Tips for photographing pets

Photographing dogs and cats

Pet photography is a specialty that has more and more followers. Like other fields that are already consolidated, such as Newborn photography, specialization in pets is still quite new in our country. Therefore, there is still not much literature as to how animals are to be photographed. Here are some tips that have helped me as a pet photographer that I have learned from working in this field.

1.Understand who our models are.

It seems obvious, but we have to be aware of what we are photographing. The most common is to photograph dogs and cats in a studio. But they have their own special needs and we have to respect them.

1. Welcoming: when the pets arrive at the studio we have to give them time to acclimatize. Leave them to roam freely through the studio so that they can smell and get used to the new space.
2. Interaction: it is advisable not to jump directly into petting them (although sometimes it can be difficult) and let them come to us when they feel comfortable. Once relaxed, it’s time to start interacting. A good way is to offer them a treat and a bowl of fresh water. That way we’ll start earning their sympathy.
3. Respect their timetable:  we have to keep in mind that pets get tired before people do. That’s why we have to keep the session no longer than one hour with short pauses for the animal to remain comfortable.

2.How to keep their attention.

Once we start the session, it is important to keep them active, to look at us, to give us their best poses. For this I use two little tricks:

1. Always have the treats at hand. Normally dogs like all kinds, but it’s good to have different options. From dog food to ham or sausages. We have to ration the food and give it to them only in those situations where they do what we ask them to do, such as sitting or giving us the paw.
2. Use sound. For them to turn their heads or stand still, sometimes it’s enough to make an unexpected noise. We can use our own voice or some kind of toy. As in the case of food, we must also be skillful when using this technique. When we use a certain noise more than 3 or 4 times, the animal has already lost interest.

3. Stunning photographs of dogs and cats.

The most interesting part is here. How do you get good pictures of pets? Here are some tricks:

1. Position yourself at the height of the model. It is important that we adapt to the height of the dog or cat. To do this you can raise the animal on a small table or low platform to work more comfortably. This way the photographs will transmit a feeling of equality between photographer and model.
2. Always focus on the eyes. The most important thing in a pet photograph is its look. It is the part that transmits more, so you have to concentrate on finding the focus in that part.
3. Diaphragm and speed. Use diaphragms as closed as possible to focus most of the image. As for speed, as fast as you can. Animals move a lot and working at high speeds will help.

I hope these tips can help you make your best pet pictures!