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Photographing Pets
Before I had children, I had a dog. Since I loved photography, I took many photographs of my dog. Not all of the photographs were good, but through trial and error I learned a few things about photographing pets. Here are some tips for getting good photographs of your pet: Consider Your Pet. Some pets look great in portraits while others look better in action shots. Think about what you want to say and the best way to say it with either portrait or action photographs.
- Portrait Photographs. A portrait photograph, where you create the setting, put the pet in position and have the lighting arranged, can create a fun, serious or stunning image of your pet. If you are doing a portrait consider where and when to stage your pet for a photograph. Consider all the criteria when doing a studio portrait. Many relevant portrait photography concepts are covered in the Scrapjazz article Taking Great Portrait Photos at Home by Kelli Noto. Often a pet's natural habitat makes the perfect stage. If possible, use the pet's environment such as a bed or chair. Also, consider props that are a natural part of your pet's environment.
- Action Photographs. Conversely, you can take an action photograph by taking a photograph of your pet's everyday events. These actions could include playing a game, eating food, sleeping or just looking cute. When planning an action photograph, think about what actions your pet does that would tell an interesting story or convey a moment or characteristic of your pet. For example, does your pet have a certain look at mealtime or become very active during playtime? Make a list of activities your pet likes to do. Also consider how you will record the action - can you get your pet to do it anytime or is the action unpredictable? Maybe you will need to keep a camera handy for that unpredictable moment. If the action is fast, remember to use a high shutter speed. If possible use an ISO 400 film speed for low light or indoor photographs. My dog loves to play fetch so I grabbed my camera, threw the ball and snapped photographs of him returning the ball to me. As a result his personality shines through in this photograph.
 The Right Techniques - Lighting. The best lighting, especially for dark-colored animals, is outside in natural light. Avoid direct sunlight as it will make the photograph too bright in areas and distort your pet's coloring.
- Flash. Avoid using a flash. It will give your pet red-eye. The flash will also distort your pet's coloring. Instead, use a high shutter speed and ISO 400 film speed.
- Angle. Often the best angle is to be level with your pet. Get down on your knees or even stomach if necessary.
- Get Close. Filling the frame with your subject allows you to see the expression on your pet's face. If the background doesn't help to tell the story, get in close.
- Handling Barriers. When shooting photographs through a glass or a cage, get as close to the cage as possible. Put the lens right against the glass if possible. For my fish photograph, I pressed my lens up against the side of the tank.
The Right Tools - Treats. Having treats and interesting food is very important when taking pet portraits. Treats can turn an uncooperative pet into a very cooperative one! You can dangle a treat to get the pet to look in a certain direction or to focus on the camera.
- Zoom Lens. A zoom lens allows you to take a close-up shot while still being far away from your subject. This gives the advantage of your pet not knowing you are taking their photograph. While they continue to play or eat, you can snap your photographs.
- Disposable cameras. Keep at least one disposable camera on hand to capture an unexpected action or a touching moment. Make sure to use a disposable camera with a high ISO.
Photographing pets presents many challenges, but it is also full of rewards. Keep your pet in mind, use the right techniques and tools and be patient! You'll soon have some magnificent pet photographs.
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