Keep Your Eye On The Ball

while posed shots are nice to have, you should try catching your pet in candid situations.

Something to consider:

I will always take a better photograph of your child than you will!

Not because I’m a better photographer than you, or because I have more or less experience than you. Its all because of this very simple reason. When a child (or a pet) sees something that excites them and they perk up to look.. of times, you (the loving parent) look as well to see what they’re looking at. The photographer, however, doesn’t care what the subject is looking at, because we’re busy hitting the shot!

Catch them when they don’t expect it. Catch them sleeping or when they are playing. If you try to hard and focus too much getting the perfect shot, you won’t have fun. Believe me, your success in this business RELYS on your attitude! This is one of the most important secrets you will get…. Ready?

HAVE FUN and Keep Your Eye On Your Subject!

Select The Right Height

Again, this goes alone with one of my previous comments about “Get Down And Dirty”! You’ll want to be on the same level as your pet. If your not careful, you’ll get to many “down” shots and since most humans are taller than their pets…

Consider Your Pets Persnoality

When you look at your pet look at the key features that make him or her up. Look at your pets hair, eyes, size etc. Also, think about your pets persona. What makes him or her special? The idea here is to narroow down the things that bring out the personality in your pet, “focus” on them and start shooting. Youll love what you come up with.

Photograph You And Your Pet

If someone else holds the camera and takes some photographs of you with your pet you can create some amazing pictures. The secret is to ignore the camera. Get caught in the moment and just enjoy your puppy or dog.

Play with the pet in their natural environment! With their favorite toys, or in their favorite part of the yard. Just enjoy and forget all about the camera. That’s how you can capture amazing images.

When photographing someone else with their pet, remember to give the same advice. Forget the lens, Forget the camera! Just have fun and be yourself. The magic will be in the images you produce.

Priceless moments suspended for all time!

Change Up Your Lighting

This is really important because good lighting can make a photograph excellent but poor lighting can ruin an otherwise nice photo. MY suggestion is to use natural lighting as much as possible. Specially when you can photograph in the early or late hours of the day.In the business this is reffered to as the ‘magic hour’!

It is usually best to avoid flash photography since it spooks many pets. Plus, animals are prone to red eye.

Move in Closer

Dogs and cats are smaller than humans. If you’re not careful, your pet will end up being a small part of the picture. Experiment with close up shots. You’ll be able to get some great shots of textures this way. You’ll also be able to focus on unique animal elements, like fur and paws. If you don’t have a zoom lens, think about getting one. This is one the great pet photography secrets.

Location, Location, Location…

Choose & prepare the location & dog well in advance. Always remember that to snap a good pic only takes a few seconds but you can wait a LONG, LONG time for that moment. So be patient, your dog or furry client doesn’t understnad what your up to so give them time to relax.

Also remember to, Choose a good location. Dogs are usually most relaxed & confident & more easily directed in their home environments or places they are familiar with. The key to getting a good dog photograph is to choose a quiet location with adequate light & tidy backgrounds with colors that compliment or accent your dogs.

Leave the Owners Behind…

QUICK TIP: When photographing for a client or during a photo session with a pet its almost always easier when the owner is outside or at least out of the room. A lot of the time the owners will get nervous that they’re dog or pet will misbehave and not sit perfectly still and pose for the camera. This stress then gets transferred to the dog and in turn will double the time and efforts of your photo shoot.

Composition

When photographing most people try to fit the whole animal in the image, or atleast the enitre head of the animal in the image.

Well here’s a grea tip…

CROP IT! Yes, try not to center your pet in the frame, or try cropping the head a little and leave the focus on the eyes. You’ll be amazed at the results.

‘Eye’ Told You So!

When taking pictures of your dogs remember to keep the eyes SHARP! The eyes tell everything in a picture. After that if you find your photo is a litle fuzzy here or there its no big deal. As long as those eyes are sharp .. you’ve got your money shoot.

After all you can see straight to the siould through the eyes!