The face behind the frame
Rachel Bigsby is considered to be a leading wildlife photographer amongst her contemporaries as a
Nikon Creator, winner of 'Natural Artistry' in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, portfolio winner in Bird Photographer of the Year, and through her publications with the prestigious National Geographic Society.
Aged just 27, it is Rachel's mission to connect a global audience to the species and stories that captivate her heart using her self-taught skills alongside her uniquely creative approach to traditional wildlife photography.
‘Rachel’s uniquely creative approach to wildlife photography held us captive from the moment we were first introduced to it. Her technical mastery of exposure and focus empower some truly beautiful compositions, the likes of which are rarely seen from someone so early in their career. She also has an innate and powerful ability to convey the obvious passion she has for her work when she speaks. Beyond her articulate, relatable explanation of her creative process, it is her sensitivity and feeling for her subjects that comes through so clearly in her words. She is a joy to listen to, and an inspiration to many'
- Nikon Europe
Rachel communicates her adoration for her art and the natural world both behind and in front of the lens.
She is a contributing photographer for the RSPB and the National Trust and a proud ambassador for brands and charities including Badger Trust, Nikon, Shimoda, Benro, Fotospeed and more.
As an emerging natural history broadcaster, Rachel has television credits for BBC's Springwatch, The One Show and upcoming work with Sky, primarily using YouTube as her main broadcasting platform.
She often headlines as a guest speaker at a variety of international events including The Photography Show, Global Bird Fair, The National Outdoor Expo and at prestigious venues including The Natural History Museum and National Museum of Scotland.
As a workshop leader, Rachel deeply enjoys introducing likeminded creatives to her most beloved species and locations whilst supporting them in refining their skillset.
In addition to her career as a wildlife photographer, Rachel has also filmed long lens wildlife for BBC Earth, Springwatch, The One Show and Countryfile, most recently assisting Simon King for 'Wild Isles', a blue chip documentary narrated by Sir David Attenborough.
​
Rachel feels passionately about representing and inspiring young people. Over the coming years, she is dedicated to demystify her career choice and host free workshops for those unable to access photographic equipment and opportunities, enabling them to create a portfolio to establish their skills.
Discover where it all began... Rachel’s passion for wildlife was instilled by her late grandfather, a keen naturalist. Together they would birdwatch at their local coastal reserve but when he passed, Rachel followed in his footsteps and continued her ornithological exploration through his very binoculars. A deep-rooted love of the sea followed Rachel into adulthood and by her mid-teens, she was dabbling in the art of seascape photography as a way of capturing the emotions she felt for the natural world. Whilst admiring a coastal sunset, an unfamiliar bird caught her eye. The bird was a Northern Fulmar, the Albatross of the North. Given Rachel’s life-long interest in all things oceanic, it is no wonder that from this day on, her lens turned only to that bird and its pelagic cousins. Unlike many, Rachel did not attend college or university to learn the art of photography and filmmaking. Her skills are self-taught and developed with practical experience and trial and error.  A process she very much follows to this day to discover her creative capabilities. In 2019, her dedication was first rewarded when Rachel was approached by BBC Earth to film and present wildlife for an online series. This opportunity was an important stepping stone for Rachel and her newfound experience proved valuable throughout the next chapter of her career, opening doors to new opportunities and sponsorships. The next years became a significant chapter for Rachel, beginning with her first main television feature on BBC Springwatch, and ending as a Nikon Creator, the Winner of 'Natural Artistry' in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the portfolio winner in Bird Photographer of the Year and published in National Geographic for her work documenting the avian influenza outbreak in seabirds of 2022. During this chapter, Rachel had focussed on developing her relationship with photography across the United Kingdom, and introduced herself within the industry both in front of and behind the lens. She was chosen to photograph badgers for Sir David Attenborough's 'Wild Isles' series alongside Simon King, and appeared on screen several times, most notably on BBC's The One Show. Rachel also continued her volunteer work on Skomer Island and RSPB Bempton Cliffs to broaden her understanding of seabird ecology and behaviour to further improve her photography!
Get to know
Rachel better
Delve into Rachel's 'wild life' and discover how she photographs it in the videos below.
Crowned as the Winner of 'Natural Artistry' in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, Rachel shares exactly how she won her award, the story behind her winning image, the competition process and behind-the-scenes.
Welcome to the ultimate bird photography adventure in Shetland and the best place in the UK for capturing images of seabirds in their natural habitat, in Rachel's opinion. In this video, Rachel will take you on a journey to some of Shetland’s most breathtaking locations, where she photographs a variety of seabirds including puffins, gannets, and storm petrels on her sell-out wildlife photography workshop.
Rachel Bigsby joins Nikon School's Neil Freeman to walkthrough using autocapture for wildlife, the latest feature to be added to the Z 9 in firmware version 4.00. In this video, they explore different ways to photograph the elusive badger, using autocapture to help create a truly unique image.
In this beginners guide to seabird photography, Rachel joins pro landscape photographer, Nigel Danson, at one of the UK's most spectacular seabird colonies.
Rachel Bigsby joins Grays of Westminster in a passionate and honest discussion about her career and journey as a wildlife photographer.
Crowned the Winner of Natural Artistry in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, in this video, hear Rachel's emotional acceptance speech and support from Chris Packham.
Rachel Bigsby joins Nikon Europe for a special edition of Nikon Sessions in which she shares her thoughts on the new Nikon Z6 III and wildlife photography, bought to you from South Africa.
Discover Rachel's 'Human Prompt' story on assignment for Nikon Europe in South Africa, working with her beloved Cape Gannets.
Join Rachel Bigsby in Cape Town on assignment for Nikon Europe to put the brand new Nikon Z6 III to the ultimate test with Cape Gannets and African Penguins.
In this film, Rachel reveals everything you need to know about badgers and how to successfully photograph them.
Join Rachel Bigsby on an epic adventure to Svalbard, where she puts Nikon's flagship Z9 camera to the ultimate test with Polar Bears.