The Best Tips and Techniques for Pet Photography
One of the popular niche areas in photography is pet photography. People nowadays do not consider pets to be mere animals but consider them as a part of their families. They do not refer to themselves as pet owners but as pet parents.
In this scenario, people would love to get their pets photographed so they can share the photographs on social media and other places. This is a great opportunity for pet photographers.
If you are getting into pet photography, then we have some valuable tips for you. Our guidelines will help you photograph pets to get the perfect photo.
Tips and techniques to photograph pets
1) Have the right gear
Each photography type calls for specific gear or accessories to be used. You need the right equipment to excel in pet photography. You need a camera that is fast and has the accurate ability to autofocus. You need lenses to get the best photo of your pets. Portraiture lenses are appropriate. A telephoto lens is a good option to get close-up photos.
If you are shooting your own pets, you can go up close to them and take the picture. But when shooting pets belonging to others, a zoom lens will be helpful. Some pets won’t be comfortable if strangers get close to them with a camera. Lighting may not be helpful since pets may not be comfortable with strong lights. Try as much as possible to take photos in natural light.
2) Proper preparation is needed
You need to prepare well before you start shooting pets. With your own pet, you will not face problems. But when shooting others’ pets you can face problems. This is why you need to prepare well. Land up at the shooting place well in advance and understand the place.
Spend some time interacting with the pet and making it feel comfortable. Clicking straight away as soon as you see the pet is not recommended. Make the animal feel comfortable. Feed it some titbits and ensure the animal is comfortable with you.
Use this time to plan your photography. Decide where you will shoot from. Check out if the lighting is adequate. Shoot from near the windows ideally, so you can get the benefit of natural light. Avoid external lights and use the flash only if required. Flashlights may startle the pet and make it squint. So, be careful using flash.
3) Be patient and get down to their level
The ideal angle to take pet photographs is from their level. You need to literally get down to their level to shoot the best photos. As mentioned, you need to take some time to make the animal comfortable before you start shooting. Patience is the key. If you do not have patience, you will find pet photography very tough.
Pets do not pose as per your convenience. They may refuse to cooperate and turn away or go to sleep. So, you need to wait patiently. Be ready to take the photo when the animal is finally ready. Let the photographs you take be natural. Shoot when the animal is playing, eating, or even simply lying down with its eyes open.
4) Shoot by focusing on the eyes
The eyes of animals are what you should focus on. Pet photography is mostly portrait photography. Here, focusing on the eyes is very important to bring out the character of the subject. Pets like dogs have very expressive eyes and focus on them while shooting.
5) Use toys and treats
If needed, you can use toys and treats to put the pet in a good mood. When they listen to you and give you what you want, you can reward them with a treat. Keeping toys around will encourage animals to play with them. This can help you get great photos. Ensure you talk to the owner to find out what toys and treats to use.
If you have to use a flash, you can use treats as a reward. Whenever you use the flash, give a reward. When the pet understands what you are doing, it will be prepared and wait for the flash.
6) Use sounds to get their attention
Once your camera setup is ready, then you can use sounds to get their attention. Whistling or making a clicking sound is a good idea. You must be careful using this idea. Using it too often can make you lose the element of surprise. Make a sudden sound and the animal will react by looking at you. Use the chance to click a photo.
With these tips, you can get some great clicks of animals and make their pet parents very happy!
[ssba]