Taking photos of pets is quite a (fascinating) challenge. Because many things can happen from the initial idea to the final result. It’s like a session with children, you know how you start, but not how or when it will end ;). What is certain is that our complete guide to photographing pets will help you in this regard, so I invite you to visit it before continuing, or keep it close at hand as a complement to this article.
You may not know many things about a pet photo session but what you do know for sure is that as your pet there is none, it is your tireless companion of adventures and of all your moods and, in addition, it offers you great opportunities to feed your photographic soul.
Today I come to fill you with inspiration with a series of images that I hope will make you run towards your pet and your camera. With patience and perseverance you will surely get images like these or even better. It’s a matter of practice and some quick photography tips like these:
- Use high speeds: animals are unpredictable, so make sure you have enough minimum speed to be able to freeze the movement.
- Forget the flash: the best thing is that you take advantage of a type of natural lighting.
- Photograph your pet in their favorite places.
- Play with the aperture to blur the background.
- Photograph their characteristic gestures: yawns, smiles…
- Come very close…
- Or zoom out to capture the context, especially if you’re in an interesting location.
- Take care of the background. Accompany yourself to interesting places or landscapes.
- If you are indoors, try to get close to a window.
- Take care of the compositions of your pet photos.
- Vertical and horizontal photography.
- Add the owners or have a self-portrait session with it
- Practice with techniques like high or low key .
- If your pet is in an aquarium, do not miss these tips .
Table of Contents
1. PHOTOGRAPH THEIR GESTURES
Yawns, various stretches, smiles… What makes your pet so characteristic.
2. PHOTOS OF PETS WITH THEIR OWNER
They are one more member of the families, so don’t forget to photograph the relationship between pets and their owners.
3. EARS TO THE WIND
If you have a dog, you’ll know what I’m talking about. What they like to stick their heads out of the window is incredible (although you have to be very careful).
4. OPEN THE DIAPHRAGM
If you want to blur the background to help highlight your subject, remember to work with a wide f-stop. A value around f/4 can be fine.
5. SUNSETS
Sunsets are still one of the best photographic moments to achieve spectacular light.
6. PUPPIES
Just like humans, puppies grow by leaps and bounds. Don’t forget to proactively photograph them or when you blink, he won’t be a puppy anymore ;).
7. BLACK AND WHITE PETS
Black and white is timeless and a classic in photography that you cannot miss 🙂 .
8. THE POWER OF WINDOWS INDOORS
If you don’t have a beautiful setting with natural light around the corner, don’t worry. Windows are a resource as simple as it is effective.
9. THE MAGIC OF EVERYDAY LIFE
It is not necessary to invent great wonders or dream locations. We just have to open our eyes wide to what we have close.
10. PLAY WITH COLOR IN PET PHOTOS
That you have a completely white cat? Try to blend it with the background by placing it on a white background, or look for contrast by placing it on a black one. Also remember the power of contrasting colors. Here you can take a look at an article on color that will surely help you.
11. GIVE ME FIVE!
The magic of small gestures and the relationship that exists between owner and pet is part of the story that you can portray when you photograph pets.
12. EXPERIMENT WITH THE VERTICAL FORMAT
Not only from the horizontal does the photographer live 🙂
13. TAKE CARE OF THE COMPOSITION
Don’t forget that composition will help you tell stories and be more creative.
14. PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
Be patient and you will get spectacular photos.
15. TAKE CARE OF THE BACKGROUND IN YOUR PET PHOTOS
You will always hear us say that a good background will enhance your image, but a bad one can completely destroy it.
16. YOUR PET AND HIS GAMES
Animals are a bit like boys and girls, they love to play, so don’t miss these images of absolute enjoyment that will offer you some soap bubbles, a stick, or whatever their favorite game is.
17. HELP YOURSELF WITH A TOY
If you’re looking for that expression of 100% attention, have that crazy toy or treat handy, and be quick about capturing that characteristic emotion.
18.CLOSE UP
Get real close and fill the frame. You can get images as cool as the following:
19. ANIMAL CURIOSITY
It expresses everything that is innate in animals. Curiosity is, without a doubt, one of his virtues.
20. LOW KEY PET PHOTOS
All portrait techniques are likely to be used with your pet.
If you are looking for photo 21, go to the header, it is the cover photo. Isn’t it wonderful? The owner hugged his pet and is posing for the camera, greeting you. Love it.
Sometimes there is no better push than finding inspiration in the images of others, diving through the networks or taking a look at the galleries that we create for you from time to time.
I recommend that while you take a look at this gallery, write down possible ideas and above all put them into practice without excuses. Time passes for everyone, even for your pet, and having a memory of it in different moments and contexts will enchant you. I know he’s one of the family, so give him the prominence he deserves.
I hope these images encourage you to run to photograph your pet, be it a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird or a goldfish 🙂 . And if you think someone could use a little inspiration, feel free to share this article. Here we help each other 😉 .
And that said, to really delve into the subject, do not miss the complete guide to photographing pets that I mentioned at the beginning, where you will find the best settings, equipment, tips and tricks to achieve professional results. Thank you and see you next time.
