Photographing your beloved dog or cat can be a great challenge, but if you know when she is in a restful, quiet pose, you can get that photo quickly, and in sharp focus. I love photographing our two Bedlington Terriers, and I have literally thousands of photos of them. We have a female, Misty, who is about 5 years old, and her brother Rogue, about 4 years old. There's never enough photos, it seems.
If your pet is running around and playing, its usually next to impossible to capture a good - not to mention great - photograph. After trying to take a good photo of Misty when she was running around, I realized I was fighting the natural flow of things. I saw the answer - just wait till she's asleep. .
Even with instant auto-focus cameras, if there is the slightest delay between the moment you press the shutter button and the actual shutter release, the shot is usually a miss. Instead of capturing the entire dog in the frame, there would be only part of the dog. A picture of a dog's back, from on top and angled, is not attractive. Give up the struggle.
The secret to being able to take your time and to take the photo with great care, is be ready:
How can you create a "set" for your dog or cat before the photo session? Simple - just cover the chair or floor or backdrop with material. Obtain neutral colored material from a fabric shop, or from your own closet. How big? That will depend
The color of the material should not interfere with the photograph itself. Backgrounds are best when they are neutral and not even noticed. I like neutral tones, and in the photo above, it is a rich, dark brown which complements Misty's beautiful grey fur.
If your pet is asleep, simply pick her up and move her over to the set your created. As simple as that sounds, it works. If your sweet dog is asleep, lying down, nice and still, you will be able to take your time and take as many photos as you want, and she will be still, in focus, and cooperative. It's certainly a solution and easier than trying to capture her when she's running around.
As you look through the viewfinder, leave an extra 20% margin on each of the four sides of the animal for cropping (do this whenever you photograph anything). As you enlarge a photo, it expands proportionately and you will need the space. If you take a digital photo, of course you can instantly see the results - thus, you can adjust accordingly. Next, look to see If the angle of the photo is attractive. Can you see her eyes? Does her entire body fit in the frame? Is it in precise focus? Did you look at all possible angles? Time and practice and experience will enhance your results. You will always cherish your photos of your beloved pets. Take many photos. Keep practicing. Your photos will become more and more beautiful as you practice.
