People have all sorts of pets these days. Pets are supposed to be domesticated animals able to live with people, but not all pets truly fit that description! Whatever kind of pet you have, trying to get good pictures can be a challenge.
This is where digital photography shines. It’s a great way to take pictures of your pet. All those blurry or otherwise less than perfect shots can be deleted, leaving behind the wonderful pictures you want to see of your beloved pet.
You can get some very good photos of your pet on your own. There’s also the option to go to a professional pet photographer. They should have a higher quality camera, enabling them to capture better detail.
Cool and Calm
Whichever you opt for, taking your own pictures or going to a professional, the main thing is to stay low key. If you get nervous or agitated about taking pictures, that feeling will transmit to your pets and they’ll be hyper too. So stay calm and friendly. Make your pet feel at ease — no stress and nothing special going on here, just having a good time!
Check the Background
Where does your pet like to hang out? Sometimes this makes good surroundings for a picture. They’re comfortable in that environment, so more at ease to have their picture taken.
Natural lighting makes for great pictures too. Try for pictures in front of a window during the day, or go outside if possible. You’ll probably have to go with flash photography for some pictures, but experiment at different times with different lighting situations, and see how your pet looks. Remember, that digital camera has a delete button, so if you don’t like the pictures, you haven’t wasted anything but the little time it took you to snap the picture.
The Regal Cat
Changing Settings
Most digital cameras have different settings. Try the macro setting (close-up) to catch the fine detail of your pets fur and whiskers for instance. Sepia photos can be fun, making the pet picture look like an old-time photograph. A lot of digital cameras also have an “action” setting enabling you to take a series of pictures one right after the other, and this is often a great way to get an action shot.
Try, Try Again
If you don’t get the perfect picture the first time, don’t get discouraged. Besides different camera settings, try different surroundings, different lighting, and different times of day. Your pet might be more laid back and photogenic for more formal pictures in the evening, after lots of exercise and no longer full of energy. For those action shots, the morning might work better when they’re still full of pep.
Professional Pet Photography
If you opt for a professional portrait of your pet, try to ask around and see if you can get some recommendations. Look for someone who is not only a good photographer, but comfortable with animals. They need to be willing to take the time to allow your pet to settle down after being taken to a new environment. They also need to space the photography sessions so that strange animals aren’t waiting nearby and distracting your pet.
The Perfect Picture of the Perfect Pet
Have fun with taking pictures of your pet. Your digital camera will make it easy to take lots of pictures at different times, until you have just the kind of pictures you want. If not the first time, eventually you’ll get the perfect picture of your perfect pet.
