As petpreneurs and pet parents, we have no doubt our camera roll is 10% screenshots, 90% pets.
We just love taking photos of our dogs and cats! Whether you want to improve your game as a ‘petfluencer’ or you want to hang your pics proudly in your home - here are some simple ways to improve your pet photography game.
1. Use Positive Reinforcement & Patience
It’s important to make your session fun and rewarding for your pet. Grab their favorite toys and treats and make it into a game.
It’s important to remember that pets aren’t naturally inclined to be still. Begin by teaching a sit and a wait/stay. Reward with play/treat and slowly build up the duration of the wait. Slowly introduce your phone/camera into the session.
For dogs, clicker training is a fantastic way to introduce the sound of a click - your dog will eventually think the click of a camera is a reward!
2. Consider Your Environment
Begin your photography practice in a simple environment and bullet proof step one.
Use your garden or home first. Placing your pet in a new environment with lots of distraction can be difficult for some pets - especially one with different people and smells.
If you find your pet is overstimulated in a particular environment, you may need to make it simpler for them.
3. Check Your Background
To create a focus on the subject, ensure your background isn’t too cluttered. Check the frame for any distracting objects that pull focus then remove or readjust your position.
Top tip - In photography you can use a concept called negative space - this refers to the area surrounding the subject, whereas positive space is the subject itself. It’s all about finding a pawfect balance that draws your eye to the pet. Think of negative space as breathing room for the eyes. Having just the right amount of negative space can really make the difference to your photo. It’s all about practice!
4. Get Down to Their Level & Focus on the Eyes
Your pets eyes are where their personality shines through! Simply getting down to their level can make a huge difference to the image.
Try to make sure your camera is focused on the eyes. With some phones you can lock your camera's focus by holding the area on the screen.
5. Lights, Camera, Action!
You don’t need the latest photography equipment to take great photos of your pets. Great natural lighting can make a world of difference to any image.
Try to make sure there is plenty of natural light but avoid direct sunlight on your subject as this can overexpose your image.