One of the great joys of having a pet is the laughter that they bring to us. Whether we are laughing at them or with them they never hold a grudge. It seems they are almost always trying to entertain us. What pet owner doesn’t have a picture of their beloved friend in some crazy situation or pose, stuck on their refrigerator door? And what better way to save those precious moments than with a great photo?
I photograph pets professionally, intentionally trying to create humorous images…but often it is the in-between moments that end up with those priceless expressions. Those un-expected antics…that bring an involuntary smile to me and have me showing everyone around the back of my camera saying “Hey! Check this one out…what a crack-up!”.
Right now I live with two cats…one of them just can’t resist any box. Put a box down and a moment later, out of nowhere…Pitsy is in the box! It doesn’t matter what size box either…I have seen her in boxes that she can barely fit in…that she can’t even get all of her paws down in…but hey…if it’s a box then she’s going to claim it!
Our other cat, Plucky, has his favorite place to be…on the lap of any one using a computer (luckily I am writing this at work or it would be much slower going and by the end I would be covered in cat fur)! No computer…he isn’t interested…but sit down in front of a computer anywhere in the house…and you instantly have one very large feline purring contentedly between you and that keyboard. Every pet is an endless source of amusement, fun and laughter!
A few tips for good Pet Photography:
1. Get down on their level…it makes your picture feel much more intimate and brings up the level of interest by using a perspective that we are not used to having.
2. Avoid direct sunlight. Direct sunlight is harsh and may “blow out” the details and leave the shadows too dark with no detail. Open shade is good…if indoors try shooting them next to a large window that has indirect light coming in.
3. Make sure your pet’s eyes are in focus. If their eyes are sharp in most cases
we can forgive a shallow depth of field the results in out of focus extremities.
4. Get close…and pay attention to the rest of the frame. We too often tend to our pet’s face in the center of the frame and have a lot of wasted space above him or her. Take a moment to look around the viewfinder and place your pet in an interesting composition…without distractions in the background.
5. Patience! The number one ingredient for great pet photography is patience. A little patience, combined with perseverance is a great combination for success in getting those great shots of your best friend
Capturing those awesome shots of your pet, and sharing them with your friends…and yes…putting them into that refrigerator gallery…what could be better?