Ami Vitale

Ami Vitale is a National Geographic Explorer, photographer and filmmaker, as well as an ambassador for Nikon. She has traveled to more than 100 countries documenting the heartbreaking realities of war and the inspiring power of individuals making a difference. Throughout the years, Ami has lived in mud huts and war zones—and has even donned a panda suit—keeping true to her philosophy of “living the story.” Her award-winning work illuminates the unsung heroes and communities striving to protect wildlife and find harmony in our natural world.

Ami has been called one of the most influential photographers of her generation and is Conservation International's Innovators Fellow. She has been named Magazine Photographer of the Year in the International Photographer of the Year Prize, received the Daniel Pearl Award for Outstanding Reporting and is a 6-time recipient of awards from World Press Photos. In 2022, she received multiple prestigious prizes, such as the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service and the Lucie Humanitarian Award. InStyle magazine named Ami one of the Badass 50—a group of women who show up, speak up and get things done—appearing alongside other extraordinary individuals like Jane Goodall, Christiane Amanpour and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Later this year, Ami will be featured on the National Geographic Channel TV series Explorer.
Ami is also the founder and executive director of the women-led nonprofit Vital Impacts, which supports humanitarian projects around the world. In its first year, Vital Impacts raised over 2 million dollars for grassroots conservation efforts and created a global grant and mentoring program to support the next generation of environmental storytellers.