Taking pics of our pets can be tough. Unless they are sleeping, something on them is always moving like a wagging tail, a twitching whisker, or they turn their head just as you press the shutter button. Cats tend to look away from the camera as you’re trying to focus on them and dogs run up to the lens wanting to examine what it is and often… lick it.
Aside from changing our settings to capture an image as quickly as possible and trying to find that perfect angle what else can we do to get a great pic of our pets?
1: Let your pet do what they do. If your dog likes to hang out in the backyard and seems most comfortable there, consider moving your photo shoot there. If your cat likes to sit on the couch, then that’s where the pic should be taken. It helps your pet’s personality show through and also makes your pet comfortable.
2: If your dog is zigging and zagging all over the place, bribe him. Treats keep it fun and reward him for being attentive and listening to you as you ask him to sit, sit up, or roll over. Your cat will also pay attention if you dangle a treat they love like a small piece of turkey. Make sure to not tease them too long else you might find yourself pounced upon and no picture taken.
3: If your pet seems to be extremely uneasy around cameras think about how it feels when your picture is taken, it can be unnerving. A big lens or object is staring at you, then a flash that momentarily blinds you, and a click noise. These are foreign to your pet and you may have to work on desensitizing your pet. Start by giving your pet treats as you hold the camera and work on getting your pet to not care that it’s there. This could take a few days and sessions. Eventually, when they hear the click or see the camera “staring” at them they won’t flinch or look away as quickly because the camera will be associated with a good treat.
4: Outdoor and natural lighting are the best for taking pictures of your pet. If you can get some diffused indoor lighting, that will work too. Avoid using a flash your dog or cat won’t appreciate it and often they end up overexposed when you use it.
5: Try to stay patient with your pets. They don’t really know why you’re pointing a camera at them or what they are supposed to do. They may walk away or get distracted chewing on a toy, grooming themselves, or move. It can’t be rushed and if your lose your patience, it’ll reinforce a negative association with the camera.
6: Be prepared to take many pictures. You’ll have to sort through them later to find that “perfect shot” that you took later.
7: Stay focused on your pet. You may need to go to manual mode to get the softer background and focus on your pet. Emphasize the pet in the picture.
8: If you use a photo editing application, don’t over do it. Increase color, contrast, sharpness just enough to help your photo but be aware that too much retouching can make the picture look fake.
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