Have you ever tried to get a great photo of your pet and the end result was horribly disappointing? Taking great photos of a pet, whether cooperative or not, can be difficult. Put these 11 tricks into action! I’ll guarantee you will have a better chance of getting the shot you always dreamed of.

Choose Your Environment Wisely

1. No Distracting Elements:

Whether you are photographing indoors or out, you will want to have a good background.

What is a good background, you ask?

Choose a background that is uncluttered. Indoors, you don’t have to find a vacant wall, but keep it simple. Position your pet in front of a fireplace or on a chair with something simple near it. Outside, placing your pet in front of natural elements like flowers or trees works very well. Avoid man-made clutter like vehicles or piles of things.

2. Distance Between the Subject and Background:

If you can get some distance between your background and your pet, that is ideal. With distance, the camera will focus on your pet. The camera will blur out anything that is significantly farther away.

You can set your smartphone on PORTRAIT mode and the background will be blurred even more. If you are using a DSLR, adjust your f-stop to a lower number. Then switch your lens to a higher focal length to compress and blur the background.

Where is the Sun?

3. Don’t Face into the Sun:

Pointing your camera into the sun will create a silhouette of your pet. This will make your pet so dark that you lose details, barely recognizing him. If your camera settings are set to lighten your subject, then the background will be blown out.

4. Hot Spots and Heavy Shadows:

A full noon sun is very strong, creating heavy black shadows and almost white highlights. You will lose the color and detail of your pet’s body in all the light and dark areas.

Cloudy days, mornings and evenings are normally the best time to photograph. If photographing mid-day is the only available time, try setting up your pet in a shaded area.

Set up the Shot

5. Get to Your Pet’s Level:

You can always find adorable shots where the picture was taken directly overhead.

BUT, if you want a portrait of your pet that is not distorted, get down to your pet’s level.

THAT MEANS, if you have a small pet, put him up on something to get to his level. OR, you’ll have to lay down to get to his.

6. Focus on the Eyes:

The eyes are the most important part of a portrait. Make sure that you can see at least one eye and it is in focus.

Posing your Pet

7. Avoid Distortion:

With a DSLR camera, distortion is easily solved by changing your lens to a higher focal length. You will need to step back a bit more from your subject.

With a smartphone, changing to PORTRAIT mode or getting further back from your pet is helpful. Also, if your pet is large (like a horse) try keeping your pet on the same plane to your camera. A side view will be more successful than having your large pet facing you. There is too much distance from front to back to avoid distortion when your pet is facing you.

8. Put him in a pose that is natural for him:

You may want a great action shot of your dog (for instance) diving into the lake. But, if he is a couch potato, you’d be better off taking a picture doing what he likes best. Imagine him curled up on a pillow with his favorite toy. If your pet is happy, it will be easier to get that perfect shot. Take in consideration what comes naturally for your subject.

9. Pay attention to timing:

Action shots can be spectacular…if you get the timing right! Try the action a couple of times. Make sure you know what the action will look like and where he will be for focusing. You’ll want to take the shot at the apex of the action. For instance, just as he catches the frisbee in mid-air.

Or when the front feet are up in a run.

Or half-way into a roll-over.

Try using the BURST on your camera. This will take a succession of rapid photos. Choose your best shot, then delete the rest of the burst that didn’t turn out.

Know your Camera

10. How Cameras Adjust for Lighting:

Cameras do not see like us. Our pupils are quick to adjust to light. We can selectively lighten dark areas and darken light areas we are looking at. This allows us to see the details in what we are looking at.

Cameras will look at the entire scene and “read” the majority of the lighting. The camera then adjusts so that this is lightened or darkened for the scene.

Problems arise. For example: If your dark pet is in the snow, the snow will be the majority of the picture. The camera will darken the scene to get the details in the snow, making your subject much darker.

You can fix this situation if you make your pet the largest part of the picture. You will have to walk in closer to your subject. OR, you can use the camera’s manual controls on a DSLR.

11. The Problem with Flash:

The best lighting is natural light. Using a flash creates unnatural highlights and shadows that are not pretty. You may also have to deal with “red eye”.

If you need more light, try setting up a lamp to create light coming from one direction. Multiple light sources from different directions causes multiple shadows to overlap. If it is light outside, and you are inside, photograph at a window or glass door for lighting.

Your Next Steps

Choose one or choose them all. I’d enjoy getting to know you and your pet. If I can help you, I’d really love that!

• Send me a .jpg photo you took of your pet and I’ll critique it for you. Mail it to nancy@ncmstudio.com. Make sure you introduce yourself and tell me it’s for a free critique. Some submitted photos may be featured on social media.
• Ask me a specific question and I’ll do what I can to help you.
• Download my free guide: It’s right on this post! The form below if you are on a smartphone. It is to the right if you are on a computer.
• I’m developing a course that will take you so much farther than what I took you today. If interested, stay informed by sending me an email, and Follow Me on Facebook or Instagram.