Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- A Camera
- A Pet
- Good Light
- Patience
Step1
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.
Step2
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.
Step3
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.
Step4
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.
Step5
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.
Step6
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.
Comments
showpup said
on 5/30/2008 Nice tips. I also love to get super close ups of my pets. It helps me capture the personality. I love the half-face close ups or close enough of the face that you don't see any background at all. (works best for fuzzies) My fav is the one of my cat, Pookie who is on my 'more photos' and then 'other critters' page of www.ironwoodkennel.com 5 stars for your article. :)
mchapman said
on 5/29/2008 Loved the article, will try it as soon as I get home from vacation. Any tips on photographing birds?
coachmac4 said
on 5/28/2008 I have a black Lab and sometimes it is hard getting a good picture. My favorite is the picture in step 4. It says a lot! 5 stars~!
L1onherd said
on 5/1/2008 Excellent idea!!! I have a Shepherd, Chihuahua, and a kitty!!! I can't wait to try these tips on them all!!! I'll keep you posted.
dsarokin said
on 4/9/2008 I don't have a pet, but I do have kids, and it seems some of these hints would work fine with them. By the way, is there someplace we can have a look at your photography portfolio...? It sounds like you've been around, and really know your stuff.