Photo by dimitrisvetsikas1969
Whether you want to take pictures of your dog at the park or a friend needs to you to snap some shots of their furry friend, pet photography takes patience, grace, and above all creativity. With pets constantly in motion, it can be hard to figure out how and what to shoot. Here are our top 3 tips for pet photography to get you started!
1) Shoot at Their Level
Our furry friends have a different perspective than us and that should be evident in the shots we take of them. Though taking pictures of your cat while looking down on them provides an interesting shot, the most authentic shot would be one of them as they see the world. The best way to do this is to shoot from the hip but you can adjust based on the height and size of the pet. Pet photography should be a very active strain of photography as the subjects you are shooting are often balls of energy. Crouching, laying on your belly, and bending are great ways to get that shot from your pet’s point of view.
Photo by amayaeguizabal
2) Use Natural Light
Much like humans, most pets develop red eyes when the photo is shot with flash. The best way to avoid pet red eye is to shoot without flash and in a naturally lit location. The eyes are the most expressive part of a pet and should be the focus of most shots. It is hard to do this in dark or poorly lit spaces. Take pictures of the animal where you feel they are most comfortable as well. Photoshoots with dogs are generally most authentic outside because they feel at home.
Photo by ivanovgood
3) Get Their Attention
The most key part of pet photography is patience. Pets are unpredictable and may not always sit for that perfect shot. As the photographer, you must be mindful of that and prepared for it. A good way to obtain a pet’s attention is to use a squeaky toy or an object that makes a weird noise. They will look at you at least for a few seconds. Treat pet photography like sports photography and have a blink and you’ll miss it attitude. Have your camera set to a fast shutter speed and on continuous focus mode to always be ready for those perfect shots.
Photo by kapixel08
Interested in Pet Photography?
Check out our new pet photography class!