People love their pets so much, they treat them like family. Pet Portrait Photography is about getting amazing photos of your pets which will become treasured keepsakes for the whole family.
Pet photography can be done anywhere, at home, in the backyard or in the parks, or in other outdoor settings.
Here are some tips for the photographer starting out in the field of capturing photos of your own pets.
The Candid Shot
You can’t expect animals to pose for you, naturally, they are active and highly temperamental. You must always expect distractions to come your way, it’s almost impossible to teach animals to pose exactly the way you want them to.
Instead, work on the candid shot. Catch them doing something that you consider clever, funny, or even cute. You need to be observant and react to what they are doing.
Make Your Pet Look Its Best
Well-groomed pets are always nice to look at, however, there are unexpected moments that can make for amazing photos, like when a well-groomed pet runs into a puddle of mud.
If you take your pet to be groomed regularly, you will have a lot of opportunities to catch them at their best, but, you should be aware that when a dog or cat with longer hair receives a shorter haircut they are prone to a bit of depression. Taking photos right after an appointment with a groomer may not yield the best photos.
Moods and Behavior Swings
Try to get to know your pets’ moods, perhaps they feel sleepy after they have eaten, maybe they are more playful in the morning or later at night. By getting to know your pets’ patterns you can anticipate the moods they will be in for your photos.
As Close as Possible
When you clearly show the face of your pet, that’s when we get the cutest photos. Pets are generally smaller than humans, so you may need to get down on the ground or down lower so that you can get a clear view of their eyes and take a close-up shot of their face. When you are taking photos of pets, zoom lenses or telephoto lens are more desirable so you can fill the frame with their face without getting too close to them.
Plan the Scenes
Plan your scenes carefully. Make sure that there are plenty of toys around if you have a cat that likes to play with toys, or give your dog bones or doggie toys to play with so that they can retrieve and bite if your dog likes to chew.
Make sure that you are working in an area with adequate light. You can also sprinkle some colors in the area such as blankets or towels.
There are lots of ways to catch your pet doing something cute. You just need to be prepared and patient. With a little bit of planning and by following a few simple tips, your pet portraits will become great keepsakes.