I recently connected with Irresistable Pets as a guest blogger to share 8 tips for photographing pets. As the holidays are approaching, I thought it would be helpful to share this post with all my blog followers too!
There’s nothing quite like the bond between a pet and its owner. Our pets make us smile, laugh and every now and then, shed a tear. They are our friends for life and thrive under our attention and love.
I grew up in a home where we always had a dog in our family. As a young child and aspiring photographer, my dogs were great stand-in models. I could dress them up for portraits, play ball outside for action shots or snap detail shots while they were catching a quick snooze.
Pet photography can be tricky as animals can be a bit unpredictable. How many times have you tried to photograph your pet only to find your images blurry, dark or with red eye? Through my years of pet ownership and photography, I’ve picked up eight tips that will help you improve your pet photography skills.
Tip # 1 – In Their Element
Where do you see your pet the happiest or most playful? Is it outside playing catch or curled up on the windowsill watching the animals outside? When photographing your pet, capture them in their element. It will better portray their personality and will help them feel more comfortable with your camera.
Tip # 2 – Dressed Up or Natural
Some pets feel most comfortable in their own skin. You may want your pet to look all dolled up for the camera, but sometimes it’s best to let them be free of outfits or accessories. If your pet is comfortable with costumes or pet clothes, by all means, dress them up! It can make for some pretty hilarious or super cute images. Keep in mind, as mentioned before, the more comfortable your pet is, the more natural and playful they will be for the camera.
Tip # 3 – Get Down to Their Level
The best location to photograph your pet is on their level. Go for it! Get as close to the ground as you can. Warning!! Your pet may take this as an opportunity to become quite playful as they think you are acting like them. Instead, try to keep them distracted by giving them their favorite toy, letting them dig that hole in the yard, inviting a friend’s pet for play time or allowing them to explore.
Tip # 4 – Up Close and Personal
Don’t be afraid to get as close to your pet as possible. Fill the entire camera frame with your pet. It will remove any background distractions and put all the focus on them. Try capturing special details, such as paws, ears, whiskers, etc.
Tip # 5 – Quick and Quiet
To keep your pet in their element, comfortable and natural, take your photos as quickly as possible. If your digital camera makes beeping noises, shut the sound off. Always have your camera ready for those spontaneous moments where your pet performs a trick or does something out of the ordinary.
Tip # 6 – Consider Your Backdrop
If you decide to take a wide angle approach to photographing your pet, pay special attention to their backdrop. Some backdrops can artfully frame them, such as a window or mirror. Others can add a pop of color such as a bright bedspread or painted wall. Your backdrop can also tell a story about your pet. The photo below is of my dog, Cody. He loves to swim and retrieve sticks and if we let him, would play this game all day long.
Tip # 7- Technicalities
The best location to photograph your pet is outside in the natural light. Your camera will not have to compensate with a flash, giving you the dreaded red-eye, or slow your shutter speed down, giving you the blurred images. If you are using your camera indoors, try to turn on as many lights as possible and position your pet near a window.
Tip # 8 – Rewards
One last word of advice, don’t forget to have treats handy. They can help you keep control of your pet, reward them for tricks or obedience and keep them focused on you and the camera.
Take your time working through these eight tips for photographing pets and as you master each one, you will find your blurry, dark photos turn into beautiful works of art. If you would like more tips or advice, share a link to your images in the comment section. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving next week!
I don’t know why it is, but choosing what to wear in the morning is always a tough decision. Maybe it’s because I’m not the best morning person. I really need about an hour and a good shower to fully be awake and ready for social interaction. Sometimes, my husband, the kind individual that he is, will bring me an energy drink, or what we affectionately call, “blue juice”, and it lifts me out of the doldrums and puts pep in my step. Now, I wouldn’t recommend drinking an energy drink to determine what you’re going to wear for your upcoming portrait session. It is a decision that should take some time, thought and preparation and should not be tackled the morning of your shoot.
While you daydream about your upcoming shoot, think about the style of images you are looking for. Are you trying to tell a story, set a mood, celebrate an event or even promote your brand? All these factors play a part in deciding your wardrobe.
Once you have decided on the idea behind your portrait shoot, start assessing your clothes. Color, patterns, texture, layers and accessories all play a part in making you look your best.
Color
The best colors to wear in pictures are those that reflect your hair and skin color. Deeper shades are better for pale skin and dark hair, brighter shades for darker skin and dark hair and softer shades for pale skin and light hair. Here are a few colors from Pantone’s Fashion Color Report for Spring 2012 to help you get started.
Sodalite Blue: Pale Skin & Dark Hair
Tangerine Tango: Dark Skin & Dark Hair
Sweet Lilac: Pale Skin & Light Hair
Patterns
Try to keep patterns at a minimum. They can be a fun addition if worn with layers or as an accent piece. Just make sure to keep it simple.
Layers
Stick to a maximum of three layers and make sure to wear the thinnest garment closest to your skin. Use layers to display contrast. Ladies, you could wear a ruffled top underneath a brightly colored button down sweater or a patterned shirt under a solid colored blazer or jacket. The options are endless! If you are uncertain, it is always best to get the opinion of your photographer.
Accessories/Props
Now the fun part! I love accessories and props. They can really add some spice to your photo shoot. For instance, the couple below enjoy coffee and tea together almost every day. They wanted to incorporate it into their engagement portraits. The bouquet of daisies represent the flowers that he first gave her when they started dating.
As a documentary photographer, I love to capture all the little details that go into your shoot. Accessories tell so much about a person and their story. Hats, jewelry, shoes, purses belts, etc. all jazz up your look and help your portrait session to be more playful and fun. Ladies, a word of advice! If you are wearing heels to your photo shoot, be sure to bring flip flops or a comfortable pair of shoes to wear while walking.
As you finish putting the pieces of your wardrobe together, one last thing to keep in mind is the location. Will your outfit work well in the setting you have chosen? Will you blend in with your surroundings or stand out? Feel free to check with your photographer for recommendations. They are a wealth of knowledge and welcome the chance to be involved in the preparation of your portrait session.
I’ve heard many of my photographer friends say the following, “I shoot in JPEG, but know I should shoot in raw. However, I don’t know anything about post processing raw files.” My goal today is to discuss this important topic of JPEG vs Raw.
Currently, Adobe Lightroom is the leading photo management and editing software solution. When it comes to using Lightroom for your editing, hands down, raw files work best. Lightroom will give you the ability to work with rendered files (JPEG, TIFF and PSD), but you will notice a differences when editing.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 – The Missing FAQ: Real Answers to Real Questions Asked by Lightroom Users
{Original Image Source: flaivoloka}
