Pet Photography - Getting the Most Out of Your Pet Pictures

Photographing a cat or a dog takes a lot of patience, but the results are well worth the effort. After all, your furry, four-footed companion is a member of your family and a good photograph of your pet will be treasured for years to come. Here are some tips for taking outstanding pictures of your family pet. As always, start with the basics: Charge your camera's batteries (or insert fresh batteries). Make sure you've got spares in case you run out and one or more memory cards with space for all of the pictures you plan to take. Also, make sure you know how to operate your camera and set it to the right mode to take the best pictures.

Use a flash

Like children, pets don't stay still very long. You'll probably need a flash, even if you're taking a picture outdoors in sunlight, or indoors in a brightly lit room. If your camera allows you to, reduce the brightness of your flash to its lowest level. This will give you enough light to freeze the animal in motion without washing out the colours of her fur, flooding the picture with light or creating excessive red-eye. If you're taking action shots outdoors, remember that the range of your flash is limited to about 12 feet.

Choose your background carefully

If you're photographing indoors, simple backgrounds and solid colours are best. Use common sense. Don't photograph your black Labrador on a black leather couch. If your calico cat's coat matches the colour of your ottoman's upholstery, take the picture elsewhere. Avoid patterned and textured backgrounds, as they distract from the texture of your animal's fur. If you're photographing outdoors, make sure that the sun is to the side of your subject and not behind it. The sky makes a great background, especially when you're taking action shots. If you're shooting against a background of trees, buildings or other objects, make sure that their shadows don't fall on your subject. Again, make sure that your subject doesn't blend into the background.

Get close - Use your zoom and macro functions

A close up shot is expressive, colourful and full of texture. Your camera's macro function is designed to let you get within 10 cm. of an object and reveals exquisite detail and variations in colour. It is especially useful capturing the subtleties of an animal's coat, or the luminosity of its eyes.

Be playful

Make sure to bring treats and your pet's favourite toy. You'll want to reward her for her efforts. You can also photograph your pet at play. Remember to use your flash to freeze her motions and snap lots of pictures. (You can select the shots you like later.) Practice "tracking" your pet with the camera, that is, follow her actions with your camera, all the while ensuring that she stays in the frame. You can also have a friend or family member assisting you with toys and treats while you photograph your pet.

Get some rest

You can also photograph your pet at rest, especially in her favourite resting spot, such as an easy chair or a basket. Be patient. Dogs and cats also stir in their sleep and may strike delightful poses. Waking pets, performing their stretching and grooming rituals, are a fascinating subject.

Quick Tip 1

Tracking: Use your optical viewfinder when tracking. The LCD is too slow to capture motion without blur. Not only is it easier to follow a moving object with the optical viewfinder but your camera is steadier because it is being supported against your face.

Quick Tip 2

Blur the background: The best portraits have the subject sharply in focus and the background less defined. Experiment with your camera's modes to find the best results. (Hint: portrait mode is not just for humans). Tracking a moving subject also enables you to accomplish this.

Quick Tip 3

People are subjects too: When you're photographing your pet playing or interacting with other family members, remember that people are the subject of your photograph too. If the dog is lying at grandpa's feet. Get all of grandpa into the picture, not just the part below the knees. If the cat is perched atop your niece's shoulder, don't zoom in on the cat, get a shot of both of them.