the intro is Geva Alon - Happy Trails. Cheers!

[@oklahomaokie]

@@liamdmcinerney appreciate it

[@lewcehjitl3282]

Nice! Do you use nd filters on the 200-600?

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thanks! Yes I do. It has a very long name: B+W 95mm ND-Vario MRC Nano XS-pro Variable ND Filter Schneider Kreuznac

[@timoh.2343]

Great video, but now totally different question where is that good looking shirt from :)

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thanks! Which shirt? The flannel or the leafy camo haha

[@timoh.2343]

@@liamdmcinerney The shirt you where wearing in the introduction

[@liamdmcinerney]

@@timoh.2343 Outerknown Blanket Shirt 👍🏼

[@marvinspates924]

Nice video new subscriber!!!

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thanks, Marvin! Welcome aboard

[@labtrainer09]

Hi, Liam. Your website is down for renovation, your Twitter messaging feature is turned off, and my attempts to reach you via Instagram apparently never made it through. How do I get in touch to offer you access to the wildlife that populates my hundred acres, which is only an hour's drive from Boothbay? Would you consider posting an email address within your KZbin profile? (Lots of channel hosts do.) All the best, Chris

[@liamdmcinerney]

Hey Chris, didn’t know I was so elusive! My apologies, my email is [e-mail]…feel free to contact me there. I intermittently use Twitter and Instagram since they can drain much of my time, but email works great. Looking forward to chatting with you. Cheers!

[@Rod-Skinner]

Great video. Subscribed, liked and left a comment for the algorithm. Now that you are over a thousand subscribers, comments and likes are your new best friends :) Also what drone do you use :)

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thank you! I’m using the DJI mini 4 pro. The thing is a great addition for video making. The only con I have with it is that I’d never fly it with intense wind. But it’s lightweight and travels nicely

[@RoderickPritchardPhotography]

I love making coffee like that but unfortunately, unfiltered coffee of this sort is known to raise cholesterol levels. I now make drip with a paper type filter. Cool video btw, new sub.

[@liamdmcinerney]

Interesting, I did not know that. Well even with a filter there’s nothing better than a morning coffee. Thanks for subscribing, Roderick!

[@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842]

Get a Tactacam reveal 2.0.

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thanks for the tip Jeff. I’m in need of another but hesitant to spend another $190 givin some of the concerns with Browning. Will read up on this

[@jeffsoutdoorsadventures8842]

@@liamdmcinerney reveal is $119 cell cam. It’s a great cam and you won’t be disappointed.

[@TimsWildlife]

I tried getting my YT channel off the ground, but my job and family take up 90% of my time. YT revenue also will be too low, even for a Morten Hilmer with 500K subscribers. It's 5 to 10 dollars per 1k views, meaning a few k per month. It's not feasible for me, as I need more to support my family. Stock footage also is nearly dead. Same for workshops and selling prints.

[@liamdmcinerney]

I'm not too familiar with the stock footage market, but I'd assume the advent of AI has hurt the industry. Not to mention AI can remove watermarks. But I hear you about not making money from YT. I genuinely love making wildlife videos, specifically vlogs of my successes and challenges out in the field. I love the cinematography and of course walking home with keeper photos helps. So even if I never became monetized, I'd still make these videos. I won't be quitting my day job any time soon, haha. Appreciate your feedback and watching the video!

[@TimsWildlife]

@@liamdmcinerneyHaving fun and being inspired by nature are good reasons 🙂

[@pentagramyt417]

@@TimsWildlife because as he said he does that for fun, he is not getting money from that, and youtube is slowly dying too, there is oversaturated everything, including wildlife. Even me is going to do some youtube wildlife account soon, to try it, but man, there is too much of us to pass through the top to interest anyone today in that videos. Maybe one year ago was a time to do so, but the next year will be even harder, and the next even more etc... I'd guess there is 30% more wildlife photographers comparing to previous year.

[@nigelroberson8911]

Great video. Ive just purchased the Tragopan Grouse hide. Ime pleased to see it help up in the storm.

[@liamdmcinerney]

Thanks Nigel! You’ll love the blind, let me know how you like it. See ya back soon