Are you an aspiring pet photographer? It’s a great business if you have the right skills.
Photographing pets can be difficult. You want to snap pets in their natural element and savor their cuteness. It’s challenging since animals often can get distracted, looking away and walking off while you’re trying to snap the picture.
There are strategies professional animal photographers use that can work for any pet. Here are seven tips for creating the perfect pet photographs.
- Get the Timing and Lighting Right
The minute you see your subject in a cute position or looking straight at you, start photographing. Timing is everything when it comes to great pet pictures. For the best pet pictures, keep the camera eye-level.
In addition to getting the timing right, Lighting is vital for great photographs. To catch cute pictures of your furry friends, make sure all appropriate lighting and equipment are set up prior to the shoot. Be careful with the flash as not to startle the pet or avoid using it all together. Use natural lighting when possible.
It’s a good idea to spend some time educating yourself on different lighting techniques, apertures, and the equipment necessary. Use a wide aperture setting, such as f/2.8 to create soft backgrounds.
- Make Sure They’re in Their Environment
If you take a pet to a studio, they’ll likely be uncomfortable because they’re not in their environment.
If you’re an aspiring pet photographer, go to the pet owner’s house. They’ll be in their environment and more comfortable, which means you’ll have a greater opportunity to capture that perfect shot.
Bring your all your equipment, props, and backdrops with you to the pet’s home. A curious pet will love checking it out and you can use this opportunity to make them comfortable, allowing them to smell you and the items. Familiarize the pet with your camera and its sounds. That way, they won’t feel confused or threatened.
Work with the pet’s personality; for instance, are they most playful at a certain time of day or do they prefer a particular spot in your home? Capture them in their comfort zone and at ease.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Once the pet is familiar with you and your equipment, you may wish to photograph the pet outside of their home, such as the park or the beach. Just be sure to be aware of your surroundings.
Another dog or person running up to your pet ruins the picture. Or maybe there’s something in the background you want in your picture.
Do you want that perfect freeze shot of your pet jumping or running? This involves some pro gear. Educate yourself on shutter speed and buy a good lens with a wide aperture, ideally f/4 or below to capture that great action shot and soften the background. Using a sports mode is a good option for automatically freezing the action as well.
- Reward Them After a Great Picture
Have an attention-getter, such as a small treat or a squeaky toy. The pet won’t take their eyes off of you, which helps produce great pictures.
This is another good tip to familiarize the pet with the camera. After a great picture, give them a treat. They may not know what you’re doing, but they’ll see the camera and start obeying!
Furthermore, rewarding them with a treat is a good chance to stop and regroup if you need to try a different method for your photo shoot.
- Patience is a Virtue
Animal portraits are different than traditional portraits. You need patience when photographing them.
Stay calm and don’t get discouraged if you’re not capturing the shots you want on your first few attempts. Pets can read your feelings and they’ll sense your composure. If you don’t get a good shot now, there’s always next time.
Taking your time and getting to know a pet is essential in building trust and will help in having them respond to you when you attempt to photograph them.
Time to Take Pet Photographs
Pets can be hard to photograph. However, with the right tips, you can take great pet photographs. Always remember, pets aren’t humans. Make sure they’re comfortable and you reward them for great pictures.
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