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picture-perfect pets

When you love your pet, it’s hard to resist sharing their unique personality with the world. Photographs can capture their antics, but it takes skill and perseverance to get the pictures right. Here are some tips and tricks that can turn even the most skittish pet into a picture-perfect portrait.

1. Be patient
Keep your camera at hand and take pictures during your pet’s normal activities. Use a calm voice when you decide to shoot and start with short sessions at first.

2. Focus their attention
Use a toy, a snack or another person to help your pet focus on something other than the camera.

3. Stay at their level and remain as close as possible
Being at eye level and filling your shot with their image provides a glimpse into your pet’s world view.

4. Plan for action
Show the sheer joy that animals have in play by planning for them to be on the move. Focus your camera on where they may be next and use a high-speed film (400 or 800) to stop the action.

5. Don’t be afraid to keep shooting
The minute you stop taking pictures is the minute they’ll do something cute. Remain ready to shoot even after you think they’re bored with the picture taking session.

6. Focus on texture
Cross-lit images show off the detail of your pet’s fur. Try to light your pet from the side, then add fill light from your camera direction.

7. Eliminate red-eye
Avoid the Cujo look by reducing the amount of light in your pet’s eyes. You can do this by moving your flash away from your camera (for direct shots) or by simply keeping your light source far from your pet’s eyes. That will reduce your pet’s pupil size and keep red-eye in check. Be aware that if your camera has built-in red-eye reduction, you may miss the shot because of the delay.

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