Some people treat their pets with a special way, as it is one of the essential components of the warmth we always strive to achieve in our homes. From this standpoint and because they share with us many moments of our lives on various levels, we always want to keep as many pictures of our pets as possible, hence the importance of domestic pets photography.
With the proliferation of means that allow the exchange and sharing of photos via the Internet, with the development of individuals’ interest in professional cameras, pets photography has taken a new dimension, which has been accompanied by the emergence of hundreds or even thousands of pictures of pets that carry a clear professionalism, which suggests that they were photographed by professionals. .
But this is not always the case. A large number of these pictures that we see every day online are taken by regular and beginner photographers who are the same pets that they photograph. The secret then is in knowing how to photograph pets like a pro, which we present today in this step-by-step guide.
Table of Contents
9 Pets photography tips like a pro
Don’t forget your pet’s personality
Pets are like humans, especially at the level of different and independent personalities, although animal groups share several characteristics and characteristics, animal lovers and their followers know very well that each of them has an independent and different personality.
Who else, then, can get to know your pet’s personality? Certainly no one. With this knowledge, you will be able to determine the right moment to take the appropriate photo, as you will be able to capture the exciting reaction in the most appropriate time possible, which will reveal the true spirit of your animal in every shot you photograph.
The environment is one of the foundations of photographing pets
Pets photography is based on moments when the pet feels comfortable, not tense or upset, hence the importance of being careful and careful about the environment surrounding your animal when photographing it.
Try to choose a comfortable and familiar environment for your animal when photographing it, and try as much as possible to stay away from places that cause him tension, which also includes keeping him away from elements that may disturb him, such as the presence of other animals he does not know, the presence of tools he fears, or even noise that may lead to nervousness and excitement.
So choose where you know your pet likes and feels comfortable, and consider the places that bring lots of happy moments between you and them.
The most appropriate lighting standards
On a cloudy day, the best times to photograph pets outside the home. The cloudy light produced by this weather is characterized by uniformity and evenness, which provides the appearance of perfect soft shades and allows pets, whether cats or dogs with dark fur, to appear at their best.
You can also take outdoor pictures in the early morning or in the last moments of the afternoon, which are times that will allow you to take distinct pictures without the need to use flash lighting that may distort the pet on the one hand and may result in the unwanted red-eyes effect on the other hand.
Try to stay as far away as possible from sunny days, which can produce very thick and dark shadows. In the event that you have to use flash lighting, you must use any of the known methods to keep the lighting away from the animal’s face, such as using external lighting and directing it upwards or using any light diffusion equipment.
Help your pet get used to the camera
Your pet should get used to the camera and sound before you photograph it. At the start, walk around him a little while taking several pictures of the surrounding environment so that he gets used to the sound of the camera, and you can also let him smell the camera a little so that he does not become distracted or nervous when directing it when taking pictures.
And show the picture to another, give the dog or cat any of the kinds of rewards he prefers, while patting his head lightly to encourage him to remain calm.
Not distraction and the most suitable settings for the camera
As we mentioned before, the surrounding environment carries great importance in photographing pets on more than one level, the first of which is the one that we mentioned in the period allocated for that previously, and the second is an attempt to obtain the pet’s full attention by moving away from any of the elements that may attract the attention of The animal is away.
These include the most suitable surroundings for photographing your pet, the environment with a wide green color, such as gardens or open areas with dense grass, and inside you can choose a well-lit room with light-colored walls with few surrounding elements, so that the main element of the picture is your pet only.
Pets close-up photography with background blur is the most professional form of photography, and can be accomplished simply by choosing the Aperture Priority mode with the aperture set as wide as it can reach, which will often be f / 2.8 in good lenses and f / 3.5 in the regular lenses that come with professional cameras.
After determining the aperture that varies with different lenses and camera, get close to your pet while keeping it away from the background of the photo by about one to two meters at most, and the further the animal is from the background, the more it becomes blurred and vice versa.
Shoot at the level and horizon of your pet
Sit on your knees and try to take pictures from the level of your pet’s eyes so that you can get the best possible results from your photos. Photographing from the level of your standing, which is definitely higher than the animal’s level of view, will make the images appear distant and will reduce the idea of focusing on the animal as the main element of the image, while the opposite will make the image as if it is from the pet’s own perspective, an effect that is very liked by fans of this type of image.
Get closer and closer
It may seem cute to show the whole body of your dog or cat in pictures, but the coolest and most popular photos of their viewers are those that capture pets very close, focusing on some areas of their bodies such as the nose and one eye Or focus on the eyes only or even on the bottom of the foot.
If your pet is active and a lot of movement, you can invest in purchasing any of the telephoto lenses that have a long focal length, which will allow you to photograph your pet from a distance while maintaining the effect of close proximity, and these lenses will also help to affect the depth of field, which will erode the wonderful background blur effect.
Freezing the movement
If your pet is very active and you want to take pictures of it during its peak activity, then of course you should use a very fast shutter speed to be able to freeze movement and capture the photo at the most appropriate moment. The shutter speed can be controlled via any of the modern digital cameras that feature a manual mode.
A Shutter Priority mode can also be used, which allows you to adjust the shutter speed while keeping the aperture selected automatically. Sports Mode can also be used, which automatically selects all camera settings to suit the scene.
Lots of pictures and lots of treats
Do not stop photographing, do not stop with the number that you have taken, and remember that the more shots you take, the higher the possibility of obtaining the best photos of you and your pet. Do not forget to reward your pet from time to time by giving him preferred foods and sweets suitable for animal use, but also remember not to overdo it so as not to cause him any harm.
Photography of pets can be up to the point of professionalism through the use of these tips on the one hand and practice and constant experience on the other hand. And remember, the joy of photographing your pet is not only about taking a group of pictures, but also in the great time you spend together while taking it.
