Pet owners love to take pictures of their animal companions. Statistics show that 42% of adults fill their personal social media profiles with photos of their pets. Moreover, over a third of cat and dog owners have a dedicated social media account for their furry friends.
You do not need to be a pro to take great pet photos. There are effective ways to do them, even if you are an amateur or a hobbyist photographer. And you do not have to use a DSLR camera to do that—your camera phone can generate good results.
If you learn how to take high-quality pictures of a dog or a cat, you will find pet photography rather enjoyable and rewarding. This applies to a variety of uses, whether for personal pet photo books, blog post images, or pet advertisements.
Let’s get things rolling with our top phone-based pet photography tips.
1. Know Your Subject Before Taking Pet Photos.
This section can also be called “taking note of your pet’s habits and preferences.” A key aspect to knowing how to take good pictures of animals is capturing shots of them whilst they are at their best selves. This means working with their:
Natural Personality and Energy Level
Some animals are good at being still or posing. Other pets like to be in motion or engaged in a favourite activity.
Work with their strengths instead of making them do certain things to get your perfect shot. Also, taking pet photos whilst they are in their element will show their distinctive personality.
Best Time of the Day
If you have a hyperactive pet, you may want to schedule the pet photoshoot later during the day. This is because they would have worked off their excess energy by that time and thus are more relaxed.
They already had their day’s share of exercise and excitement, and are more likely to cooperate.
Age
Kittens and puppies are more likely to be constantly in motion than senior ones. To get the pet photos you need without having to deal with all that motion, capture them whilst half asleep.
You can wake them up gently from a nap and even reposition them in the pose you want. Start the photo session before they are fully awake.
Motivation
Is the animal food-driven or more likely to respond to squeaky toys or playtime with you? Use the most appealing treat to put them in a more cooperative mood before taking pet photos. You can also use the top reward to catch their attention during the shoot.
2. Check the Background and Lighting.
A simple background is the safest option and keeps the animal as the main focus of your custom pet pictures.
- A solid-coloured wall or furniture, or a floor covered with solid-coloured fabric, is a good choice.
- See to it that the background colour is flattering or complementary to the animal subject’s coat. Neutral tones are failsafe choices.
Natural light is the best. Shooting outdoors is not necessary for that—a place near a well-lit window is satisfactory.
Avoid the midday light, though, as this can create too much contrast. If you cannot avoid a midday shoot, do it in a shaded place. You can do test pet photo shots and adjust as you go.
As much as possible, do not use flash as it may spook dogs or cats. If you must use it, the flash must be tested before the shoot.
3. Get Your Focus and Shot Level Right.
As the well-known quote says, “Eyes are the window to the soul.” Letting your camera focus on your pet’s eyes creates a better connection between him and the spectators of his photos.
Sometimes phone cameras focus on the pet’s nose as it is closer to your device than his eyes. Shift the focus to the eyes by tapping on the pet’s eye area on your phone before shooting.
If you want to take fantastic pictures of your cat or dog, don’t be afraid to go down to his level. This way, you can capture his direct gaze and get striking shots.
The resulting images will look as if the pet is staring right at the viewer’s eyes. You can go for the below eye-level shot. Dare to lie on your stomach or crouch just to get that shot!
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4. Use Motion-Friendly Tricks.
Use the camera phone’s burst mode in portrait orientation. It allows you to quickly capture action shots of your furry pal.
All you need to do is press the shutter button to capture stacks of pet photos. You can pick the best of the lot later. Alternatively, use your camera’s fast shutter speed to freeze the action, which prevents blurry images.
Another option is using camera panning. For pets that cannot be still, you can follow their movements instead. Hold your phone at the ready, trained to the animal subject. As he moves across the frame, move the phone according to the direction of the pet and snap away.
Using this technique allows capturing action shots of pets without getting a blurry result. The background may be blurred, but the animal will be in focus, creating an artsy effect.
5. Stay Calm and Be Patient.
If you are excited or moving about much, the canine or feline subject might get distracted. He may change his position or stop what he was adorably busy with just to observe you. Furthermore, you need to be patient to get a wonderful shot at the right moment.
You may need to take a couple of shots before you get it right. But once you learn your camera phone’s features and your pet’s behaviour better, you will start getting the shots you seek. Do not get discouraged; just keep shooting!
Ideally, you should have someone assisting you on the shoot so you are ready to take shots at any moment’s notice. The other person will be the one in charge of catching the subject’s attention with treats or squeaky toys.
FAQs About Pet Photos
1. How Do I Make My Dog Photogenic?
One of the dog photography tips to follow to make your pet photogenic is by experimenting with snapping different angles of him. You can try using a stepladder to take a photo of your pup in a bird’s eye view. Or try lying on the ground to be at eye level with him.
Use treats or toys to lure your furry pal to look into the camera’s lens. If you have a bandanna or a doggy shirt, let him wear it to boost his charm on the camera.
2. Do Dogs Recognise Pictures of Dogs?
Dogs may recognise pictures of other dogs. In a study, it was revealed that canines were able to pick out the faces of their own species when shown on a computer screen.
If you live in a multidog household, why not keep framed pet portraits in your home? They will likely be delighted to see pictures of their fellow furry pals.
3. Why Do Some Dogs Hate Cameras?
Dogs do not understand the concept of taking pet photos. To some canines, the camera may come across as a scary and unusual-looking contraption.
So pay attention to your pet’s reaction when around a camera. Before having a photo shoot with him, get him acclimated to the camera.
Allow him to investigate it by sniffing or listening to the snapping noises. Reward him with treats and praise whenever he interacts with the camera positively to encourage this behaviour.
As much as possible, avoid subjecting him to camera flashes as it could be a very disorienting and scary experience.
4. What Is a Common Mistake in Pet Photography?
One of the most common mistakes when pawrents photograph pets is overusing cues and commands to keep a dog well-behaved during photoshoots.
This leads the subject to become quickly bored with the activity and eventually refuse to listen. Avoid prolonged and rigid photo-taking sessions of your pooch. Insert playtime in between to let him off steam, which can help increase his focus.
Conclusion
Taking beautiful pet photos of your canine companion will require you to be creative and resourceful. Use these tips on your next pet photo shoot, then compare your new shots with your past ones to see the difference. Check out these useful pet tips to learn more interesting information!