3 Tips to take BETTER PHOTOS of your pet!
I know your phone’s photo app is OVERFLOWING with photos of your pet! How would I know that?? Should I share the total number of photos on my phone and the percentage that are pets… hmm that could be embarrassing… I think I might hold some sort of record of the total number of photos of dogs, cats, cockatiels, fish, ducks, random squirrels, and the occasional Canada Goose residing in my pocket! lol
Would you like to take your pet photos up a level or two? Maybe find more ways to capture that sweet, sweet puppy face in a photo that you’ll treasure? Keep reading!
Tip #1
GET DOWN!
Not your pup - YOU! lol
If you’re able to get your camera and yourself down to your dog or cat’s level, like, RIGHT DOWN flat on the ground, you’ll get a perspective of your pet from their view of the world! I spend an inordinate amount of time lying on wet grass, mud, sand, or snow while photographing pets and it really pays off. That direct, straight-on eye contact is really fantastic, and you can feature your pet as the HERO of the scene! Think, “Pet Avengers pose” - especially if you can get even lower than their eye level! Maybe a bit easier with an Irish Wolfhound than a Chihuahua, but, get creative.
If you have trouble getting down on the ground (or more likely, getting UP again as I do on occasion!) try elevating your pet to make it a little easier!
This leads us to Tip #2…
Tip #2
ELEVATE your pet!
That might mean setting them up on the couch or chair in your living room, or maybe on a tree stump, rock, or park bench when outside. Why would this be a good tip? Well, as I mentioned above, it can help you to get to their eye level for a dog’s-eye-view of their world, but it’s also a great way to contain that wiggly puppy or skittish cat so that you have more than a millisecond to snap a photo! Be careful when elevating any pet though - use a helper to keep them safe, consider using a leash, and be sure it’s a stable surface.
Elevating your pet can also let you incorporate the surroundings a little differently than the usual “sit there for your photo” images. With your pet contained on a log or rock, take a moment to look around and compose (design) and plan the look of your photo. Maybe include a line of trees behind your pet, or perhaps that awesome urban graffiti artwork lines up in a cool way with where your pet is sitting. I love a cute or colourful chair, so I often use one of my (many…) chairs and benches to elevate and contain a dog while in a gorgeous outdoor setting. Just because this pretty blue chair doesn’t belong in the woods doesn’t mean that it can’t be popped out there for some photos! It's eye-catching and fun!
Tip #3
EYE CONTACT!
You know that instant connection you feel when you see a photo of an animal making direct eye contact with the camera? It really speaks to you and even more so if it’s YOUR pet! How do you get a dog or cat to look straight down that lens, or directly into the back of your phone? They don’t understand what the “big black eye” or weird rectangle being held in their face is, so you need to find a way to get them to look in a specific direction. Try holding a yummy treat, a favourite ball, or an interesting toy close to the lens - show it to them and lure/draw their attention to the camera. Hold the treat or toy right above or even on top of the lens and when you see they’re looking straight into the camera - CLICK! - and grab that moment! Or, try making a funny noise or use a squeaker that catches their attention so that they look at the source of the noise - but be FAST to snap that button and use each noise sparingly as the novelty wears off quickly. You may only have one or two chances with the same noise before they stop reacting. I find a good puppy whine, meow, or whistle grabs their attention and results in some great eye contact and often a sweet head tilt! I also have a favourite hunting call that works a treat! This photo of the Pointer was a result of that silly noise!
I hope those tips are helpful to grab some really fun and meaningful photos of your pet! Now go on and get practicing! I’d love to see your results - tag me on Insta!
And, if you’d like ME to do it for you, together we’ll create photos of your pet you’ll treasure and enjoy in an album or custom wall art (and maybe save you some muddy clothes!), click here or follow the button below to learn more about my pet photography, Wheeldon Photography!
