Clever Pet Photos

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.