Pets are a part of the family for many people. They are a source of comfort and love. They are also a great subject for photographs. Photographing animals is just like photographing people. Put your subject at ease and build a relationship to ensure they will stay for the duration of the shoot. Photo experts like Bruce Weber Photographer often use food to get pets to do what they want.
If you are taking pictures of pets, especially dogs or cats, be prepared for them to break away from you very quickly if they wish. They usually love having their photos taken but may tire of it quickly if they do not feel comfortable with you. Some animals will never be the type to sit patiently for a family portrait shoot, such as fish or birds. Others may require more time than average before they become accustomed to your presence, and you can begin photographing them. However, many house pets can pose without much effort on your part.
1: How to Prepare for the Photo Shoot
If you are photographing a pet with whom you have never spent time, spend some time playing with the animal before the photoshoot. Bring along your camera and take pictures of them as they play. This will allow them to become used to both your presence and your camera equipment. Then, when it is time for the formal photoshoot, they will be less likely to feel very threatened.
2: How to Pose Your Pet
Most people just pick up their pet and plop them in front of the camera to take pictures. This will not work for all pets, however. If your pet is not used to being held or carried, you may make them very nervous when trying to pose them like they are sitting in a chair or standing on their hind feet. Some pets, like dogs and cats, are naturally very flexible. They can be taught to sit or stand on their hind legs with relative ease. Other animals may not be as easy to instruct.
3: How to Take the Photographs
There are many different approaches you can take to posing your pet. Pet expert advice suggests taking pictures of pets in the same way that you would shoot a portrait of another person: head and shoulders, three quarters, and full length poses. Your pet may not like having their picture taken, but if they seem interested in the activity and especially if there is food involved, they may sit still.
4: How to Edit the Photographs
After you have taken the pictures, it is time to edit them. If your shots are blurry or unfocused, you can use image-editing software like Adobe Photoshop to sharpen them up. You may also want to remove red-eye from photos of pets with flash units. Cleaning up certain blemishes in photos will make the pet look better and also make them more presentable to the owner.
Pets make great subjects for photographs. By following these steps, you can create beautiful photographs of your pet that you will cherish for years to come.
