Simon d’Entremont is a Canadian nature photographer whose journey began as a simple hobby in his backyard, evolving into a global platform where he teaches and inspires thousands of photographers worldwide. Based in Nova Scotia, Canada, Simon has quickly gained recognition as a respected wildlife and nature photographer, and more importantly, as one of the most accessible and effective photography educators in the digital age.
What sets Simon apart isn’t just his breathtaking imagery of wildlife and landscapes, it’s his genuine commitment to lifting others up. His personal motto, “I know you can do it!”, reflects his mission to elevate the knowledge, skills, and spirits of people around him, making professional photography feel attainable rather than intimidating.
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Building a Thriving Educational Platform
Simon’s YouTube channel has grown to over 654,000 subscribers with approximately 38 million views, establishing him as a leading voice in photography education. After taking over one million photos throughout his career, Simon built one of the fastest-growing wildlife photography YouTube channels, transforming his decade of trial-and-error experience into structured, accessible lessons for photographers at every level.
With an average of 16 minutes per video, Simon’s content offers in-depth tutorials and practical advice delivered with a positive and encouraging approach. His channel isn’t about quick tips or surface-level advice, it’s about comprehensive education that addresses real challenges photographers face in the field.
The Simon d’Entremont Teaching Methodology
What makes Simon’s content particularly valuable is his practical, no-nonsense approach to education. He teaches photographers the exact camera settings, lighting techniques, and field strategies he uses to capture consistently sharp, professional-quality images, helping them skip years of wasted trial and error.
His educational philosophy centers on several key principles:
1. Democratizing Professional Knowledge Simon emphasizes that photographers don’t need expensive gear to create amazing photos, though he acknowledges it helps. His famous statement “ISO 12,800 is fine” challenges the gear-obsessed culture in photography, encouraging photographers to focus on technique and vision rather than equipment limitations.
2. Story-Driven Photography Simon teaches photographers to go beyond simple snapshots by creating images that carry emotion, context, and meaning, pictures that genuinely connect with viewers. This emphasis on narrative transforms technical skill into artistic expression.
3. Anticipation Over Reaction Through his teaching, photographers learn to anticipate when special moments are about to unfold, training their eyes to recognize light, composition, and animal behavior before the decisive moment happens. This predictive approach is what separates amateur snapshots from professional imagery.
4. Practical Application Each educational module provides skills photographers can immediately apply the next time they pick up their camera, with no fluff or unnecessary jargon. This action-first approach ensures that learning translates directly into improved results in the field.
Why Simon’s Content Works
Simon’s teaching resonates because he openly shares his own journey of struggle and growth. He admits that when he started wildlife photography, his first photos were downright awful, and he spent hours shooting thousands of images only to come home with almost no keepers. This vulnerability creates an immediate connection with aspiring photographers who face similar frustrations.
Beyond photography, Simon is a passionate educator who uses his platform to share knowledge and experience with aspiring photographers through accessible and inspiring videos and tutorials. His content covers everything from technical camera settings to ethical considerations in wildlife photography, providing a well-rounded education that addresses both the art and responsibility of the craft.
Recognition and Achievements
Simon’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. He serves as a Canon Ambassador and represents KASE Filters and HAUKLAND Jacket as an ambassador, recognition reserved for photographers who demonstrate exceptional skill and influence in their field.
He is an award-winning photographer whose work has been recognized in prestigious competitions worldwide, with these accolades highlighting not only his technical prowess but also the emotional and environmental significance of his images.
Conservation Through the Lens
Simon’s work extends beyond technical education into meaningful conservation advocacy. Through his photography, he aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats and protecting endangered species, with his images often telling stories of survival, resilience, and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
His photographs reflect a deep commitment to conservation, urging viewers to appreciate and protect the natural world while demonstrating profound respect for the creatures he captures. This conservation-minded approach gives his educational content deeper purpose, teaching photographers not just how to capture wildlife, but why it matters.
The Unique Edge: Accessibility Meets Excellence
Simon’s unique position in the photography education landscape stems from his ability to bridge professional excellence with genuine accessibility. Unlike many educators who maintain distance through complexity or exclusivity, Simon breaks down barriers in several ways:
Transparent Sharing: He shares secrets that are rarely disclosed by other professionals, demystifying techniques that might otherwise remain hidden within exclusive circles.
Community Building: His courses include private online communities where photographers can share work, receive feedback, and stay inspired, with Simon regularly participating to offer direct help.
Real-World Application: Behind-the-scenes content shows Simon’s decision-making process in real-time, revealing how professional photographers think on location.
Encouragement Over Gatekeeping: While many professional photographers guard their techniques, Simon actively works to make photography more accessible, believing that elevating others doesn’t diminish his own success.
The Industry Context: Why This Teaching Matters
Simon’s educational work comes at a crucial time for the photography industry. The field he teaches wildlife and nature photography is experiencing significant growth and offers strong future prospects:
Market Growth and Opportunity
The Wildlife Photography Cameras Market was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2.5 billion by 2033, registering a 9.2% compound annual growth rate. This substantial growth reflects increasing global interest in nature documentation and conservation.
The broader wildlife photography camera market is expected to grow by USD 896.02 million at a compound annual growth rate of 7.99% by 2030, indicating sustained demand for equipment and, by extension, education on how to use it effectively.
Photography Services Expansion
The global photographic services market was estimated at USD 35.78 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach approximately USD 64.68 billion by 2034, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.10%. This growth demonstrates that photography isn’t just a hobby it’s a thriving professional industry.
Wildlife photography specifically is recognized as a growing sub-category within photography services, with increasing demand across commercial and consumer segments.
Rising Engagement and Interest
Nature and wildlife photography saw a 25% increase in social media engagement from 2020 to 2023, indicating growing public interest in this genre. This engagement creates opportunities for both professional photographers and educators who can teach these skills.
The employment growth rate for photographers from 2022 to 2032 is projected at 10%, faster than average for all occupations, suggesting that photography education leads to viable career paths, not just hobbies.
Conservation and Eco-Tourism Connection
The growing trend of eco-tourism and environmental awareness is fueling demand for wildlife photography, as photographers seek to document and raise awareness about endangered species and biodiversity. This connection between photography and conservation amplifies the importance of Simon’s educational mission.
Technological Advancement
Advancements in camera technology now provide wildlife photographers with highly specialized tools including high-resolution sensors, enhanced zoom capabilities, and weather-resistant designs. However, technology alone doesn’t create great photographers education does. This is where Simon’s teaching becomes invaluable, helping photographers maximize their equipment’s potential.
Specialization Trends
Wildlife photography showed a particularly pronounced increase in physical product sales, with 48% of wildlife photographers reporting selling more physical products in 2023 than in the previous year, indicating that this specialty offers real monetization opportunities for skilled practitioners.
The Value Proposition
Simon’s content delivers genuine value because it addresses the core frustration every photographer faces: the gap between vision and execution. By following workflows built from experience photographing over a million animals, photographers can avoid years of wasted time.
His students aren’t just learning technical skills they’re gaining the confidence to pursue photography professionally. Student testimonials reveal that people with no artistic background developed not only technical skills but also an eye for compelling compositions.
Looking Forward
As the photography industry continues evolving, educators like Simon d’Entremont play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of visual storytellers. With 75% of photographers believing that video content will play a bigger role in photography in the next five years, Simon’s already established video platform positions him perfectly to guide photographers through industry changes.
What started as a fun hobby has grown into a community of over half a million people enjoying access to tons of free videos explaining everything Simon has learned throughout the years. This community-first approach, combined with professional excellence, creates an educational ecosystem where photographers genuinely improve.
Conclusion
Simon d’Entremont represents a new breed of photography educator one who combines professional achievement with authentic accessibility. His impact extends beyond individual photographers to influence wildlife conservation awareness and the broader photography industry.
In a field that can feel exclusive and intimidating, Simon opens doors. He proves that with proper guidance, dedication, and the right mindset, anyone can develop the skills to capture stunning wildlife images. More importantly, he shows that success in photography isn’t about hoarding knowledge, it’s about elevating everyone around you.
As the wildlife photography industry continues its impressive growth trajectory, the demand for quality education will only increase. Simon d’Entremont stands at the forefront of this educational movement, transforming not just how people photograph nature, but why it matters. His unique edge isn’t complicated it’s simply the powerful combination of world-class skill and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
For aspiring wildlife photographers wondering if they “have what it takes,” Simon’s answer is clear and consistent: “I know you can do it!”
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