KRISTEN COONEY

Wildlife Photographer, Naturalist Guide, Researcher

Based in a campervan (home is where I park it!) and roaming North America in pursuit of compelling conservation research and communications projects. Ever since I was old enough to walk, you could find me learning birds with my grandpa’s Golden Guide in my backyard, and fumbling with film cameras in the forest. These activities matured into my calling as a wildlife photographer, naturalist guide, and researcher. Since my formative years, I’ve completed conservation, science, and communications work in a variety of biodiverse landscapes—rainforests, the Pacific Ocean, and deep in the sprawling Appalachian woods and rolling grasslands I grew up in.

In 2022, I received my bachelors in visual arts with a focus in photography, and honors in environmental science from Ursinus College. There I completed my honors thesis research on urban forests with GIS. Currently, you can find me in Juneau, Alaska working as a naturalist guide sharing Alaska’s beauty with visitors from around the world. Additionally, I am assisting with several research projects in the Tongass National Forest focused on several bird species including Arctic Terns.