Our Best Friends

If you are a pet owner you know how much these companions touch our lives. Our pets are full of love, energy, excitable spirit, and abundant personality. Capturing your pet's "spirit" in a photograph is not always an easy task. With the holidays rapidly approaching it is a great time to create a few memorable photos. Here a few tips to try the next time you take out your camera. Focus on the Eyes As the saying goes, "The eyes are the windows to the soul". When we view a photograph we are immediately drawn to look at the subject's eyes. The same is true for the pictures we take of our animals. When you set up your shot, be sure to set the focus on the eyes. It is worth mentioning that the entire face need not be in crisp focus. So long as the eyes are in focus, our brain will accept a less focused parts as acceptable.

Use Natural Light

When photographing your pet, look for a well lit area with plenty of diffused or indirect light. It is typically best to avoid bright, direct sunlight which will wash out detail and create high contrast images with strong shadows. If you need to use a flash, try to avoid using your camera's pop-up flash without using an an attachment to diffuse the light. While convenient, these built in flash units are notorious for producing harsh shadows and the dreaded "redeye" in your photographs.

Alternately, you can use an external flash unit which easily attaches to your camera's "hot shoe" and works with your cameras through the lens (TTL) metering. These units typically allow you to tilt the flash and bounce the light off of the ceiling to scatter the light and create a more natural look. You can also attach a diffuser to the unit to soften the light. Some examples are the Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce Diffuser , the Gary Fong LightSphere , and the Vello Mini Softbox.

If you don't own an external flash you can easily add a diffuser to your camera's pop-up flash. There are several products on the market that can be easily attached. Two examples are the Gary Fong Puffer Pop Up Flash Diffuser and the Sto-Fen Omni-Flip - both attach to your camera's hot shoe. You can also create your own diffuser by adapting items such as an old film canister or even a coffee filter .

Get Close

Get Close When taking photos of our pets, it is easy to lose them in the visual noise of the surroundings. Be intentional with your composition and fill the frame with your pet. This will help to eliminate distracting background items which compete for the viewers attention. Moving in close also allows you to focus on your pet's expressive eyes. Try using a large aperture when you take the picture. Doing this will help by throwing distracting background items out of focus while placing the emphasis on your pet.

Capture Their Attention

Sometimes when you are taking pictures of your pet, they appear to want nothing to do with you. I avoid calling their name to get their attention, since this often has the effect of having them walk over to me. An alternate to capturing your pet's attention is using a squeaky toy or making a noise. If you have an assistant handy, have them stand behind you with the squeaky toy to get your pet to look up, No squeaky toy? Try using the camera's self-timer to make beeps or download a free phone app like "Human to Cat Translator".

Get on Their Level

We often will take pictures from where we stand. While there is nothing wrong with this vantage point, it often results in an uninteresting "snapshot" look. As an alternative, try getting down to your pet's level. Being on their on their level will not only yield interesting angles but also make your pet more comfortable.

Capture Your Pet in Their Favorite Surroundings

Taking picture where your pet hangs out can help tell their story. When including these elements in the picture, look for striking colors and textures. Be intentional with your composition and use the surroundings to frame your pet to lead the viewers eye into the photo.

Have Patience

Have Patience In real estate it is about location, location, location. When taking pictures of your pet, it is all about patience, patience, patience. Taking great photos is about looking for and finding the right moment. Unlike our human friends, our pet friends often don't pose. It is not uncommon for your pet to come over and investigate when you get on their level to take a picture. Consider using a longer focal length to take a picture to put a little physical distance between you and your pet.

Pay Attention to Shutter Speed and Aperture

Choosing a large aperture will create a shallow depth of field to help isolate your pet to eliminate unwanted background detail. Since our friends are often in movement, shooting at a faster shutter speed will help freeze the action and eliminate blurred photos. If you are taking pictures using natural light, you might need to shoot at a higher ISO setting. See my post on camera basics for a refresher on shutter speed, ISO and aperture.

Take the Picture

Don't hesitate to take the picture. One of the beauties of digital is that we can take many shots (just be sure you have plenty of space on your memory card!). Since our pets are in constant motion it is not uncommon for them to move just as you take the picture. The more you take pictures, the more comfortable you, and your pet, will be during these photo sessions.

Have Fun!

Taking photographs of your pet can be very relaxing. This can be a great time spent with your pet and a wonderful time to build new memories.

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