Pets: Cat and Dog Photography Tips

Some special considerations should be taken during photography of a cat or dog; here are some tips to follow so as to prevent common mistakes...

FLASH: Try to avoid using a flash, especially if the cat or dog's eyes are in the photo, because this can create an effect called "pet eye", which is somewhat like the "red eye" flashes can cause in photos of people. Flashes can also "wash out" the appearance of the pet and/or background. Outdoor photos of pets in sunlight can often produce the best results. If a photo is developed and has "pet eye", special pens are available which can be applied to a photo print to cover up this effect. ISO-200 film is good for photography of pets in outdoor sunlight, while ISO-400 film generally produces better results in poor lighting. If you are using a disposable camera, consider putting a piece of non-clear tape over the flash if it can't be switched off. A bounce flash (a type of external flash which can be connected to some cameras) produces lighting by reflecting a flash off the ceiling at an angle, which reduces the chance of "pet eye" effects.

MOVEMENT: While cats are more likely to stay in a particular position while you are photographing them, dogs tend to keep moving and may try to approach you while you are getting ready to take the photo. If you are using a point & shoot 35mm camera, make sure the pet is at least three feet away before pressing the shutter button, or the photo may be out of focus. Many point & shoot digital cameras allow you to get as close as one foot away, but present another problem because of the delay between when the shutter button is pressed and when the photo is actually taken. If the dog or cat is sleeping, avoid using a camera with a noisy film winder if you want to take more than one photo. Setting the camera's shutter speed (if possible) to a fast speed and holding the camera with both hands should help reduce or prevent blurring caused by the pet's movement.

BACKGROUND: Make sure that the cat or dog doesn't blend in with the background. This is most likely to be a problem with photography of black cats or dogs. Try to find a background which contrasts with the pet's fur color, while ensuring that there is adequate lighting. For example, photos of a black cat on a sunlit dirt road or red porch are more likely to turn out well. Also, if the black dog or cat's fur is lighted by the sun so that it shines with a silvery color, he or she will appear more defined and clear, rather than just a black-filled outline. Indoor flash photography can sometimes bring out this effect, but not as well.

Following these tips should help improve photography of your cat or dog without much difficulty.