How to Photograph Your Pet

Let's face it, our pets beat their human counterparts hands down in the cute 'n cuddly stakes on a bad day. Which makes photographing your pet a really popular practice among those lucky enough to be owned by one! The little darlings can make fairly challenging photographic subjects though, so here are a couple of pointers on how to go about photographing your pet.

How low can you go:

Unless you are of Lilliputian stature or own the last Giant Guatemalan Hunting Cat, you'll have to get down to their level to avoid always having high camera angle shots. This gives you good eye to eye contact and lends the viewer a sense of being part of the shot giving the photographs a far more intimate and personal character.

Consider character:

Before you start photographing your pet, consider its personality. Knowing your pet's habits and character traits makes planning where and when to photograph them doing their stuff that much easier. As with photographing people, being set up in the right place at the right time goes a long way to making great shots possible. You then have to move around very little and won't distract you pet. And they get distracted a lot easier than we do, that's a fact.

Framing:

Try and catch some of the action framed through some part of the surroundings on their level. This also adds an element of mystique and intimate interest to the shot, almost as if they were being watched by another pet. Also try and accentuate particular features. Focus right in close on the pet's eyes, paws or a thrashing tail.

Context:

When photographing your pet, try and think of a place that is synonymous with them. Taking your photos there will add more personal value to the shots and probably make the pet a lot more comfortable and cooperative. Try and remove items in the shot that will detract from or overwhelm the subject. Simple settings are often the best.

Get in close:

A good rule in photographing your pet is the old standard "get in close". Close ups and ¾ shots usually give a far more representative pet portrait. This can be pretty hard as most pets will move around quite a lot, but patience will eventually pay off and you'll get your shot. If your pet is too hyped when you are close by, try a zoom lens and steal the shots from an unobtrusive distance.

Lighting:

Standard photographic principles regarding lighting apply to Photographing your pet as well. Avoid using a flash where at all possible. Some animals aren't fussed by the flash, some just take off and won't cooperate again. Flash also creates some really ghostly glowing eye issues with pets so take care. Natural lighting is the winner when it comes to photographing your pet, just keep in mind that strong sunlight can also play some weird tricks with fur color. My black and white cats regularly come out a strange russet color because of the way the sunlight picks up underlying color in their fur.

Playing:

If your pet is naturally playful, some great opportunities can arise from sitting quietly and rolling a marble or ball across to them and then snapping the fun. A balled up piece of paper suspended on a length of string can also produce dozens of really good candid action shots. Photographing your pets playing with each other or other family members produces many winners as well.

Catching action:

Because pets move around a lot it is good to use fast shutter speeds most of the time. This means that all other considerations such as lighting and corresponding f stop settings have to be juggled sometimes. The crisp shots are well worth the effort though. If you have camera that allows full manual settings and are experienced enough to do the balancing act with the settings, that's great. If not use the shutter priority mode. Then you can choose the shutter speed and let the camera do the rest. Cameras that can shoot continuous bursts are also great for capturing those precious action sequences.

People and pets:

Photographing your pet with other family members make for some of the most memorable shots of your pet. Pets and children always work out very well. The interaction between pets and their human family members are usually the defining moments we always remember, so don't hesitate to get your pet involved with the family. Shots of a child curled up asleep with his dog or cat are precious and will be cherished for all time.

Candid pet photos:

Photographing your pet on the sly works as well as it does with people. Pets also respond to your presence in the same way as people do and will act accordingly. Catching them unawares while they are playing or just lazing around offers great opportunities to capture their true character. This is where knowing your pets habits comes to the fore in choosing the ideal ambush spot.

If you are anything like me, your pets will be an integral part of your family and as such are deserving of inclusion in any family album.