Clever Pet Photos

So you decided to take the time to get the best picture of your pet you possibly can. You had a bag of treats ready to go. You chose the background setting and moved the furniture around to get the best natural light. You crouched down to your pet’s eye level for the shot and did everything within your power to make him or her feel at ease during the shoot. And still, the pictures you end up with show only a fraction of your pet’s personality – they look stale or boring and do not reflect your animal’s individuality. It’s time to think outside the box!

First of all, do not limit yourself to only taking photographs of your pet centered in the frame. Off-center pictures can produce surprising and quirky results. Focus on what makes your pet special. Does your dog have droopy ears? Do your cat’s whiskers shoot off at odd angles? Zoom in so that these elements dominate the frame – don’t be afraid to experiment!

In addition to honing in on unique physical traits, try to focus on your pet’s special behavior and habits. If your cat likes to climb onto the kitchen cabinets, take a picture while she is in the act. If your dog sleeps with his paws over his eyes, snap away while he is napping. You know your pet’s personality better than anyone else, so be ready to take your shots when they are exhibiting their individuality.

As always, take lots and lots of photos! The more shots you take, the better the chance you will end up with a picture that is entertaining and memorable, and worthy of being preserved as a Pet Picasso.

10. Focus on your pet’s eyes so they come out sharp. Other details are not as important.

9. Use natural light, rather than indoor lighting and a flash, to capture the most detail.

8. Take a lot of pictures. You may end up with the perfect shot — except it’s blurry. Or your thumb might get in the way. If you take several photos in rapid succession, you’re likely to end up with one photo that looks better than the rest.

7. Have a pose or a setting already in mind. If you’re just taking random pictures, you may not find anything especially interesting. But be flexible — while you’re shooting for that perfect shot, you’re bound to snap something great that wasn’t planned.

6. Play with your pet, or have someone else play with them. The more relaxed your pet is, the better the picture will be.

5. Pick your timing. If you want your pet to lie back and relax, catch them just after a nap. If you want an energetic shot, take it in the middle of your pet’s playtime.

4. Surprise can really help. Get your camera all set up and get comfortable, then let your pet play for a few minutes. Then, have someone behind you whistle or call their name to surprise them so they will turn toward you.

3. Position yourself on your pet’s level. If your pet is on the floor or on the ground, get down on your belly so your photo won’t look like you were towering over them.

2. Portray your pet’s personality. If you have a lazy cat, snap a picture of him yawning. If you have a dog who thinks she’s a person, get a shot of her sitting in your chair.

1. Be patient. Remember, animals don’t understand what you’re doing. If you keep trying, you will eventually get a good shot you will be happy with.

When you take a picture of your pet, the importance of lighting cannot be overlooked. Let’s go over a few tips that will be helpful to any amateur pet photographer.

Lighting for outdoor pet photos:
1. This one is obvious: Keep the sun behind you, or at least at an angle where the sun’s rays are not shining directly into your camera.
2. To avoid overly bright or washed-out pictures caused by direct sunlight, shoot in the morning or evening, or on a slightly overcast day.
3. If you are unable to take pictures of your pets outside for safety reasons, try setting them next to a large window that allows plenty of natural light in. Make sure the source of this light is coming from behind you or slightly off to the side as you begin snapping photos.

Lighting for indoor pet photos:
1. Avoid using a flash whenever possible – a flash can make your pet look “washed out,” eliminating much of the natural color, contour and texture of its fur/feathers/scales. The only exception to this is if you have an animal with black or very dark fur. In these cases, a flash can actually help bring out more detail in the photo.
2. If you cannot get by without using a flash, an external one is best. Try pointing it at a wall or the ceiling to bounce the light onto your pet. This will help avoid red-eye.
3. If an external flash is not available, you can cover your camera’s flash with tissue paper to lessen the harshness of the glare.
Take your time experimenting with different setups, and you are sure to find an arrangement that will show your pet in the best light possible.

Whether you’re taking pictures of pets for your office hangings, or helping your customer order a Pet Picasso, the following tips will help ensure that the finished pet photo comes out looking great.

Taking a high-quality pet photo can be challenging, to say the least, but there are several ways to make it easier on yourself and your pet.

First of all, if using a digital camera, you will want to set your resolution to the highest setting.  Make sure the background contrasts with the color of your animal.  For example, if your dog has black fur, try to take its picture against a light-colored background, and vice versa.  Try to use as much natural light as possible to bring out the full texture of your pet’s fur, feathers, or scales.  Avoid using your camera’s flash whenever possible, as animals will often be spooked by the sudden bright light.  Some will even learn to associate your camera with this flash and will look away or close their eyes just before the picture is taken.  If you must use a flash, try to take the pictures while your animal is not looking directly at the camera to avoid unwanted “red eye” reflections.

If your pet has trouble staying still, or if you prefer to take a shot of your pet “in action,” activate your digital camera’s burst or sequence-shot settings to take several quick pictures in a row.  This way you can choose from several shots and weed out any blurry photos.  Some digital cameras have a “sports” mode which automatically focuses on objects in motion and eliminates motion-blurs.

To help your pet feel at ease while taking pictures, use natural settings that are relaxing to him/her.  Avoid times of day that your pet is naturally hyper, and you will save yourself much frustration.  Also, crouch or lay down and take your photos from your pet’s eye level for best results.

For more information on how to make your pet’s picture-taking experience as rewarding as possible, visit Photography.com.