7 Tips on Pet Photography
by Jeff Tisman


1) Be patient - A dog or cat is just like a baby and doesn't have a long attention span. 
Get a friend to play with squeaky toys next to the camera to keep your pet from diverting attention elsewhere.

2) Be aware of the background - Busy and distracting backgrounds can take away from the 
subject (your pet). Use a bare wall or sheet to create a clean background behind your pet. 
Pro tip: You could also use a long focal length or wide aperture to blur the background 
if there's no wall or sheet available.

3) Get level with your pet - You wouldn't normally take a portrait of a person from up high, 
so there's no reason to do so with your pet. Get down low and photograph your pet from their 
eye level. If your pet is on a ledge or bench, then you won't need to go down as low as you 
would if they were at ground level.

4) Get close to your pet - Fill the entire frame with their face. It's more dramatic and 
obvious what the subject is. Macro mode (usually symbolized with a flower on most cameras) 
can help you get extreme close-ups of your pet.

5) Candid shots - It's best to have your camera close to you at all times. You never know 
when your pet could cuddle up next to you and look adorable enough for a photograph.

6) Turn off the flash - It's artificial and creates flat photographs with harsh lighting. 
If you require more light move near an open window or door and use natural sunlight. 
At night, get creative and use lamps and candles for warm tones and interesting shadows.

7) Take as many photos as you can - Digital cameras can take 1000s of photos (depending 
on memory card size). Don't hold back. Delete the completely blurry images and choose 
your top images to publish online or to show friends and family.


Watch the video with examples of the above tips: 
http://blog.viddler.com/djsteen/howto-pet-photography


More about Jeff Tisman: http://jefftismanphotography.com
More about The Dog Files: http://thedogfiles.com