Wildlife photographer Milou Schothuis (@milousphotos) has a passion for capturing the beautiful, often unnoticed moments in nature. From curious owls hiding among the trees to kingfishers diving into the water, she loves discovering the wildlife around her.
Photographer Milou Schothuis. Alpha 1 II. IV. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/160-sec. f/3.2. ISO 250.
Photographer Milou Schothuis. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec. f/2.8. ISO 200.
"My journey into wildlife photography started during a difficult time in my life. After losing my father, I found myself searching for some peace and quiet. But I've never been particularly good at sitting still, so I started taking walks in nature with my camera.
What started as a way to clear my mind slowly turned into something I never expected: a real passion for wildlife photography.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/800-sec. f/6.3. ISO 1250.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/500-sec. f/9. ISO 6400.
Being out in nature taught me to slow down, notice the little things and appreciate moments I might otherwise have walked past. From a tiny bird hiding between the branches to a deer standing in the morning light, there's something magical about capturing those moments.
Today, wildlife photography means so much more to me than just taking pictures. It's where I find peace, creativity and the excitement of never knowing what I might discover next."
Here's a closer look at the cameras, lenses and accessories Milou takes into the field.
Shop This Kit:
Camera: Alpha 7R V
Lenses: 200–600mm f/5.6-6.3 G, 400mm f/4.5 G Master, 50mm f/1.8
Camera
Alpha 7R V: This is my main camera, and I absolutely love it! The 61-megapixel sensor is a huge advantage for wildlife photography because animals aren't always close enough to fill the frame. Being able to crop my images while keeping so much detail is something I really appreciate.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/500-sec. f/6.3. ISO 2500.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/400-sec. f/6.3. ISO 6400.
I'm also a big fan of the autofocus system, especially when photographing birds and other unpredictable wildlife. It gives me the confidence to focus on the moment rather than worrying too much about my settings.
Lenses
200–600mm f/5.6-6.3 G: This is definitely my most-used lens! Whether I'm photographing kingfishers, deer, owls or squirrels, the versatility of this lens makes it one of my absolute favourites.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/640-sec. f/6.3. ISO 4000.
I love having the flexibility to zoom in and out without changing lenses. Wildlife can be unpredictable, and sometimes you only have a few seconds to capture the perfect moment. The extra reach also allows me to photograph animals from a respectful distance without disturbing them.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/800-sec. f/6.3. ISO 6400.
400mm f/4.5 G Master: I recently had the opportunity to test this lens, and I have to say, what an incredible lens! For me, a 400mm prime like this is a real must-have for wildlife photographers.
What surprised me most was how incredibly lightweight it is. Weighing just 994 grams, it's such a pleasure to carry around, especially when spending hours exploring nature. I'm genuinely so happy with how comfortable it is to use. Having a lens that combines this kind of reach with such a low weight makes a huge difference when photographing wildlife.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 400mm f/4.5 G Master OSS. 1/320-sec. f/4.5. ISO 2000.
And the image quality? Simply incredible! The sharpness, beautiful background separation and overall performance really impressed me.
Another huge advantage is combining it with my Alpha 7R V. Thanks to its high-resolution sensor, I can use APS-C crop mode to get a field of view equivalent to 600mm while still retaining plenty of detail. It's an amazing combination for wildlife photography!
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 400mm f/4.5 G Master OSS. 1/400-sec. f/4.5. ISO 2500.
50mm f/1.8: Although wildlife photography is my biggest passion, I also enjoy capturing portraits, details and everyday moments. My 50mm is perfect for those situations. I love the natural perspective and beautiful background blur it creates. It's also a nice change from carrying around a big telephoto lens!
Accessories
PGYTECH OneMo 3 Backpack: A good camera bag is essential when you're spending time outdoors. I use the PGYTECH OneMo 3 backpack to keep my equipment organised, protected and easily accessible. I love having everything neatly stored in one place, especially when I'm heading out for a full day of wildlife photography.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7 IV. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/500-sec. f/6.3. ISO 500.
Extra Batteries: You can never have enough batteries with you! There's nothing worse than running out of power just when something exciting happens. I always make sure to bring a few spares.
Extra SD Cards: Just like batteries, you can never have enough memory cards! I always make sure to carry a few extra SD cards with me. You never know what wildlife might surprise you, and the last thing you want is to run out of storage right when that perfect moment happens.
Air Blower: Another little essential is my air blower. It's such a simple accessory, but incredibly useful for removing dust from my lens when I'm out in the field.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7 IV. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS. 1/1000-sec. f/6.3. ISO 250.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 400mm f/4.5 G Master OSS. 1/400-sec. f/4.5. ISO 1250.
Ulanzi Tripod: My Ulanzi tripod is another important part of my kit. Especially when working with longer lenses or waiting patiently for wildlife, having a stable setup makes photographing much more comfortable.
Photography Gloves: During the colder months, a good pair of photography gloves is something I always bring along. Wildlife photography often means spending time outside in freezing temperatures, and keeping my hands warm while still being able to operate my camera makes a big difference.
Photo by Milou Schothuis. Alpha 7R V. 1/1250-sec. f/2.2. ISO 800.
See more of Milou Schothuis’ work on Instagram @milousphotos.
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Interested in learning more about wildlife photography?
–Click here to take the Wildlife Photography 101 course.
–Click here to see our Best Lenses For Wildlife Photography.
–Click here to explore more wildlife photography content across the Alpha Universe.
