Pet Photography Tips Blog about Pet Animals

Tips on Taking Photos of your Pets

Our pets are just like our children and we often want to capture every funny and landmark moment on film. It looks a lot easier than it really is. Taking a picture of your pet is like taking a picture of a baby or small child. You have to snap your fingers or make sounds to make them look up into the camera. They also will move or run away at their whim.

Lighting is very important when you are photographing your pet. Natural light is the best to capture their character. If you are shooting pictures indoors your pet may become scared or frightened of the flash. Using a flash or not being in the right light can also cause red eye in your pictures. To help prevent this make sure you take pictures from many different angles and poses.

The best pictures are taken on a bright but cloudy day or in a room that is well lit through sun coming in the windows. You have to be very patient and allow time for your pet to settle down. I find I get the best pictures if I carry my camera with me and walk around or stop and play with my pets. This way they get used to the camera. I take pictures as I am walking around and when I am sitting down petting my cats or dogs.

Animals can be very photogenic and with patience and practice you can get pictures that will bring out the best in them, whether you are taking pictures of your active puppy or your lazy feline friend. I usually have my digital camera in my pocket and take candid pictures whenever I see them. My cats and dogs are used to having their pictures taken.

Another tip is to use an optical zoom when taking your pictures. That way you can be further away and not scare the animal. When using the zoom you have to make sure that you don't blur the image. If you experiment using different angles and taking pictures from different positions you will be able to capture your pet's true character.

If you are still trying to get that perfect picture of your beloved pet and have a treasured memory for a lifetime, here are some more helpful hints:

• One common mistake that some people make when taking a picture of their pet is to do it from a standing position. You will get better photos if you get down to eye level with your pet. Whenever you can, try to use natural light, filtered sunlight or bright shade is ideal.

• Try to keep as much of the background out of the pictures as you can. When you are taking the picture try to frame your pet tightly in the shot. You want to bring out emotion in your pet, whether it be perking up their ears or tilting their heads. You want to keep their eyes focused on the camera. You can use their favourite phrases or make a sound that will keep their attention.

• Before you start to take pictures of your pet you should wipe their eyes and give them a quick brushing. You can use treats to get them to do what you want. You can use small treats and always praise them when they have done what you wanted them to do.

• It is a lot easier to take a picture of your pet when someone else is there to help out. That way you can concentrate on getting the best shot. It is very important to have patience. You can take a lot of shots and edit them later. If you do get frustrated you should take a break and try taking some pictures later on.

Pictures are precious keepsakes that you can have of your pet that will last for a long time.

When you finally have that perfect photo of your pet, why not upload it to our Facebook page and share it with other members of our pet community?