How to Photograph your Pet Bird

You can get a great photo of your pet parrot without shelling out a wad of dough to a professional pet photographer or needing to acquire a lot of fancy equipment!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• digital camera
• pet bird

1. Portrait photo of a pair of monk parrots at Foster Parrots in Rockland, MA. Photographing pet birds is a piece of cake next to wildlife photography. (See "How to View and Photograph a Wild Moose" and "How to Photograph Wild Seals" by this writer.) As they are used to being in close proximity to humans, pet birds will (more or less) stay put and even pose for photos.
2. A beautiful background will enhance your pet photography. Pet parrots that are in a comfortable setting, i.e.: in their cages or on a companion human's arm, are easy subjects for a close-up portrait. When taking a picture in a cage, you'll want to shoot through an open door to avoid cage bars obstructing the view.
3. Scarlet macaw hams it up for the camera at Parrot Safari in Londonderry, NH. After you and your bird are comfortable with simple close-ups, add some pizzazz to your photos by experimenting with backgrounds - naturalistic or rain forest-y for instance. In the photo above, a pot full of flowers serves the double purpose of partially obscuring the cage and as a beautiful backdrop for Pippy the Goffin's cockatoo. Next step: action shots of your bird performing trips (like the scarlet macaw on the left) or playing with its toys!

Tips & Warnings

• Parrots' eyes are located on each side of their heads, unlike ours on the front of our faces. For the cutest, most expressive shots, you'll want to photograph the bird while its head is turned sideways. You may want to have a bell or whistle on hand to attract the bird's curiosity.
• Digital photography allows you the luxury of on-the-spot editing. Even pet animals aren't always the most cooperative of subjects, so it may take several shots before you get that perfect photo!
• Adjust your camera for the task at hand: landscape for close-up portraits, action for the bird as it is performing tricks or playing; flash in a dark area.
• More pet/animal articles by this writer: HOW TO: Feed Live Brine Shrimp to your Aquarium Fish, Keep a Betta Fish, View and Photograph a Wild Moose, Photograph Wild Seals.
• Don't take outdoor, out-of-cage shots of your bird unless you're certain the bird can't fly away - i.e. its wings are clipped.
• Avoid exposing the bird to risky situations. You've probably seen many of those cutesy pix of birds playing with cats or dogs - but bear in mind that even a "playful" bite or scratch can easily be fatal to a pet bird.