Joel Sartore Joel Sartore

National Geographic Photographer and Speaker

I'm Joel Sartore.

Man on a Mission:
Building the Photo Ark

Book Joel To SpeakExplore the Photo Ark

I’m Joel Sartore.

Ever wonder about those wildlife photographers who risk life and limb to get the perfect shot? That’s me. I’ve spent 25 years with National Geographic—and I’ve got the stories and scars to prove it. These days my focus is on the Photo Ark, the world’s largest collection of animal studio portraits. My goal is simple: to get the public to care and save species from extinction.

  • 15,325 species photographed for the Photo Ark
    I'm Joel Sartore.

  • A modern-day Noah

    —NBC Nightly News

  • 1 porcupine named Piper on the cover of

    National Geographic
    Photo: *Brazilian porcupine (Coendou quichua) at the Saint Louis Zoo.
  • 4 times chased by grizzlies
    Picture of a grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, at Sedgewick County Zoo.
  • 300 talks given worldwide
    I'm Joel Sartore.
  • 2 spitting cobras found in camera gear
    Picture of a red spitting cobra (Naja pallida) at the St. Louis Zoo.

Speaking Engagements

“Joel never fails to dazzle.”
Known for his sense of humor and incredible stories from the field, Joel is a popular speaker with conservation, corporate, and civic groups.

Hire him to entertain and inspire your audience.

Book Joel to Speak

Recent Talks

  • I'm Joel Sartore.
  • I'm Joel Sartore.
  • I'm Joel Sartore.
  • I'm Joel Sartore.
  • I'm Joel Sartore.
  • Philippine pit viper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus) at the Avilon Zoo.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) at the Singapore Zoo.
  • A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered red wolf (Canis rufus gregoryi) at the Great Plains Zoo.
  • Photo: An endangered, female Visayan tarictic hornbill (Penelopides panini panini) at Negros Forest Park.
  • Picture of a federally endangered mother and son jaguar (Panthera onca) at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL.
  • An Andean porcupine (Coendou quichua) named Piper at the Saint Louis Zoo.
  • A captive, five-month-old mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. IUCN: Vulnerable
  • Photo: Visayan leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori) at the Avilon Zoo.
  • Picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus fasciatus) at Healesville Sanctuary.
  • A veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) at the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure in Salina, Kansas.
  • A picture of a wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) named Stinky at Zoo New York in Watertown, New York.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska.

    • Photo Ark logo

    Joel is the founder of the Photo Ark, a 25-year effort to photograph every species in human care around the globe.

    Explore the Photo Ark

  • A bull elk (Cervus canadensis) at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma.
  • A picture of a Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica, at the Omaha Zoo.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, male Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) at the Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad, India.
  • Two critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
  • Picture of a naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) at the Saint Louis Zoo.
  • Photo: Palawan stink badger (Mydaus marchei) at Avilon Zoo.
  • The talons of a South American great horned owl (Bubo virginianus nacurutu) at Parque Jaime Duque near Bogota, Colombia.
  • Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) at the Baltimore Aquarium.
  • A northern red fan parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus accipitrinus) at the Houston Zoo.
  • A picture of a Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) photographed on the grounds of the Symington Estates in Portugal.
  • Photo: A naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
  • Photo: Single wattled cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus unappendiculatus) at Avilon Zoo.
  • A critically endangered sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX.
  • A picture of twin federally endangered giant panda cubs (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) named Mei Lun and Mei Huan at Zoo Atlanta. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
  • A picture of a critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered central Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) at the Avilon Wildlife Conservation Foundation.
  • Photo: A juvenile little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis ruficollis) at Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue.
  • Picture of a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium.
  • A picture of a federally endangered snow leopard (Uncia uncia) at the Miller Park Zoo. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered, female South China tiger, Panthera tigris amoyensis, at the Suzhou Zoo in China. This is a species that may be gone from the wild now, and as of 2015, there are only 100 in captivity.
  • A male federally endangered Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) and juveniles at Conservation Fisheries in Knoxville, Tennessee. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
  • Picture of a nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Joel Sartore News

Spring Sale 2024

  Spring is finally upon us, and that means we’re bound to see some new feathered friends, furry neighbors and gardens abuzz with life.   With the arrival of the new season comes a breath of fresh air, and our spring print sale!   All traditional prints are 25% off, so be sure to use…

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