Meet Travis Layton | Trav in the Bush Bird Photographer and Content Creator

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

Hi Travis, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success with Trav in the Bush is consistency. I make new content for social media everyday. However, not everyday do I wake up and want to be online and create a video, but I do it anyways. What matters most is I show up everyday and can demonstrate that I am willing to put in the work to achieve my dream of working as a full time Bird/Wildlife photographer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been practising wildlife photography for 7 years but started pursuing it full-time for 2 years.

When Instagram Reels started to grow in popularity, performing “trends” was in. I loved videography and was excited to get creative and make Reels following popular trends geared to wildlife photographers. I noticed on Instagram that Wildlife Photography was so “serious”. Everyone was either a “Fine Art” wildlife photographer or a “Conservation” wildlife photographer. I would look at all the great wildlife photographers and wonder to myself “How many times did they swear before getting that photo?” or “How many thousands of terrible photos did they take but will never show the world?”. It was this thought process where Trav in the Bush found it’s footing.

I started to create Instagram Reels that told the struggles of wildlife photographers. I made Reels showing off the blurry photos, animals defecating, missed shots of branches and leaves, and so on. At the same time, I started to make educational wildlife photography videos that were short, right to point, and taught my viewers a quick tip on how to use their gear and take successful shots. The humour would bring them in, the tips would keep them around.

Last November, I travelled to Australia and really fell in love with birds! From then on, I decided to shift gears and focus my content on birds specifically. Birds are more relatable, accessible to everyone and fun to photograph. I want to show people that you don’t have to be photographing polar bears in the Arctic, or a cougar on a cliffside to be a wildlife photographer. You can be photographing and telling the story of a robin in your own backyard.

I want the world to know that wildlife photography can be fun and accessible to everyone. The brand is still in its infancy but my overall goal is to get cameras into the hands of people who cannot afford them. I think the more connected to nature people become, then the greater the appreciation they will have for the outdoors.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my friend all around Vancouver Island!

We would start at the south end, in Victoria, British Columbia. I would show them the harbour, the historic downtown area, and we would likely go “Johns Place” for breakfast.
The following day we would drive up to Cowichan Bay and go on a guided kayak tour with Coastal Bliss Adventures, enjoy the many places to eat along the strip, and camp in the area. In the morning, I would take them to Lake Cowichan for a couple days of wildlife viewing, hiking and camping. Our last couple days would be spent along the west coast, having a base camp and hiking along parts of the Juan de Fuca trail.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my Mom, my Partner, and my friends (you know who you are). They have been my biggest fans and supporters since the very beginning. An especially special shoutout to my Mom and Partner as they are the ones who have to hear my complaints and are always there to steer me back on the path whenever I think of giving up. I also have to give a shoutout to the many content creators and other photographers who have been a major help over this past year with educating me on how to turn my passion into a profitable business.

Website: www.travinthebush.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/trav_in_the_bush