It's no secret I work a lot with dog and cats at the studio. Since moving to Edina and starting Tangerine in 2011, my business has included more pet sessions than I had in my previous studio. I'm such a dog person and it's great fun to meet new dogs and their wonderful owners. I think it's a positive focus for my business because I love doing it, I'm good at capturing great images of the pets and my clients enjoy having my work on their walls.
Many times people will see my work and ask, " How did you do that?" Or the follow up question, "How can I do that with my dog?" Both are simple questions with complicated answers.
Over the past several years I've had the opportunity to speak other professional photographers teaching on pet photography. Last fall, I was invited to speak on four consecutive nights for the Tennessee chapter of the Professional Photographers of America. On Saturday, I spoke about pet photography at the monthly meeting for Minnesota Boston Terrier Club. My presentation focused on eleven tips for improving a pet owner's pet photography. All dog owners love taking snapshots and a little education can make the difference in getting better images. The course materials I go through with the pro's is more detailed than the following list but is essentially the same things needed to create better pet photo's. That being said, the flexibility of backgrounds and studio lighting can take the same image and pop it into a once in a lifetime image of your pet. I hope you enjoy the information, and if you are interested in scheduling a studio session, please give me a call.
Find out what's happening in Edinafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Lisa Asp, M.Photog, CPP
Owner/Photographer
Find out what's happening in Edinafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Tangerine House of Design, www.tangerinehouseofdesign.com
1. Let your dog get used to the camera. The click and flash of a camera can rattle dogs at first. Let your dog give the camera a good sniff, then start casually shooting the surroundings (if you've got a film camera, you can do this before you load the film). Once your dog's gotten used to the camera and starts doing his own thing, begin taking pictures. The idea is to keep things natural and relaxed. What not to do: Grab a ton of treats, abruptly shove the camera in your dog's face, and repeat, "Mommy's gonna take your picture!" at high pitch.
2. Pay attention to the background. Simple backgrounds, like green trees, a plain wall in your home or hanging a solid colored (or subtle patterned) sheet or fabric will make your dog stand out. If you've got a point-and-shoot camera, have your dog at least a dozen feet in front of the background so he'll be more in focus than whatever's behind him, and of course, watch for the tree branches growing out of his head. Pay attention to color, too: no black backgrounds for black dogs, brown backgrounds for brown dogs, and so on.
3. Turn off the flash. If possible always use natural light when taking your pet's picture. Avoid flash, as flash burst can not only cause red-eye(green-eye with dogs), but could also frighten the animal. Instead try to go outside or, if it is not possible, in a room well lit by a large window with the window to your dog's side. Directional/side lighting will "sculpt" your dog with highlights and shadows and present a more 3-dimensional look. Most amateur photographers do best with warm, natural sunlight. To avoid washed-out pictures, shoot in the mornings or evenings, on slightly overcast days, or in the shade on a bright day.
4. Get down on your dog's level. If you stand over your dog and look down, every shot you take is going to look like everyone else's. Depending on the breed, the looking down shot often makes the dog's head and mouth larger than they actually are. To solve the problem, crouch down or lay down on your belly to get a "dog's-eye view" of your pup. In the studio, I get some of my best images while lying on the floor a few feet from the pet.
5. Time it well. If you're looking for action shots, have your photo shoot before the daily three-mile run. If you want a serene portrait, make it after excerise when the pet is relaxed and quiet.
6. Take lots of pictures. As long as your dog is cooperating, the more photos you take, the better your chances of getting a few amazing shots. Professionals consider that only about 30% of thier shots will be good enough to use. That means about 70% are not "perfect." Digital cameras are great for the average pet owner because you can edit down to the few images that perfectly reflect the personality of your pet.
7. Enlist help. A friend with a squeaky toy will come in handy if you want a head-on shot or a regal profile. A squeaking sound or movement of a toy directly above the camera often will get the dog to pop up the ears and give the "I'm excited," look for the photo. However, keep your dog's personality in mind with this tip. Some dogs get excited really fast when their toys are around, so it can have the opposite effect of what you intended.
8. Get creative and playful. Lots of full-body shots taken from ten feet away can get mighty dull. Get up close so your dog fills the entire frame. Get even closer so you get the full effect of that long, wet nose. Photograph your dog head on, in profile, at 45-degree angles. And don't get hung up on perfection; sometimes that shot with your dog's tail out of the frame has the best expression.
9. Keep the Eyes Sharp Having sharp eyes is important in any kind of portrait photography. As they say, “Eyes are the Window to the Soul” and pets eye can be very expressive. So make sure to focus on your pet’s eyes and keep the tack sharp. If your camera doesn't focus up close, you may need to back up and crop in later.
10. Give Value to their Character You know your pet better than anyone else, and a successful picture is one that conveys the character of its subject. If you have a lazy cat show him yawning, if your animal is of a playful type show him in action performing his favorite trick.
11. Have at LEAST one professional portrait session made of your pet Professional portraits have a completely different look and feel than snapshots at home. Pets don't have events in their life that drive a session - they don't celebrate holidays, have graduations, get married, etc. so celebrating a pet through professional photography is often not thought about. Your beloved pet could be the most valuable artwork you have hanging in your home! They deserve to have at least one professional session at some point in their lives.
