Meet Prestley Howard | Wildlife & Sports Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Prestley Howard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Prestley, what is the most important factor behind your success?
To put it simply—and yes, I know it sounds cliché—the most important factor behind my success has been to just keep going. Success has looked different for me throughout my photography journey. I see myself as a talented photographer who has captured some incredible shots, yet hasn’t been seen by many people. That can be discouraging. There were times I wanted to stop posting altogether because only a handful of people would like my work.
I would take photos that I knew were unique, difficult to recreate, and filled with meaning, yet they still didn’t get the recognition I thought they deserved. I wanted my photos to connect with people so badly, so it was tough when almost every post got only ten likes. But I had to remind myself why I started photography in the first place: not for numbers, but for how it made me feel in the moment.
I love capturing fleeting moments in nature—an animal’s glance, a scene that exists for only a second. I love being out before dawn, when the world is quiet and I might find myself alone with a bobcat eating her freshly caught breakfast on the desert floor. Or those nights away from the city, staring at a sky overflowing with stars, with a Great Horned Owl perched less than 50 yards away.
For me, the most important thing is to keep going—keep clicking the button, enjoying the moments, and embracing the experience, even when I’m tired.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think my photography has always been about capturing moments that happen in the blink of an eye—moments that make you look at the picture and think, “How did he even get a shot like that?” My photography has never been the most artistic or the most polished. It doesn’t feature the prettiest colors or smoothest backgrounds. Instead, it captures raw moments that require being in the right place at the right time. I use what nature gives me to create scenes that feel organic and true to the moment.
What I’m most proud of is being able to show people a photo and pair it with a story they’ve never heard before. I’m a 22-year-old college student who can tell you a random fact about a bird and then share a memory of spending time with Elf Owls in the mountains—tiny owls that stand no taller than six inches.
Getting to where I am today has been far from easy. There were sleepless nights spent thinking about how a photo could have been better or when my next opportunity might come. I’d go to sports games and feel frustrated because I just wanted to be down on the field photographing. I’ve sent out hundreds of emails, probably annoyed plenty of people, just to get the opportunities I’ve had—but it was all worth it. Whenever I felt discouraged about not hitting a goal, I reminded myself to keep going and trust that talent would shine through.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is not to let other people’s journeys get in your head. Stop comparing yourself to where others are in life. Everyone has their own path, and if you stay true to what you want, you will succeed.
If there’s one thing I’d want the world to know, it’s that I may not be the best photographer you’ll ever meet—I might not even be “good” at all—but my passion will always shine through. The number of followers or likes on a post doesn’t always reflect the quality of your work or the passion you have for what you do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my friend were visiting the city, the first place I’d take them would be the Desert Museum. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I want to spend time alone, walk around, and enjoy both the animals and the outdoors.
Next, I’d take them to Saguaro National Park East. Having lived in Tucson for 22 years, it’s still one of the places that leaves me in awe—the sheer number of Saguaro cacti there is incredible.
For food, I’d take them to Zio Peppe. They serve the most unique pizza—Birria Pizza! I tell people all the time that they have to try it, and honestly, it’s some of the best food in Tucson.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents no doubt deserve a shoutout. Whenever they saw me wanting to pursue something, they never hesitated to help me fund that passion. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t even be close to doing the things I’ve been able to do. I’m very fortunate to have two people in my life who never questioned what I wanted to get into—and because of that, I’ve been able to do amazing things and have the coolest experiences.
I also want to shout out anyone who has given me an opportunity in photography. I shot my first USL2 soccer game with absolutely no prior experience in sports photography—none. My pitch to them was that I had experience with wildlife photography, which is also fast-paced, and that I’d played sports my whole life, so I knew what to look for. If it weren’t for people giving me a chance, I wouldn’t be doing most of the things I’m doing today.

Website: https://prestleyhoward.myportfolio.com/phshotthat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phphotohd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestleyhoward/

Image Credits
Prestley Howard