Yesterday I taught fifteen 5 year old kids tips and techniques for taking better photographs of pets. We started off with a short classroom session in which we discussed tips and techniques. Then we met outside where the local Ridgway Second Chance Humane Society was kind enough to meet us with some of their volunteer staff and more cooperative dogs awaiting adoption. Some great personal stories were shared by the students. I learned a lot about the variety of pets out there, and the kids were very excited to get to do some hands on work photographing the dogs. 

Here are the highlights of what the kids learned and then got to put in to practice.

 Be Patient and Calm:

• Pet photography requires a lot of patience. Your energy level will affect the animals so stay calm.

• If you are patient enough, your pet will relax and you will have the opportunity to get a decent shot.

• Animals are naturally uncooperative, so it’s up to you to anticipate the best moments to shoot pictures.  Work with your pets, not against them.

• If you are longing for a formal pet portrait shot, try to schedule the photo session when you’re animal is somewhat sleepy or just woke up. It will be much easier to keep him still.

• If you want a more dynamic shot, pick a time when your pet is energetic.

Lighting:

• Photograph your pet in great light. In the case of animals, that’s almost always natural light, go outside.

• Avoid direct sunlight, as it can alter natural coloring and increase the contrast between shadow and light, hiding some features. Look for a shady spot or choose a bright but overcast day.

• The light next to a large window or open door or late day sunlight makes all animals look great.

• Don’t use a flash, this can cause red-eye and distort the true coloring & shading of your pet.

•  The exceptions are if your pet has a black coat, in which case a flash or bright sunlight can actually bring out shading and texture which may be lost in photos taken under other lighting conditions.

Composition:

• Keep your camera at the animal’s eye level. You want to avoid having all of your pet pictures taken from a human eye’s view, which is to say, looking down. Get down on your hands and knees if you have to.

• When photographing a living creature, it’s almost always best to focus on the eyes. Make the eyes sharp. It’s where people look first.

• Decide if you want a portrait of full body shot

• Use a long lens. Zoom in. That will throw through the background out of focus, which is a way to give contrast between the background and your pet.

• Look for simple backgrounds that will contrast against your pet. In other words, if you have a black dog look for a light colored background. If you have a white cat, look for a dark background. Spend time considering what the background will be

• Eliminate distracting background items by composing to avoid them. Try shifting your position so that the background becomes less busy. If you notice a tricycle, basketball, or trashcan behind your pet, move. Use a distant shrub or plain grass instead.

Posing:

• Your pet is not a person; they do not understand they are having their photo taken. So be patient and don’t fight them.

• Let them play with the camera…sniff it, put there nose in it…let them get comfortable.

• Play with your pet. Keep your pet as comfortable and at ease as possible. Cameras can be distracting for some animals, so if you cannot get your pet to behave normally, try having someone else divert their attention and keep them engaged.

• If your pet will not sit still, have someone hold them in position. If you are shooting a tight portrait, then hands and arms are easily cropped out of the frame.

• Get close to your pet whether it’s a horse or a goldfish. Fill the frame with the animal you love and leave out all of that distracting other stuff like lawn furniture and telephones.

• Take plenty of tightly cropped facial photographs with a zoom lens if possible, and have their face fill the frame while still in sharp focus. Try taking some three-quarter views as well as from the front. A slightly angled pose can sometimes make a beautiful portrait photograph.

• A good idea is to have favorite treats or toys at the ready. Hold them up near the camera to catch (and hopefully hold) interest in the right direction. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be silly. Try making funny and unusual noises or movements to get their attention.

Capture your pet’s personality:

•  A successful picture is one that conveys the character of its subject. You know your pet better than anyone else. If you have a lazy cat, show him yawning, if your dog is of a playful type; show him in action performing his favorite trick.

• Take a picture that reflects some characteristic, such as curiosity, goofiness, loving adoration, or confidence.

• You do not have to include every inch of your pet, only the parts needed to express what you’re trying to capture.

If you have tips I didn’t include let me hear about them in the comments section below.