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Ward Art Gallery
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Tips For Better Photos Of Your Pet
(All of the Pet Paintings were commissioned and are sold)
• For best results, use ISO 200 or higher Film.
• Keep the background simple.
• Fill the frame with your pet, not the scenery. If your lens is adjustable (zoom) use
a long focal length (telephoto.) This will give you a big image without crowding the
animal, and eliminates distortion.
• Take some close-ups of the head and shoulders to show detail.
• Have your back to the sun, and the light on your pet.
• If shooting outside, choose a day that is overcast or hazy.
• Photographs taken on a sunny day tend to have bleached, or washed colors and
shadows that lack detail.
• If you have no choice and must shoot on a sunny day, photos taken with the sun
overhead and especially with your back to the sun work better than having it to
your side or shooting into the sun (this is not the best of conditions for
photographing your pet). The light will fill in the face evenly and have fewer
shadows, so you can see their face nicely versus having the sun at your side or
in front of you, causing shadows.
• With dark colored, especially black dogs, it is important use a flash most all of the
time. You need the additional light to fill in their face so you can see the details.
Otherwise, you'll most likely just get a black lump with eyes, ears and legs.
• Try photographing in some shade, like on the porch, or under a tree, or in a park
or the back yard, as it may give you more even lighting, and no shadows.
• Get down to your pets level to shoot the photographs. I can’t stress this enough.
Shots taken from above may distort the proportion of their head, so it’s time to
"get down" with your pet, or instead of chasing them off the sofa or your bed, get
your camera and take some photos.
• Allow them to get used to you being there with a camera.
• Sometimes, it's necessary to just let them notice that you have a camera in your
hand and you're not making a big deal out of having it. After a few minutes
(say, 3-6) they usually settle down enough for you to try again.
• Sometimes, the use of a treat will coerce/reward them to sit still long enough for
you to take a few photos.
• Some pets just are difficult to photograph. Wanting them to "sit" or "stay right
there" so you can take their photograph is not a normal occurrence for them.
Perhaps they think that when you have the camera, they should either come to
you to explore what it is you have (maybe thinking it's a toy or that you want to
play), or they need to somehow perform for you.
• It may be useful to have a second person to position or pose your pet while you
are busy shooting away.
• Don't be afraid to shoot a lot of photos. You may shoot 20-30 pictures to get just
one or two really good shots.
• Try a variety of poses, angles, and lighting situations.
• Try to fill the frame with your pet, and not the background.
• Get close-ups of details, such as eyes, face and coloring.
• Taking photos 3 to 6 feet away from them tends to be difficult to focus and can
many times be somewhat out of focus or over exposed if a flash is used.
• Photos taken 7-12 feet away tend to come out better. They will usually be a
clearer, more in focus photo with better lighting exposure.
• Again, if you have a telephoto lens, use it to fill the frame with your pet's picture.
• Select several well-focused and well lighted photos that clearly represent your
pet.
• CATS, sometimes using an item that grabs their attention works well.
• Perhaps something like a stick with a bell or feather on it.
• Get them settled down in one place and focus the camera on them.
• When you're ready to shoot, slightly wave the stick above your head, or have
your assistant do it. It usually will grab their eye long enough to take a picture
and make for a nice photo.
(All of the Pet Paintings were commissioned and are sold)
• For best results, use ISO 200 or higher Film.
• Keep the background simple.
• Fill the frame with your pet, not the scenery. If your lens is adjustable (zoom) use
a long focal length (telephoto.) This will give you a big image without crowding the
animal, and eliminates distortion.
• Take some close-ups of the head and shoulders to show detail.
• Have your back to the sun, and the light on your pet.
• If shooting outside, choose a day that is overcast or hazy.
• Photographs taken on a sunny day tend to have bleached, or washed colors and
shadows that lack detail.
• If you have no choice and must shoot on a sunny day, photos taken with the sun
overhead and especially with your back to the sun work better than having it to
your side or shooting into the sun (this is not the best of conditions for
photographing your pet). The light will fill in the face evenly and have fewer
shadows, so you can see their face nicely versus having the sun at your side or
in front of you, causing shadows.
• With dark colored, especially black dogs, it is important use a flash most all of the
time. You need the additional light to fill in their face so you can see the details.
Otherwise, you'll most likely just get a black lump with eyes, ears and legs.
• Try photographing in some shade, like on the porch, or under a tree, or in a park
or the back yard, as it may give you more even lighting, and no shadows.
• Get down to your pets level to shoot the photographs. I can’t stress this enough.
Shots taken from above may distort the proportion of their head, so it’s time to
"get down" with your pet, or instead of chasing them off the sofa or your bed, get
your camera and take some photos.
• Allow them to get used to you being there with a camera.
• Sometimes, it's necessary to just let them notice that you have a camera in your
hand and you're not making a big deal out of having it. After a few minutes
(say, 3-6) they usually settle down enough for you to try again.
• Sometimes, the use of a treat will coerce/reward them to sit still long enough for
you to take a few photos.
• Some pets just are difficult to photograph. Wanting them to "sit" or "stay right
there" so you can take their photograph is not a normal occurrence for them.
Perhaps they think that when you have the camera, they should either come to
you to explore what it is you have (maybe thinking it's a toy or that you want to
play), or they need to somehow perform for you.
• It may be useful to have a second person to position or pose your pet while you
are busy shooting away.
• Don't be afraid to shoot a lot of photos. You may shoot 20-30 pictures to get just
one or two really good shots.
• Try a variety of poses, angles, and lighting situations.
• Try to fill the frame with your pet, and not the background.
• Get close-ups of details, such as eyes, face and coloring.
• Taking photos 3 to 6 feet away from them tends to be difficult to focus and can
many times be somewhat out of focus or over exposed if a flash is used.
• Photos taken 7-12 feet away tend to come out better. They will usually be a
clearer, more in focus photo with better lighting exposure.
• Again, if you have a telephoto lens, use it to fill the frame with your pet's picture.
• Select several well-focused and well lighted photos that clearly represent your
pet.
• CATS, sometimes using an item that grabs their attention works well.
• Perhaps something like a stick with a bell or feather on it.
• Get them settled down in one place and focus the camera on them.
• When you're ready to shoot, slightly wave the stick above your head, or have
your assistant do it. It usually will grab their eye long enough to take a picture
and make for a nice photo.
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