Pets provide a great subject for photographers, both professional and amateur alike. They’re unpredictable, busy, and inquisitive. Just like children, in fact. Having already shown you how to take amazing photos of kids, it’s now time to turn our attention to our furry and/or feathered friends.
You may have already noticed I’ve used cats throughout this article. This is simply because I love cats and think they’re the most naturally photogenic animals out there. But these tips are good for all pets, no matter what their species. Hell, even smelly dogs are welcome to the party.
Up Close & Personal
Keep your camera (or smartphone) close to hand at all times. Pets are notoriously unpredictable, and you never know when they’ll do something or act in a way that deserves recording for posterity.
Be aware that you’re much more likely to get great results from photographing your own pet rather than someone else’s pet. They know you, they trust you, they may even like you, if we can ascribe such sentiments to animals.
Spend time with your pet. Know how to read their feelings. There will be times when your pet is happy to be photographed, and others when they’re more keen on being left alone. Take heed of these moods.
Natural Is Nice
I’m not a fan of posed photographs. You can tell when someone is trying just that little too hard to look good when the shutter button is pressed. If it looks bad when humans do it, it will also look bad when animals do it.
Taking photos of your pets in their natural environment is a far better idea than dressing them up or making them stand in a certain place. Follow them see where they hunt, or sleep, or do whatever it is animals do when we’re not looking.
This rule also applies to personalities. Try to capture the essence of your pet. If it’s a grumpy cat (no, not that one) then capture that. If it’s an energetic dog, then capture that. This is, after all, how you’ll remember them when they’re gone.
On Their Level
The relationships we share with our pets is often an unequal one. We’re in charge, we’re their masters, we take care of their essential needs. We also look down on them for the most part. Literally.
Most domestic pets are much smaller than us, so we tower over them. Try switching this perspective up when it comes to taking photographs of your pets; get down to their level and make your pet feel like it’s the star of the show for a change.
Not only will this gift you interesting angles, your pet is likely to respond by either becoming docile and infinitely photographable, or playful and infinitely photographable. You win either way.
Light=Good, Flash=Bad
Getting the lighting right is important when taking photographs of pets. The more natural the better, so shoot during the day with curtains and blinds thrown fully open. If shooting at night then use artifical lighting to create moods ( as demonstrated in the photo above.
Then there is flash, which should be used very sparingly, if at all. Using flash will do two things: scare or temporarily blind your pet; make its eyes glow like it’s some sort of demonic presence. Neither of which is particularly useful.
Treats & Tricks
If you need your pet to behave (rather than act naturally) there are various ways of making it happen. Using rewards for good behavior is an obvious example, with their chosen treat often having the power to get even the most rambunctious of animals to suddenly fall under your spell.
You can also use a second person off camera to draw your pet’s attention in order to obtain a particular shot. Or you can throw a favorite toy in order to capture your pet in full flight. Or wake them from their slumber suddenly in order to ensure an alert animal.
Patience Is A Virtue
Even if you follow all of the advice above you’ll still have to be very patient if you want to take photos of your pets that sail past being just ordinary to being exceptional. Like a perfect storm, various elements have to come together to make it happen.
Shoot liberally, because somewhere in amongst a pile of nonsense photographs is likely to be one that captures your pet exactly how you wanted. But remember not to delete digital photos you initially assume have no merit, as you may regret it years later.
Conclusions
One last thing you should remember when photographing pets, or any other live subjects for that matter, is to enjoy yourself. While getting good results is important, it surely means nothing if you’re not having fun while seeking out that perfect photo ripe for sharing on social networks.
Have you got any of your own tips for photographing pets? What has your experience been at capturing them on film to this point? As always we’d love to hear from you, so feel free to leave a comment in the space provided below. All are read, many receive replies.
Image Credits: Schumi, Barb Crawford, Mel, Darren Kirby, Jonathan Goforth, Robert Couse-Baker, Jenny Downing
The post How To Take Amazing Photos Of Your Pets appeared first on MakeUseOf.
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