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.
  • Photo: Negros scops owl (Otus nigrorum) at Negros Forest Park in Bacolod City, Negros Island, the Philippines.
  • A picture of a federally endangered oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus pardinoides) at Parque Jaime Duque near Bogota, Colombia. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
  • Photo: A Western hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules hercules) at the Houston Zoo.
  • Portraits of 'Orange', the last dusky seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima nigrescens).
  • Photo: An endangered Philippine mousedeer (Tragulus nigricans) at the Avilon Zoo in Rodriguez, Philippines.
  • Picture of a brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) at the PanAmerican Conservation Association in Gamboa, Panama.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) at the Singapore Zoo.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois.
  • Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) at the Miller Park Zoo.
  • A picture of a federally endangered Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) at the Budapest Zoo. This species is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.

    • 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 picture of a red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus lineatus) at the Sutton Avian Research Center.
  • A male Himalayan monal pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) at Pheasant Heaven, a private pheasant breeding center near Clinton, NC.
  • A picture of a group of critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered ploughshare tortoises (Astrochelys yniphora) at Zoo Atlanta. These animals were confiscated after being stolen. They are valued at about $10,000 each.
  • A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) at the Phoenix Zoo.
  • Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) at the Baltimore Aquarium.
  • A compton tortoiseshell butterfly (Nymphalis vaualbum) from Cross Lake, Minnesota.
  • Picture of a vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) at the Columbus Zoo.
  • Philippine pit viper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus) at the Avilon Zoo.
  • A critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered red wolf (Canis rufus gregoryi) at the Great Plains Zoo.
  • Crowned iguana (Laemanctus serratus) from the Omaha Zoo.
  • Photo: Palawan stink badger (Mydaus marchei) at Avilon Zoo.
  • Uno, a federally endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) at the Naples Zoo. A gunshot wound caused Uno to go blind in 2014.
  • A picture of an endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) at the Plzen Zoo in the Czech Republic.
  • A picture of an endangered pilalo tree frog (Hyloscirtus ptychodactylus) at Balsa de los Sapos in Quito, Ecuador.
  • 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.
  • Picture of an Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus, at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend, Kansas.
  • Photo: A vulnerable Siamese fighting fish or betta (Betta splendens) in Lincoln, Nebraska.
  • Picture of a federally endangered mother and son jaguar (Panthera onca) at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FL.
  • A vulnerable (IUCN) and federally endangered clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa nebulosa) at the Houston Zoo.
  • Photo: An ankole-watusi (Bos taurus watusi) at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • A male, critically endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered Mindoro dwarf buffalo (Bubalus mindorensis) named Kalibasib at Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm on Mindoro Island in the Philippines.
  • Picture of a male Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
  • Photo: An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) named Jengo at the Singapore Zoo in Singapore.

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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