Pet Portrait Photography Tips

It is very important that the photograph that you provide for pet portrait purposes is of a high quality.  The quality and detail of your pet portrait is very much dependant on the quality and detail of the photograph/s that you provide.

You will need to provide photograph/s that are clear, and you must ensure that you fill the camera's view finder completely with your pet.  Your pet's pose should also be typical of your pet.  The photographs shown below are good examples of what you want to achieve;

The best lighting is achieved by photographing your subject either outside, or near a window that is letting in plenty of natural light.  If you are taking your photographs outside try to avoid direct sunlight on your subject as this can wash out coat colour, create dark shadows, and make your pet squint.  If the sun is out, ensure that you place your pet in the shade and that the sun is behind you when taking your photographs.  The most suitable days for photographing your subject are overcast days that are not too heavily clouded, and therefore there is plenty of natural, indirect filtered light.

If you must photograph your pet indoors ensure that you do so near a window that allows plenty of natural light into the room.  Avoid using a flash as this can cause both red eye, and wash out your pet's colouring.  It you have to use a flash, ensure that the camera has red eye reduction capability.

The most important tip that I can give you is to take your photographs at your pet's eye level!!!  If this means lying on the grass with the camera resting on the ground - do it!  Photographs taken at your pet's eye level produce not only great pictures, but also the best photographs for pet portraits.

Take plenty of close up shots of your pet's face and neck.  Try to capture typical facial expressions.  Arrange to have someone hold your pet for you while taking your photographs.  Any hands that are shown holding a collar will not be drawn into the portrait.  It can also be very handy to have another person to assist by using favorite toys or treats while standing behind the photographer to help get their attention.

If you are photographing multiple animals for a single portrait, ensure that you get quality individual photographs of each animal, and at least one or two of the animals sitting together.  The photograph with both animal may not be used but they will enable me to see the size differences between the animals so that when I create your combined portrait your pets are depicted correctly at their respective size.

Finally, if you have any questions at all as to the suitability of a photograph for a pet portrait, please do not hesitate to email me.  No obligation and all questions are welcome.

If you find the thought of trying to obtain suitable photographs yourself daunting, and if you reside reasonably local to Lilydale Victoria, I can arrange to come out to your premises to take photographs for you.  Please see my 'Photography Service' web page for further information.