Hints to take Great Pet Photographs Pet Parents have often expressed their frustration with their tries to photograph their pets. They ask me, "How is the next step it?" After much thought, I arrived at what I call my "7 P's." The "7 P's," the secrets of taking great pet photographs are Patience, Persistence, Personality, Plain, Point of View, Pop and Processing.
Dallas Pet PhotographerPATIENCE
Pets have minds of their own. Everyone knows that. You get your pet to sit perfectly, they visit a bird, a butterfly, cat or another dog, and off they're going. Or your cat just does not want to come out from under your bed. So what do you do? Well, if you want the image, waiting. The cat will come out eventually, and the dog will tire of chasing the kitty. Oh, just a little, treat (bribery) never hurts.
PERSONALITY
Personality is the reason why your pet unique. The key is to capture that uniqueness. Take a moment. Think about your dog. What's the very first thing that comes to mind? As an example, when I think about my cat Sham-Rock I think "SPAZ." I am talking about he spends a lot of his time with his mouth hanging open attacking shadows and looking for geckos. So, this is the image I wish to capture... that look and that curiosity. Maybe your dog goes bananas whenever you grab your car keys while he knows he's taking a ride. So, you might want to capture that complete and total look of joy and excitement.
PERSISTENCE
Don't expect to obtain a great set of shots the first time around. It may happen, but more likely, you will take many, many shots to get that oen perfect look. Remember the old adage: "if in the beginning you do not succeed try, try again." That adage pertains to photographing pets. I have a minimum of 300 photos per session, and i am a professional.
PLAIN
What am i saying? Keep it simple. I work to avoid cluttered backgrounds. The subject of the image is your pet, not the person walking around the sidewalk behind them. A rake, a unravelled hose, a trach can are most likely stuff that you wouldn't want without anyone's knowledge (or foreground) of your pet's photo. And, please, don't have a building or perhaps a tree appearing out of your canine's head.
Dallas Pet PhotographerPOINT OF VIEW
Lots of people (including professional photographers) say you need on the same level as the pet. I disagree. I believe you can get some great shots by shooting up at your cat or down at your dog. The key is to get in close.
POP
You want the photograph to pop out at you and whoever else is viewing it. That means, you'll need a reaction to the photograph, be it an "Ahhhhh!" or "Isn't that cute" or a chuckle or a tear. Those photos that evoke emotion are the photos that people remember most.
PROCESSING
Not every photo processing is the same. Let's imagine you receive an ideal shot, crop it just the way you want it and adjust the coloring to you liking. There's nothing more disappointing than sending it to some bulk processor where everything is set on auto pilot only to have your photo come back together with your dog's paw cut off or under vibrant colors. Suddenly, the great photo is disappointing. My advice: spend a little extra money and find a photo place that gives your photo the attention it deserves.