Taking Great Pet Photos

You have the best looking pet on the planet, right? Of course you do, and that's why you want to take pictures of them...but not just any picture will do, you want a GREAT picture. How do you go about accomplishing that?

The first step to taking great pet photos is to start with a cooperative subject. You need to make sure that your pet isn't hungry, doesn't need to go potty, has had plenty of exercise and, if they like them, have plenty of treats and toys on hand.

You will need new batteries in your camera and plenty of film or memory, be prepared to take more photos than you think you are going to need. It can take 5, 10 or even 20 shots to get 'just the right one'. You will also need something comfortable for you to sit on, a pillow or blanket.

Lighting is an important factor when photographing your pet. It is best to take your pictures in the morning or evening light. Mid day light tends to be too unforgiving and will cast harsh shadows. Morning and evening sunlight is softer and generally easier to work with.

Get close to your pet. Filling the shot with your pets face will ensure that you capture any emotion or facial detail. Being close to your pet also eliminates any background clutter that can be distracting in the final product.

Showcase what your pet likes to do. If your dog likes to play Frisbee, get some action shots of him running, jumping and catching the Frisbee. This will more than likely require you to have another person on hand to throw while you shoot. If your cat has a favorite pillow or blanket, include this in the photo. These photos will have extra special meaning later.

After you have the perfect photo, try some creative editing. Some easy editing that can be done is making the photo black and white or sepia. While not all photos will lend themselves to this change, the ones that do will turn out more dramatic than they do in color.

Another relatively simple, but effective tool is cropping. Try experimenting with the positing of your pet within the frame. This can provide another interesting result for your finished photo.

Above all, have fun. Make this an enjoyable time for both you and your pet. Don't worry if it doesn't go perfectly or you don't get the prize photo on the first try, you will have more chances, the important thing is spending quality time together.