What is pet photography

You probably already know that all animals are not al all similar to people and models which can be measured 90-60-90. They are not so easy to be told how to stand or sit in order to get a beautiful picture. Because they do not know to be a mannequin which can be put in the best position to obtain a great photograph. Animals are creatures that will never sit and wait when a photographer decides to capture images.

How to get professional pet photography and what is needed for amazing results? These are the first questions which usually arise in the head of photo beginners who love their furry friend a lot. Here we will discuss crucial tricks to win in this difficult battle to catch pets just for a moment to capture snapshots. First of all, it is important to remember that all animals are constantly moving objects that you need to follow without taking your eyes to get a good image. So let us start this article, discovering useful technique developing necessary qualifications and skills to become a pet photoshoot expert.

How to photoshoot your pets

1. Be calm and go on with shooting

What is the right element to start pet photography tips?

In order to get a funny but eye-catching snapshot of the animal, get as much patience as you can. This is one of the most important backdrops when it comes to making portraits of puppies and kitties. As soon as you are sure to be ready for this funny but exhausting process, take your camera, choose the necessary area and start taking pictures.

If you are new with a variety of lenses and camera settings, then it is better to start with animals that are less fast in motion, more affectionate and friendly. Create an atmosphere, so that no one interferes with it and most importantly does not distract.

2. Think well before picking the background

No matter how cute your pet is, wrong backdrops and atmosphere can ruin all your plans. Your pictures should be sharp and memorable, demonstrating the beauty of an animal, not mixing it with a dirty room or people around. So take care of the best choice to make when it comes to background. The frame will look good naturally with bright green grass, sand, neat wooden floor, a woolen blanket and all other places where your pet would feel comfortable and you will get a great pattern. Remove everything that may distract attention from the main subject and make sure that the foreground and background match.

You need always choose a suitable background which suits perfectly your friend. In fact, you can spend several minutes online, looking through professional dog photos and decide if you are able to find something similar to make your friend look great. It is noticeable that most successful shots were made definitely in parks and lawns.

3. Get your pet motivated to pose

If a person can force himself to do something we do not feel like doing, then this trick will not work with animals. They should enjoy the process, otherwise, they will get distracted and leave you disappointed in loneliness. It is necessary to learn important ways to do this without using force and getting angry or nervous. Pets will feel your emotions and reflect it, destroying a good mood in the photo.

What is the best way to keep pets concentrated without extra equipment and efforts? It's very simple, feed them with their favorite snacks or call dogs by name. There are more effective methods like toys, favorite objects which can become a great motivation for them.

With toys, beautiful shots of a dog, cat or other animal are guaranteed. As it was already mentioned, please be patient and attract the attention of a pet so that he looks in the frame.

If you decide to use a flash, working in a studio, it is better not to try it at all. Firstly, flashlight, when photographing scares all animals, and secondly, many pets, including dogs, have a shiny eye that causes bad flare and this will completely destroy dog photoshoot.

4. Use the right light

It is better not to photograph a pet in the dark, on cloudy days or in artificial light. It is considered that bright, but diffused light, which most often happens outside on a moderately sunny day, is best suited for creating portraits. So do not neglect the need to pay attention to light when taking pictures. Animals look best in the daylight or a well-lit apartment, the less light the more likely the animal's eyes will light up and there will be a sad eye glow effect. This is not an unsolvable problem, due to the existence of modern editing software services. But if you want to decrease post-processing time, it is better to consider this fact.

5. Clean and brush your pet to become a film star

How to prepare your pet for animal portrait photography?

It does not matter if it is a small puppy or an adult cat. If you want it to look awesome, then you will probably need to make him feel at a spa. Wash it with shampoo increasing its fur volume, and feed him, otherwise, you will not be calm shooting beautiful frames!

6. Drop down to pet's eye level

The best distance for a dog picture is 3 - 4 meters, and if you sit down, the dog can run up to you, at this point you should have time to take beautiful pictures of your favorite animal. Best photos of cats, dogs, and other animals are obtained only at their eye level. Not the eye level of a photographer, it will distort the dimensions of your model. Your pet should feel comfortable and calm, without jumping and looking up at you waiting for a treat. This will help to “catch” a more interesting plot and perspective. Of course, a good shot can also be obtained from above, but it will be much better to approach the animal and dive into its world, getting more practice and experience. So do not be lazy and lie down on the floor.

Pet photography tips and ideas

1. Do not wait for a good frame

Remember, the main thing is to choose the right angle of shooting, although this rule is valid during any process of photographing. Your animals are not that different from kids, which are always running and enjoying doing things on their own, instead of practicing poses and family shots.

If you are photographing from above, as a rule, you get an image where it has a non-proportional head. It is important to maintain natural proportions of the body, this can be easily achieved watching tutorials and practicing common picture templates.

2. Capture and prepare for pictures correctly

It is not a secret that animals are used to running away, jumping or doing everything but not posing for their portraits. To prevent pictures from being blurry, use action cameras and cameras with an increased rate of shooting. All photographers have probably looked through some blurry shots. Avoid this effect, due to the constant movement of your model, then you need to use certain settings. If you are going to take a picture of an animal in motion, use simple “sport” mode on your camera.

Different camera models have a variety of modes with different names, so you should read the manual and play with your shooting device. Professionals get clear images when photographing an object in motion using certain camera settings.

These settings in a DSLR camera are usually called shutter speed, aperture, and focal length. For example, when capturing a playing cat, you need to set the shutter speed as low as possible and open the aperture as much as possible. This especially helps in a dark room when their light source is not powerful enough.

3. Make an idea of your perfect image to realize

Pictures, demonstrating not only a character but some plot or emotion are much more vivid than just staged portraits. Try to portray the pet in the context of his life. You can take a picture of how he hugs his favorite toy while he is sleeping, digging with interest in the garden or looking at the door, waiting for his owner.

Even better, if this picture conveys the nature of a pet. If your cat is lazy, show it relaxing on the sofa. A cheerful playful dog can rush for a ball or “smile” into the lens.

General recommendations for dog photography to keep in mind

  • During the shooting process, pay attention not only to your main subject.
  • Photographing in natural conditions, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the foreground and background do not distract from the main plot. Fences, bushes, people can interfere with a good frame composition. Sometimes it is better to use a strong macro effect or zooming and take a picture of an animal. This does not mean that the background should be completely blurred and invisible. For example, low-hanging branches of trees can be used as a natural frame.
  • Be careful and attentive to your plot, with large focal length the perspective of a photo narrows, the foreground and background come closer to each other. As a result, you can get a bad image, where a branch of a tree in the background which is far away from an animal will seem to grow out of his head.

Considering all the tips, do not be afraid of trying. Your pets are worth it. Make a great album to remember and look through from time to time.