The job title “Pet photographer” is relatively new in the world of photography, but nevertheless is one of the most sought after of all the types of photography. Pets secure their place in our families, homes and hearts. As such, most families love to have their pets photographed because they feel that they are a member of the family.
If you decide to start photographing pets, it’s important to remember that pets, unlike their human counterparts, typically will not understand your commands, let alone pose for you. Being a pet photographer takes patience and a love for animals. You need always remember that natural light is your friend, as a flash of light will often scare your subject and can potentially damage their eyes. Don’t be afraid to shoot outside, but if you must be inside, try to get shots by the window.
A pet photographer must capture their essence!
Pets have an essence which can be captured by the pet photographer, but you need to have a keen eye and a quick reflex. Keep alert and focus on the animal’s eyes to really get that desirable shot. Don’t be afraid to fill your entire lens with the pet’s face and get an ultra closeup. This technique can produce some pretty incredible images.
While some pets are trained enough that you can get them close-by with commands, others will make you work for the shot. Realize that you need to go to them often times, but you must learn to creep slowly and deliberately in order to allow the pet to reach a level of comfort which inhibits wonderful photos. Another great photography idea for Pet Photographers is lowering yourself to the pet’s level and get some great POV shots of the furry friend.
Action-shots are a pet photographer's best friend!
All animals have a personality, your job as a pet photographer is to capture the personality of the pet. If they are rambunctious and playful, get them in the act! Get them to rough house or play tug of war. If they are lazy and sleepy, try and capture a shot of them yawning or stretching.. Even asleep! Action shots are great! Bring along a whistle when you go to a photography session with a pet, as a quick, sharp blow of a whistle will typically cause the animal to posture up momentarily- allowing for great photographs.
Don’t be afraid to try different angles and shooting techniques. Black and white is great with pets. Animals are the perfect subject for any pet photographer. Of all the types of photography, I can say from experience that photographing animals is the most enjoyable and rewarding.
