Most bird photography fails. Here are the secrets to fix the problem!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Question for you! What's been your biggest challenge when photographing birds? Is it lighting? Focus? Patience? I'd love to hear your experiences - share them in the comments below! Let's learn from each other and improve our shots together.

[@NatureSoundsImages]

For me...that my wife gives me permission to go out...😆

[@sinskpenduroteam8256]

I always left the camera on AF-S, and when I want to take the first photo I realize that it doesn't focus following the bird...of course, it wasn't in continuous focus....it's my typical mistake.

[@mekapiaggio]

In my case, what I always forget or what complicates things the most is the shutter speed. I insist on lowering it for fear of having very high ISOs. I have a phobia of high ISOs because of what they always say about how they produce a lot of noise in the images.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

@@NatureSoundsImages Haha! That’s a challenge I totally understand! 😆 I think many of us wildlife photographers can relate to that one. Maybe we need a ‘Photographers’ Permission Slip’ to hand out at home before heading out! Thanks for the laugh, and I hope you get out there soon to capture some great shots!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

@@sinskpenduroteam8256 Oh, I’ve definitely been there! 😅 That moment when the bird is right there, and the camera just refuses to follow because it’s still on AF-S... It’s frustrating, but also such a classic mistake! I’ve made it enough times to double-check my settings now before even leaving the car. Thanks for sharing - it's a great reminder for everyone!

[@gerrywatkins846]

Brilliant fun and enjoyable video Mario

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much! I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed the video. The goal was to keep it fun and helpful at the same time - glad it resonated with you! have a nice week !!

[@garynorton8742]

A very helpful video with great tips for bird photography. Thank you.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much Gary! 😊 I'm really glad you found the tips helpful! Bird photography can be tricky, but it's such a rewarding experience. Wishing you lots of great shots out in the field!

[@mekanicolas]

uuuuh mario thank u for sharing us your biggest secrets!!😁😁

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

You welcome Meka !! 🤗

[@sithivmuniandy8817]

Thanks for sharing 'do it right' bird photography ' with (applied) philosophy!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much! 😊 I love that you caught the mix of practical tips with a bit of philosophy - bird photography is definitely as much about mindset as it is about technique! Appreciate your thoughtful comment!

[@mekapiaggio]

Hi Mario, very good video, thank you very much, I see that winter is still here!!! Take care of yourself!!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much! 😊 Yes, winter is definitely still here - and it's making things a bit challenging, especially for filming outside! But it's also a beautiful time for wildlife photography. I'll make sure to stay warm! Take care, and happy shooting!

[@sinskpenduroteam8256]

I loved you video Mario, In the case of over-editing the photo, it is something that happens to me a lot. I have found that taking a break during editing, and then looking back at the result with fresh eyes, is a good way to do it.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hi! Thank you so much for your comment and for watching the video. I'm happy to hear you found it useful. I completely agree with you, over-editing is a common mistake, and as you rightly said, taking breaks and coming back to the photo with 'fresh eyes' helps a lot to avoid it. Thanks for the tip and for sharing it!🤗

[@NatureSoundsImages]

Amazing video Mario !!! thank you so much !!! I can tell that all that happens to me !!😁

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much! 😁 I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that it resonated with you. Trust me - you're not alone! These things happen to all of us. The important thing is that we keep learning and improving with every shot. Happy birding!

[@KajsiabUSA]

thanks for the good tips.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you Kajsiab! I'm really glad you found the tips helpful. Wishing you great success on your next bird photography adventures!

[@joesjourney9986]

What a fantastic presentation! Thank you for the time and effort you put into this. I think my biggest obstacle is rushing things. I am trying to build the habit of making a checklist when i arrive. Battery, memory card, check the focus point and mode, set a walk around shutter speed, etc. Get into the mindset of slow is smooth and smooth is fast. That and perspective. That's a big one. .

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you so much Joe for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoyed the video. And wow, your approach is spot on! Rushing is definitely a common struggle, especially when excitement kicks in. I love your idea of a pre-shoot checklist - it’s such a great way to slow down and get into the right mindset. And yes, perspective! That’s a game-changer in wildlife photography. Shifting angles, getting low, or finding unique vantage points can turn a good shot into a great one. Keep at it, and thanks again for sharing your process - really inspiring!

[@shlomoeshet8525]

Great tips, Mario. As for the biggest challenge, mine is the repeated need to switch between slow shutter speed (for stationary birds) and high shutter speed (for birds in flight). Thanks!

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Thank you Shlomo! I'm really happy you enjoyed the tips! 😊 And I totally get your challenge - switching between slow and fast shutter speeds can be tricky, especially when birds suddenly decide to take off! One trick I use is to set a custom mode on my camera with my preferred flight settings, so I can switch quickly without missing the action. Maybe it’s worth a try! 😉

[@tonyblake8841]

Hi Mario, thanks for the video. After three years I am still guilty at times of all of these sins but the one thing that still irritates me the most is chopping off the birds tale. I concentrate on getting the birds eye in the centre of the frame only to review the photos and see I have chopped off some of the tail feathers. Also brought about by zooming in too far to fill the frame with the eye in the centre of the frame. Pausing to take a breath and checking composition is the probable solution but the subject is not always obliging. For pretty stationary objects I often go to single point focus and move it off centre towards the top. Maybe you or others have a better solution. Thanks.

[@MarioKilianPhotography]

Hey Tony! So great to hear from you after so long - your comment really made my day! 😊 Ah, the classic “tail-chopping” issue… I know exactly what you mean. It’s such a frustrating one, especially when you realize it after the fact. I think your solution of using a single focus point and moving it off-center is a really smart approach, especially for more cooperative birds. One thing I’ve tried recently is to deliberately leave a bit more space around the subject than I think I need, especially when I’m in a rush. It gives me a bit more room to crop in post without losing any crucial parts of the bird (like those tail feathers!). Easier said than done when the bird is moving, right? 😅 And you're spot on - taking a moment to pause and check the composition is key, but as you said, birds rarely wait for us to do that! Thanks again for watching the video and for sharing your experience. 🦅📸 Take care, my friend!