Pet Photography Techniques

Setup

• Although many photography studios welcome animals, pets are most relaxed and natural in their own environments. Take your session to them and meet them on their terms: Get down on the floor and let them investigate you and your camera. Towering over a small animal and leaning in with strange equipment is intimidating and will not bring out the best in your companion. Professional photographers advise that you sit on the floor or lie on your belly to get to the correct level, and shoot from the animal's eye level or below. An assistant can distract your subject, help create the desired poses, and use props and treats to encourage attention.

Lighting

• Check your lighting: natural light is preferable to any other kind and reduces the risk of red-eye and loss of definition. A camera flash can be distracting or frightening to an animal. Try to place your subject in a large, sunlit room, perhaps near a window. Another recommendation is an outdoor scene with plenty of natural sunlight. If a flash is absolutely necessary, ensure that you use an off-camera unit for more natural lighting and to avoid red-eye.

Position

• Ensure that the pet is on the same level or higher than your camera lens. Zoom in to close in on the pet's face and fill the frame completely with an intriguing detail. Shooting upward from below a small animal can bring out the cheeky, inquisitive aspect of its personality and create a special portrait. Alternatively, shooting from directly in front of the subject--looking deep into the eyes--conveys the animal's innate sense of trust, wisdom, and intelligence.

Focus

• Emphasize the pet's personality by capturing natural poses. Offer treats to animals that are food-focused, and toys or verbal praise to those that are not. Perk up a canine subject's ears by using an unfamiliar squeak toy, making the dog attentive and curious.

  A carefully planned session in a relaxed environment will allow your subject's character to shine through, but you must have patience and let the animal behave naturally. Speak in an encouraging tone and ensure that you are actively observing the pet's behavior. The perfect "clickable moment" will occur, so be ready.

Tips and Tricks

• If you own an SLR with a long lens or a macro lens, use it to create a stunning portrait that's both representative and intimate. A close-up of your pet's whiskers, half of a face, or a cold wet nose is a delightful way to capture the essence of your subject.

  Remember to bring a bag of tricks with you to the shoot: Pets appreciate treats and toys, and they will reward you with better photographs if you make them happy. Use a splash of lemon juice on the tongue to help an excited dog briefly stop panting--then quickly shoot the moment.

  Finally, accept your role: You are there only to capture a split-second of the animal's life. Whatever you do, your subject is in control of the session and you can only seize each opportunity as it arises.