How to Photograph Pets

There are currently about 75 million dogs living in the United States. About 70,000 cats and dogs are born each day in the U.S. We read every day about the abuses that come from having so many pets, but most of us love our pets and take endless amounts of pictures of them. For the beginning photographer, capturing images of pets is a great way to learn the craft before moving up to more complicated creatures like human beings. The trick to taking a good pet photograph is the same as with any other photograph; try to make the picture tell a story. This article offers some useful techniques for photographing your pets.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A Camera
• A Pet
• Good Light
• Patience

1. Puppy at Play Like infants, it is hard to take a bad picture of a puppy. They are so cute that you can’t miss. Puppies are very photogenic. However, it is very hard to take pictures of puppies by yourself. They will either hang around your feet or be out of sight in a minute. Get some family and friends involved and take pictures of them playing with the puppy. If you have a large dog breed, this will be one of the few chances you have to treat them like a lap dog. As they age, family and friends may not always be so eager to hang out with them.
2. Pet Portrait If you have a dog that will obey, try taking a dog portrait that displays their personality. For a portrait to tell a story, you have to capture some expression or action that captures the personality. This is the same for humans. Watch your dog and find a moment or expression that captures their essence and then try to get a photograph of that expression. This is much harder to do for cats. They won’t sit still as long and tend not to obey commands as well as a trained dog.
3. Cat Dance Don’t be afraid to use your flash, especially with cats. Animals are not as sensitive to flash as adults and children. They see differently and flash may make them blink, but will rarely upset them (but of course there are exceptions to every rule). Flash freezes action. Cats move so quickly and without warning it is frequently necessary to use the flash.
4. Waiting for Spring Make your picture tell a story. I call this one, “Waiting for Spring." You don’t need to see the dog’s expression to know he did not appreciate the early spring snow as much as the winter’s first snow. Maybe it is me, but they seem to get bored with winter after a while. Early in the winter, our dog "Deuce" will roll in the snow, eat the snow and bark at the snow. However, in March he will just sit there staring at it with a heavy sigh.
5. Easy Chasing Balls Photograph your pet in action. If they like chasing balls, have somebody throw balls for the dog while you get the picture. Remember to use flash to freeze action or natural light with slow shutter speeds to blur the action.
6. Deuce Chassing Deer Take your pet somewhere they can run free. Of course, if you have a Cheetah for a pet, don't try to do this. Cats can usually run free around your yard, although you are still responsible for any injury or damage they may cause. Dogs are a different matter and you should know the local parks' rules and limitations before going there with your pet. We let our dog run in State Game Lands when hunting is not in session and where it is legal to have your dog unleashed. Outdoor areas make great spots for pet photography.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your dog to a park or run and photograph your dog with other dogs.
• Make sure you know your local pet regulations and leash laws before letting your pets run free.