Taking pet photographs requires more than incredible subject matter, it also involves a little skill and patience!

The following information provides tips to consider when trying to capture your pet in a picture!

Tip #1. Rule of Thirds

When taking a photo, look through the lens and imagine a tic-tac-toe grid drawn on top of the view. The rule of thirds focuses on looking at the 4 areas where the lines intersect. If the subject matter is interesting in any of these places, the rule of thirds has been successfully used. When taking a photo, don’t focus on placing the subject in the center; try instead to use the rule of thirds to intentionally make what you capture asymmetrical.

Tip #2. Background and Foreground

Through the viewfinder, look at everything surrounding the subject

• Do the items belong in the picture?
• Are they relevant to the photo?

Objects that are in front of or behind the subject can be distracting. For instance, a pup can have the cutest expression, but if the street sign or telephone pole in the background appears to be growing out of its head, the picture loses its charm.

If the objects surrounding the subject are not relevant to the photo, it isn’t always necessary to move the pet. Instead, try to remove the objects by:

• Lowering the camera
• Turning it to take the picture vertically
• Changing your position.

Tip #3. Flash

While there are many benefits to using a flash when taking a picture, it isn’t always a good idea when a pet is the subject!

Direct flash can be unflattering if it produces a type of lighting that makes even the most beautiful pet look unnatural. The light from a flash can startle an animal. Flash can cause the subject to have red eye.

Instead of using the camera flash, try to use an accessory flash that has an external connection. This type of flash allows the photographer to point the flash away from the face of the pet by moving the flash away from the camera. The flash will still be able to fill in the dark areas.

Tip #4. Get on Their Level

Some of the best pictures are taken simply by bringing the camera lens to the animal’s level. Cameras with a tilting screen make taking these shots much easier. Otherwise, the picture may require the photographer to get down on the ground!

Tip #5. Change the Angle of the Picture

Try looking at the pet from an angle other than just straight on. For example, looking down on the animal from directly above will isolate them within a landscape, and looking up at the animal from below will accentuate a tall dog’s features.

Tip #6. Photograph the Pet’s Natural Behavior

Part of taking an interesting picture involves capturing the pet’s personality. Instead of taking a still photograph, try to catch the image of the pet behaving naturally. For instance:

• Playful, silly cats can be photographed jumping up on their hind legs as they bat at a toy
• Quiet, calm dogs could be snapped as they doze in their favorite sunny spot of the yard.

Tip #7. Have Some Help

When planning to take a posed shot, having an extra set of hands will help to improve the odds of getting a good picture. Having someone to help offers assistance by:

• Providing distractions to catch the animal’s attention

• Redirecting attention back to the camera
• Helping to pose the pet
• Returning the pet back to the photo spot so the camera doesn’t have to be reset.

Tip #8. Relax and Be Patient

Capturing the look of a happy pet is the reason for taking most pictures. Animals can sense stress and anxiety, and it will show up on the picture. If you relax and have fun, they will too!

Taking great pictures of our pets isn’t difficult, it just requires a little practice, planning and thought! 

Sources:

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/technique/wildlife_photography/photographing-pets-pet-photography-tip-566

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/06/17/stress-relief-tips.aspx