Joel Sartore Studio

Joel Sartore Studio
Name	Joel Sartore Studio
Caption	Studio portrait setup
Birth place	Lincoln, Nebraska
Nationality	American
Known for	Wildlife photography, conservation portraiture

Joel Sartore Studio Joel Sartore Studio is the professional photographic studio established and operated by Joel Sartore to produce high-resolution portraiture of wildlife for conservation, editorial, and exhibition purposes. The studio serves as the production hub for projects tied to institutions such as the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and the World Wildlife Fund. Its work supports collections and initiatives at organizations including the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Audubon Society, and the Nature Conservancy.

Overview

The studio functions as a commercial and nonprofit-aligned photographic atelier located in Lincoln, Nebraska, integrating portrait photography with specimen archiving for partners such as the National Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Children's Zoo, and the NatureServe network. It produces imagery for media outlets like the New York Times, National Geographic Magazine, and the BBC, and for conservation organizations including Conservation International, Defenders of Wildlife, and Wildlife Conservation Society. The studio's staff collaborates frequently with curators from the American Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

History and Development

Founded by Joel Sartore after his tenure with National Geographic, the studio expanded in response to the long-term needs of the Photo Ark project and commissions from institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the World Wildlife Fund. Early collaborations involved local partners such as the Lincoln Children's Zoo and the Pinnacle Bank Arena for community outreach, then scaled to international venues including the Smithsonian National Zoo and the San Diego Zoo. Funding and institutional partnerships came from grantmakers such as the National Endowment for the Arts and philanthropic bodies like the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Photographic Projects and Collections

Central to the studio’s output is the Photo Ark initiative, a comprehensive archive of species photographed for partners including the National Geographic Society, the World Wildlife Fund, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Additional collections document animals at institutions such as the Lincoln Children's Zoo, the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, and the Bronx Zoo. The studio has produced portrait series for themed exhibitions and catalogs held by the Smithsonian Institution, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the American Museum of Natural History, and contributed images to databases maintained by iNaturalist, NatureServe, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Exhibitions and Publications

Images from the studio have been exhibited at venues such as the Smithsonian Institution, the International Center of Photography, the Bellagio Conservatory, and the Shedd Aquarium, and published in outlets including the New Yorker, Time (magazine), National Geographic Magazine, and Vanity Fair (magazine). Books produced from studio work include collaborations with publishers such as National Geographic Books, Chronicle Books, and the University of Nebraska Press, and have been featured in museum catalogs for the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum. Touring exhibitions have partnered with institutions like the Lincoln Children's Zoo, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Techniques, Equipment, and Workflow

The studio employs controlled-lighting techniques and high-resolution medium-format and full-frame cameras from manufacturers such as Phase One, Hasselblad, and Canon Inc. to achieve archival-quality portraits for partners including the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society. Workflow integrates color management tools from companies like X-Rite and software from Adobe Systems for post-processing, and the studio follows husbandry and welfare protocols aligned with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, and veterinary collaborators from the Smithsonian National Zoo. Specimen documentation practices are coordinated with curators at the National Museum of Natural History and data standards used by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The studio maintains partnerships with conservation groups such as the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and the Nature Conservancy, and with media organizations like the National Geographic Society, the New York Times, and the BBC. Institutional collaborations include the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum, and regional institutions such as the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Corporate and philanthropic sponsors have included the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Geographic Society Charitable Trust, and foundations such as the Packard Foundation and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Recognition and Impact on Conservation and Education

Studio projects have contributed to public awareness campaigns coordinated with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the United Nations Environment Programme, and nonprofit organizations including the World Wildlife Fund and Defenders of Wildlife. Recognition for the studio's output is reflected in awards and honors from institutions like the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Royal Photographic Society, and in widespread use of images by museums including the American Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Natural History. Educational programs built around studio imagery have been adopted by schools and organizations such as the Lincoln Public Schools, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the National Science Teachers Association to promote biodiversity literacy.

Category:Photography studios Category:Wildlife conservation