An Introduction to Insect Photography

Good news: If you’re familiar with bird photography, then you already have many of the skills and equipment required to photograph bugs. While often overlooked, insects and other arthropods can also make excellent photography subjects, given their dazzling colors, strange shapes, and unique behaviors. And they’re often more cooperative than birds are.

Still, some know-how and specialized gear can set you up for success. The same long telephoto lenses or zoom cameras favored by bird photographers work well for larger insects such as butterflies and bees while allowing you to stay far away from skittish subjects. However, smaller insects require macro lenses that capture close subjects in the finest possible detail, says nature and conservation photographer Noppadol Paothong.

Next it’s time to dial in your settings. Taking photos with a shallow depth of field can help you artfully highlight your subject against a blurred background. But Paothong sometimes opts to keep the surroundings in focus to call attention to insects’ roles as predators, prey, and pollinators in their habitats. For that approach, he chooses a wide-angle lens or higher f-stop (smaller aperture). Paothong even grows native plants in his garden to attract insects and uses photography to tell stories about these ecosystem relationships.

 If you’re using natural light, you’ll want the source behind you; mornings or late afternoons can be better than high noon, or the diffuse light of overcast days can be ideal. Some photographers also choose to use an artificial light source, such as a softbox light or a flash, attached to their camera with a movable arm.

Getting the best shot requires respecting insects as living photo­graphic subjects, says Diana Cervantes, a visual journalist based in New York City. While photographing the critically endangered Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly in New Mexico, she spent enough hours with the insects to recognize their specific quirks and behaviors—all the better for getting great photos. Ultimately, she says, you don’t need fancy equipment or manual settings to take a good picture. She travels light so she can hike with her equipment, usually carrying just a 100mm f/2.8 lens, and the scientists she collaborates with take high-quality pictures using only their cell phones. 

“It’s not about the gear,” Cervantes says. “It’s just about the way you see and connect with the world.”

This story originally ran in the Summer 2026 issue as “Ready for Their Close-Up.” To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.