Follow Up/ New Camera/New Dog

Ok..I got my new camera And a new puppy. There's so much I want to do but I have no clue where to start. First things first,get the manual and all instructions for your new camera and read it. I know, it goes against everything you believe in. That manual is only for when you run into big trouble. No..it's not. It will make things much simpler and you will find that your camera has bells and whistles on it that you have no idea about. Seriously, you will see how to change the time and language, if necessary. When selecting Menu you can find options such as converting the image to Black and White or Sepia. You can change the selection on the Quality of your image. If you shoot in the lowest quality you will have more noise or a grainy appearance to your picture. Personally, I always choose the Best quality because I want my pictures to look great! This selection will use up a bit more of your memory card but the pictures are worth it. Another option many cameras will have is a Video mode and it's a really neat feature, especially with puppies or small children. So, there's lots to learn from that little manual. In just a few minutes you will be better prepared to get some great photographs of your new pet.

Which Digital Camera is Best for My Pet Photography?

Yes, it's Christmas time and so many people are asking "Which One"? Meaning which digital camera is the one to buy for Christmas? There are so many different brands and models to choose from that it is indeed somewhat intimdating. I think the most important thing to do Before you go to even look at a camera is ask yourself what type of pictures you will be shooting most often. If you have a new puppy and want to take close up shots, movies and just general snapshots..and this is your first digital camera, then a smaller point and shoot could be just the thing. IF you are considering a trip with your pet, or child, and you might be photographing landscapes, maybe animals in the zoo, or things farther away, then you might consider a Digital SLR. My first digital camera was a Kodak Easyshare 3.2 megapixel. I still have it and use it sometimes. A big advantage of the SLR is that you can grow with the camera. You might decide to take a photography class and perhaps decide you like to shoot Macro..or very close up pictures of flowers, for example. You might decide to open a studio and shoot portraits of pets, or children. With the SLR camera you can add lenses to your initial investment and expand your photographic arena. With the point and shoot you do not have that option. Another thing to consider is Speed. The smaller cameras have a definite lag time after you push your shutter button down. No big deal..unless you are trying to shoot pictures of a puppy and he won't sit still..or if your daughter is already in the kitchen by the time you take the picture. With the SLR you can shoot 8 pictures in a second..more with some cameras. NO lag time.
I'll bet you are saying.."Sure, those cameras cost a thousand bucks"..They don't. My boss just purchased hers online yesterday. She was going through this same situation..unsure about whether to start small..or just go ahead and purchase the SLR. After comparing prices of the small Canon 10 mp camera to the Digital SLR with 10 mp..she found there was only about $125 difference. Her daughter is almost 3 yrs. old and very active and that was enough to convince her to go ahead and order the SLR. Check it out, do your research. There are some great cameras out there and the small cameras take awesome pictures too. Just be sure to consider what type of photography you will be doing today ..and tomorrow..and go try one out. Some small cameras do not fit well in your hands and you will not be happy with them. Find one that fits you and you will be out there taking great pet photographs!

Choices In Your Pet Photography

Here's a creative approach to some really nice Pet Photographs. For those of you with a digital SLR it can be pretty simple. I'm talking today about Depth of Field and F-stops. Sure it sounds initimdating but not today, I'm breaking it down! First things first, prepare everything you will need to photograph your pet. If you have a tripod that will be great too. An assistant could be a great asset since they can keep tabs on your subject while you are setting up your camera.
I've found that really close up shots of the dog's face make great photographs. After placing my camera on the tripod..or something sturdy, I look through the lens to check out the placement. This is a good time to make sure there are no strange objects lurking in your background. Now, if you want a close up of your pet and the rest of the background kinda blurred out..you can do it. There is a mode on your camera control called AV...This means aperature and it will control your depth of field..or in other words, what is blurring and what is sharp. In newer cameras there are digital numbers you can see when you look in the viewfinder. The smaller this number is..usually 2 is the smallest, the more blurry your background will be. No, this doesn't mean the whole picture will be blurred out. When you focus on your pet and he looks sharp, then he will be sharp in the photography. However, the background behind him will be out of focus. Now, if you "want" the background included because it is very pretty or somehow enhances your photograph then you can set your aperature to a bigger number, and your depth of field will include it all. Of course you could use an automatic exposure, or program mode, or that and it would probably be fine. This may all sound difficult or strange to you, but believe me, it is a very common technique used by Professional Photographers and will help you to create an aweome photograph of your pet.

Light Will Make Your Pet Photograph

I don't know how many times I've been told to keep checking my white balance and to pay attention to the lighting. You don't really think of that when you set out to shoot pictures of your pets, or your children for that matter. However, when you see the final result it is often very disheartening that your dog has an orange colored tinge to his coat, or that you daughter's face is a bluish gray. These problems can be fixed quite easily. It's ALL about the Light!
First off, if you have a point and shoot camera, get your manual out. Read the section concerning White Balance. It sounds intimidating but it really is pretty simple. Some cameras have a mode option for indoors, but you still need to set the WB for either fluorescent or tungsten lighting. Tungsten lighting is like a lamp, or just the single bulb and it is the one that gives you the orange tint. Fluorescent lighting is totally different and if set wrong you will notice a bluish, gray tone. So, read your manual and learn to set your camera for the two different types of lighting.
Second thing, when shooting indoors you will most often need a flash and perhaps even a side light. I know sometimes you may get by without one, but if you really want some good shots of your pets, you will need some good light. I always have my external flash,(different than the built in flash) and also I have an extra flood light. Personally, I'll try and bounce the flash, or turn it up so it isn't pointed directly at the pet, or child. This can help eliminate the red eye, or green eye problem. The side light I'll place at 45 degrees to the subject. This helps to provide an even light and take away shadows. It will also enhance the texture of things such as an animals coat. Definatley makes for a much better pet photograph.

Big Christmas Wish For The Pet Photographer

Big Christmas Wish For The Pet Photographer


For the Serious pet photographer this could be a great Christmas! Some of
you are content with the smaller compact digital cameras. They are quick, easy to use, and the software is most often very simple as well. But some photographers want more, ...a lot more. They like to zoom in close to capture the catch lights in
the dog’s eyes. Or perhaps a quick shot of a certain expression their cat only shows once a year. For the person who wants to see it all, I have detailed two
Digital SLR cameras by the leading camera makers. Granted there are hundreds of digital cameras out there, unfortunatley I do not have the time to evaluate them all. There are many sites on the web who do offer comparisons of all the major brands
so feel free to cruise through some of their sites.
My first camera is the Canon Digital Rebel Xti. It is first basically because I am a Canon girl. Currently, I own this camera and love it, but I will try not let that influence my evaluation here. My favorite magazine, PC magazine, gave the Canon it’s Editors Choice award in 2007. It ranked a 4.5 out of 5 in the editor’s ranking. It ranked a 5 out of 5 in the reader’s ranking. The camera features a
10.2 mp sensor for making super large prints. The LCD screen is 2.5 inches which
is an improvement over the Digital Rebel. It has a great Auto Focus system that you can adjust to 8 different modes. This camera is incredibly quick and light. Another improvement over the Digital Rebel is the Integrated Cleaning System and automatic Sensor cleaner. It comes with special Canon software to help perfect your images and transfer them to your computer. Also, there is a standard 18-55mm lens that comes with this camera. This is a great camera that takes very high quality pictures. Presently this camera is selling for $657.00 on Amazon..with free shipping.
The competing camera is the Nikon D-80. This camera is very similar to
the Canon as it is also a 10 mp model. PC magazine also awarded this camera
an Editor’s Choice award with a 4.5 out of 5 by the editors. It has a 2.5 inch LCD screen. It has 11 Autofocus points as opposed to Canon’s 8. It is great in low light
situation. It has lots of shooting modes, automatic and manual. Basically , it gives excellent performance and high quality images. The camera comes with it’s own software but the prices quoted are for Body ONLY. This camera is a bit more expensive. It also uses an SD memory card instead of a CF card. Currently, this camera is priced at $799...without a lens. Amazon has a great lens combo with it for $1,079..it includes a 18-135mm lens.
Either of these cameras would be great to find under the tree of any Pet Photographer!

Christmas Wish for the Pet Photographer

So, you are wanting to take more and better photos of your pets. You just aren't happy with your point and shoot film camera, and you are tired of wasting film. YOu are thinking that a digital camera could be a great little gift from Santa this year.
I was checking out 2 Compact Digital Cameras that look like they would be awesome gifts for any level of photographer. After doing a bit of research here's what I found.
The Panasonic Lumix TZ3- or travel Zoom, is a great Ultracompact Digital Camera. It has a stunning 10x optical zoom, a great Leica lens and even comes with a 28mm
wide angle lens. This camera has 7.1 megapixels. It comes with an Optical Image Stabilization system to reduce blurry images from photographer movement. It has a movie mode that includes sound. The camera has ranked # 4 out of 52 cameras in the $200-300 range. It ranked 6th out of 91 cameras in the Ultracompact division. Awesome camera that is said to be simple to use right out of the box. The Image Stabilization and the higher ISO availability would be great options when shooting pet photographs.
Canon Powershot SD800 IS - is the second camera. It offers some features that the Lumix offers. It has it's own type of Image Stabilization..called shift type. It has a 7.1 megapixel with a 3.8 optical zoom. The ISO range is from 80-1600 and it has a 2.5" LCD screen to view your image. This camera is ranked 6 out of 52 in the $200-300 range. It is ranked 8 of 91 in Ultracompacts. Reviews listed the Image Stabilization as being incredible. It also is very quick to power up & extremely user friendly. So, this camera could also be a nice choice for helping you become a great Pet Photographer.
Keep in mind that there are hundreds of digital cameras on the market. I was reading ads on a photography blog yesterday and saw these cameras listed among their favorites. Always visit a camera store, Walmart, or some type shop where you can actually hold the cameras in your hand. It's always best to check the feel of the camera to you, and to observe the different modes and characteristics of the particular camera. SOmetimes a camera will feel too big for you to comfortably grip, or just the opposite. So, do your homework and research the cameras and then go down and test drive a couple. Personally, I like to order my cameras from a reputable dealer that can back up their product. You may have a local camera shop that can service after the sale and that is great. IF you don't I suggest you consider ordering from a larger shop online. B & H Photo/Video has an awesome reputation for great products and great service. There are many others to consider, just be sure you will have some type service after you buy.
I hope this information has helped you to consider digital and will lead you to further research on your own. Good Luck with all your Pet Photography in the future!

Christmas Pet Photography

I have already been approached by a few people to take Christmas photos of their pets. Yes..most of them have been dogs, although one lady had a cat. Anyway, one lady wanted to know what kind of Christmas outfits are available for small dogs. Personally, I'd only seen the little red sweaters with Christmas ornaments. Boy, was I in for a surprise when I did a Google search for Christmas outfit for dogs! There were 2,030,000 sites that sold all kinds of outfits for pets at Christmas. I was shocked to see it all, and some of them were hilarious. It's hard for me to believe that all these companies exist, but apparently there is quite a market for it. So, I called the patron to tell her of all the outfits I'd found for dogs like hers. She was thrilled. I printed off several pages of some she asked about & took them to her house. She ordered the cutest little Santa outfit, complete with a little hat. We spent 2 hours playing with her baby and taking lots and lots of pictures.They are going to make great Christmas cards. And remember there's lots to check out online if you are interested in special Christmas pet photography.

Pet Photography- with my camera?

You will hear people commenting often that their camera just doesn't take good pictures. Look at her pictures, no wonder..she has that big expensive camera. To be perfectly honest, I have seen some award winning photographs taken with a compact digital camera, or even small film cameras. The difference is in the eye of the photographer. Any person can hold an expensive camera, take a picture, and get an awful image. The trick is to take some time to plan out your session. What exactly are you wanting to achieve? Provide an area where your photograph will be enhanced by your surroundings. In other words prepare ahead so that your background does not detract from your picture. Carefully choose the lighting that you need. Bright light is not the best, as a rule. I prefer shooting early in the morning or later in the evening, for outdoors anyway. Indoors you have a flash to compensate for inadequate lighting. Another problem many people have is motion. If your camera is smaller, try to place it on something solid, or practice using it before you shoot for real. Tripods are very helpful if your camera will accept one. I mentioned in a previous post that you need to pay careful attention to your White Balance. Most people have no idea what this is. Check out your menu options of your camera, if you have that option. Most often you can find a way to change the setting for your white balance. I guarantee it will make a huge difference in your picture quality. One last thing, move in closer to your subject. You may take a few shots of Trixie from 5 feet away, but move in closer, really close, and get some close ups of her face from different angles. These tips will make a difference, and who knows, they may keep you from buying a new camera after all.

Photographing Pets...Check Your White Balance

Photographing Pets---Check Your White Balance


Many people have asked me, "What's wrong with my pictures?" I bought a neat new camera but it takes crappy pictures. Looking at the pictures, I have to agree..the pictures are crappy. And the problem is most often Not the camera, but the person's lack of knowledge of their camera. Probably a very high percentage of people think you should be able to pick up a camera, shoot a picture, and have it turn out great. That does happen..sometimes. Many times it will not, and that can often be due to improper white balance. Notice that I am speaking of Digital photography here, because that is what I use 95% of the time.
White Balance is a way of controlling the response of the camera to the colors of light your eyes see. There are 3 ways to control the white balance with your camera, automatic, custom, and with pre set modes. Some very small point and shoot cameras will not have a way to adjust them.
First option, automatic, will work pretty well most of the time. The internal chip in your camera will look at the image and adjust the colors so that white is neutral.This will work some of the time, but there will be times when it looks awful.The most common situation for automatic exposure to fail is in dimmer light. This could be at sunrise or sunset when shooting outside. At this time the colors are usually a warmer redish color. The automatic exposure will often miscalculate and make the picture too bright, and the resulting image won't even be close to what you wanted.
SOme of the preset modes work better, but only when the photographer chooses them correctly. There is a daylight, or sunny mode. This makes noonday pictures look more natural. Cloudy setting makes the image look warmer, as if a warming filter were placed on the lens. Many photographers shoot with the cloudy setting most all the time so as to create a more natural look. Most cameras will have a light filter for tungsten light, so the images are not orange. The incandescent mode will help with fluorescent lighting so images are not the off green color. The Flash mode will help to tame down the light of the flash somewhat so the skin tones don't have the bluish cast to them. You should experiment with all the different settings on your camera so you will know what they can do. You will be amazed at the difference in your photography when you master some of these settings. And remember, it's always best to know "Before" you go!

Is your pet a photo phobe?" Take heart! Though getting a great shot of Fifi or Fido is a bit more difficult when your subject has a camera issue, with a little patience and perseverance you can help your pet get over the photographic "phobias" described below.
The shy or camera-shy pet

Some animals initially feel uncomfortable or frightened when you stare intently at them through a camera lens. Some are simply shy by nature; others associate fixed stares, which are a hallmark of predators, with being considered as dinner.

My own Carolina Dog Antoine was a great example of "photo nerves" when he first came to live with me. I decided to make a game of taking his picture by looking at him through the lens for a couple of seconds at a time while telling him what a good dog he is. Like everyone on the planet, Antoine loves being praised, so he quickly came to associate being praised with being viewed through a camera. Now I can snap pictures of him any time, any place.

The camera hog

In sharp contrast to the camera-shy models, some animals just love the feeling of receiving close attention so much that they become camera hogs. My mustang mare Astarte fell into this category. Anytime she saw me with my camera, she would immediately shove her pasture mate out of the way, then run up and stick her nose on the lens-and nose shots were definitely not her most flattering pose!

The totally bored subject

Then there are those animals who won't do anything except look bored so long as you're holding your camera. My cat Katie is an excellent example. Normally, Katie will play at a moment's notice. She leaps, she bounds, she stands on her hind legs and boxes. She is graceful, gorgeous and highly photogenic-until the camera comes into view, when she freezes up like an aging actress without her makeup and refuses to cooperate at all.

Ah, but Katie does love a new catnip toy. Every time I bring one home, she begins mewing in greedy anticipation before I even get the toy out of the bag, then grabs the toy, racing around the room triumphantly with it in her mouth, giving it a good shake every now and then just to let it know who's boss. She rolls around the floor clutching the toy to her belly and purring ecstatically, providing me with absolutely wonderful photo ops!

Once you've identified and resolved your pet's camera problems, you'll find that taking pet photos is a truly delightful hobby-so much so, in fact, you may find yourself taking so many pet photos you need new ways to display them. If that becomes the case, consider these great ways to display your great pet photos:

• Coffee mugs and coasters: If you can't take your pet to work with you-or your son or daughter who's away-at-college is homesick for the family pets-a pet photo mug can do a lot to soothe that "missing you" feeling;

• Calendar: A wonderfully way to enjoy a variety of pet photos all year long;

• Tote bag: Carry your books, papers and other stuff in style in a canvas tote bag decorated with your favorite pet photo;

• Greeting cards: Wish family and friends happy holidays on greeting cards customized with your pet's picture. See some great pet photo gifts.

Copyright Julie S. Crawshaw 2007. Julie S. Crawshaw is a freelance writer, animal lover and the author of Talking With Animals. Improve your animal communication skills today.

More articles about interacting and communicating with animals.














Related Articles - pet photos, photo gifts,

Pet Photography Contest

Parade Magazine's Dress Your Pet Photo Contest

Here are some questions being asked by entrants. Hurry to enter, it ends 11/30/2007.

Click on the questions listed below to reveal the answers:
Home | Official Rules | Snapshot FAQsShould I mail-in my photo, submit it online or do both?

Please do not submit the same photo via mail-in and also online. Due to the volume of mail PARADE receives, the preferable means of entry is online, but please note this does not mean you will have a greater chance of winning submitting your photos one way or the other. Please see official rules for more details.

How many photos may I enter into the contest?

You may enter as many photographs as you like, but they must be submitted one at a time. Hard copy photos must submitted 1 per envelope.
What format should I use? And how big can the image be?

Please submit images that are less than 5 megabytes (MB) in JPEG (.jpg) format. For your reference, most photos taken with digital cameras will be 1MB or 2MB. Mail-in entries should be no larger NO LARGER THEN 5X7 (for both the photo and envelope).

If submit my photo via mail-in, will you return it to me and/or confirm that your received it?

Unfortunately, PARADE will not be able to return your photos if you chose to mail it in nor can we confirm receipt of your photo. If you submit your photo via online, you will be able to see it within the contest gallery. (To do this, you should search for it within the contest gallery with the picture name or user name you provided.)

If my photo has a dog and a cat, should I submit it in each category?

Please submit your photos in the category that it best represents (and only in one category). If you photo has more then one animal, please submit it in the "other animals" category.

If I already submitted a Pet Photo to PARADE, will it automatically be part of the photo contest?

NO, you must enter the photo through the contest page. If you previously submitted a photo to snapshot or for another contest, please upload the photo again to the contest photo gallery.

What criteria will be used to judge my photo?

All entries will be judged on or about December 14, 2007 he “Judging Date”) by a panel of judges comprised of Parade.com editorial and marketing staff. The judges will score entries within three potential categories: Dogs, Cats, Other Animals based on the following criteria: photo quality (25%), interest of subject matter (25%), visual appeal (25%) and consistency with theme “Dressed Pets” (25%). The entry with highest overall scores in each of the three categories: Dogs, Cats and other Animals will be declared the potential winner (in the event of a tie, the entry with the higher score in the ‘photo quality’ criteria will prevail).

The contest is called "Dress Your Pet Photo Contest." Can I submit a photo taken with people and other images?

Yes, but the theme is Pets so that’s how we will be judging the photo.

Who can enter the contest?

You must be a legal resident of the 50 United States/D.C. and at least 13 years old. The contest is not open to employees of PARADE and their immediate families.

What’s the deadline for submissions?

Online entries must be received by November 30, 2007 5PM E.S.T. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by November 30, 2007 5PM E.S.T., and received no later than five (5) days later..
When will the judging take place?

All entries will be judged on or about December 14, 2007.

Do I retain the rights to my photo after it is submitted?

Yes, as the photographer you retain the copyright ownership of your photo.

Can I enter my photo in other contests or get it published again somewhere else?

Yes, as the photographer of the photo, you retain the copyright of your photo and may do with it as you wish.

I use an online photo service. Can I just send you a link to my photo?

No. Because of the volume of entries we receive, you must send us the actual image file as a JPEG (.jpg), not a link or other type of file. Other formats may not be readable. If an image file is not readable, it will not be considered.

Should I "stuff" or "zip" my file?

No. If your file is the proper size (less than 5 megabytes) and the recommended format (JPEG), then there is no need for additional compression.

I used a photo software program (such as Photoshop) to alter my picture. Is it OK to submit it to the contest?

Yes, it is OK to submit altered photos.

What happens if my photo is selected as a winner?

You will be notified by mail and/or telephone.

How can I find out who won?

For a list containing the name(s) of the winner(s), send a self-addressed stamped envelope, within six (6) months of the Judging Date, to: PARADE Publications c/o Winner List – Dress Your Pet Photo Contest, 711 Third Ave., NY, NY 10017.



For help and frequently asked questions on uploading to PARADE’s Snapshot section, please click here.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter and for full rules, including alternate method of entry, visit www.parade.com/dressyourpet. Starts 5:00 PM E.S.T., 10/24/07 and ends 5:00 PM E.S.T., 11/30/07. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. 13 years and older, except employees of Sponsor and their immediate families and those living in the same household. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where otherwise prohibited. A.R.V. of three grand prizes: $1000 per category (cats, dogs, other animals). Sponsor: Parade Publications, 711 Third Ave., NY, NY 10017.

Pet Photography/All About Cats

Ok, Ok..I apologize for "going to the dogs." Cats are great too, at least most of the time. A couple of people have commented that I am only writing about dogs, and it looks like I have leaned in that direction. The site that I am posting about is ALL about Cats though, so I hope to be forgiven. A friend mentioned it to me & it does seem to have just about anything you would want in the cat department. They have a Cat Photo Contest going. THe competition looks pretty tough too. There are lists for everything from Cat furniture,Cat toys, Cat health, on to Grief Management. Quite an extensive list for just about everything. Seems to have some very informative links too. I plan to put a coupla pictures of Precious, my cat, on there. If any of you feline minded people are interested in a Cat Photograpy Contest, then you may want to check out www.meowhoo.com

Pet Photography/More Dog Contests

I never knew there were so many great sites for pets and pet photography. Last night
I came upon another really good one. The site is organized very well. My search was for the dog contest, and they apparently have one every month. Looking at October's entries I saw 10 winners & they each received a prize. The pictures were really cute too, I would have had a hard time judging that one. Anyway, the site was interesting that I ended up spending 20 minutes there. They have a multitude of advertisers that
really enhance the site. I mean they have luxury dog bedding, awesome collars, dog bowls,crazy sweaters...you name it and I think they have it. I emailed it to my sister and she called me right back. She had already picked out two little Christmas presents.
So, if you are a dog lover and I assume alot of you are or you wouldn't be here, go and check out this site. It's really cute and they have a ton of information on there. Of course I put a few shots of Bitsy in for their November contest. By the way, Bitsy is a shih tzu..I couldn't remember how to spell that on my last post. We'll see how she fares in the competition. Wish us luck.
By the way, the link for that site is http://www.pamperedpuppy.com

Pet Photos/ Dog Photo Contest Site

I found the neatest site today. My sister had me take some pictures of her baby, which happens to be the cutest little thing. I can't spell her name right, so.. I will have to get back with you on her pedigree. Her name is Bitsy and some of her pictures were soo cute that I was looking for a contest to enter her in. The site I was referring to is mostly for Dog Photos for contests, and a rather extensive Photo Gallery. They have monthly Best Picture Contests. There are over 1,000 entries in the Contest Entry Gallery alone. The website shows a continues slideshow of some favorites and they were all great.
The site hosts two types of contests:
1) There is the Popular Vote Contest: These photos are judged by members of the Pix and Flix site.
2) Best Picture: A professional dog photographer selects the winner for this category.

Winners of the contests do receive a prize.

Portions of the profits for this site go to Non-Profit Shelters and rescue organizations. I really liked that part too!

So, if you are interested in maybe entering some cute pictures of your dog into a contest, then perhaps you might want to check out http://www.pixandflix.com/

Pet Photography 101

Pet Photography 101—

Seven Habits of the Successful Pet Photographer

Whether they're cute or ferocious, you want to immortalize your family pet on film. Don't worry if your Beagle, Siamese, or Iguana is camera shy, these little devils can't escape NYI photographers! We are here to help you with our Seven Habits of the Successful Pet Photographer. So fluff up your Persian and let's get started!

1. Get inside your pet's brain.
For a portrait, you want your four-legged buddy to feel at ease so why not try to contain him or her in their favorite hang out-be it the rocking chair on the front porch, the stoop, on top of the fridge, or on top of your desk. Many cats like to rest on top of reading material, not for the intellectual stimulation, but to prevent their masters from reading so that they can get all the attention.


You should always respect your pet's personality when taking a photo just as you would for a human subject. Here's an ethical question for you. Should pet owners resist the urge of draping them in Versace? Does this really humiliate the animal? Well, we should probably leave that for your local pet psychic to answer. Chances are, though, if you dress your Saint Bernard up in red raincoat and booties, you're not going to get a natural expression. We leave this to your discretion. The NYI staff has fallen in love with this photo taken by NYI Student Carolyn Sauer of this poodle in his pink tutu. We suspect that this puppy was begging for treats and oblivious to her ballerina get-up. By the way, take a look at this puppy's feet – in first position of ballet!

2. Thou Shalt Tell A Story.


See this cat behind the screen looking out? We can imagine the story behind this photo. It is a look that cat owners will recognize – that hypnotic stare that a cat gets when it intently studies a feathered object that it would like to nibble on. Next time you see a photo of a pet, see if it tells a story. It doesn't have to be a long story. It can be a short story as in this poodle in the pink tutu. Let's say you're trying to take a photo of your golden retriever and in walks your toddler with an ice cream cone and your golden retriever then knocks the cone out of his hands. The end result will be a photo that speaks for itself!


It's a good idea to have your camera at a central location in your home so you can grab it the second you see an animal story.


3. Be prepared for sudden movement.

Pets can be unpredictable and move without warning. Consider your photo session a jungle safari of sorts and prepare for the cheetah's sudden escape. Sometimes pets can be restless and jump at the sound of a shutter click, so you should adjust your camera accordingly. Set your shutter speed at about 1/125th so your tabby doesn't come across as one big orange fuzz ball. With film use a high speed such as ISO 400 or 800 film if you are going to be photographing indoors with minimal available light.

Pets can be just as vain as their masters. You can make a shiny coat of fur look even better by using a soft light or catching your pet taking a late afternoon sunbath.

4. Control the clutter on the set.

Though you will not have to deal with the model's ill-coordinated clothing, you still don't want to photograph your Dalmatian against a drab shower curtain.

Remember, follow your pet's thought process – eat, sleep, play – in other words – simplify! Once you decide on the location of your photo session, if it is indoors remember to get rid of clutter – stray magic markers, dirty socks, human limbs, TV Guides – things that distract and do not add to the story behind the photo. Outdoors, watch out for lawn furniture, stray toys and other debris that can complicate your background.

This brings us to our fifth Habit.


5. Consider your camera angle.

It's a good idea to place the camera at about the same level of the animal. This will fill your frame with your furry subject. If you're outdoors and your subject is digging for treasures or eating your neighbor's tulips, get down in the dirt so you can be at the same level. Seeing the subject's point of view, can give you an extra creative spark which will lead to better photographs.



If you are aiming for a glamorous close-up shot as in NYI Student Patricia Fielder's photo of her cat, you will want to use a close-up lens and be very quiet so you don't interrupt kitty's trance. Oh, what beautiful fur this cat has! A pet photograph doesn't always do justice to the subject's fur.

6. Don't forget the treats and the props!


Treats are tools of the trade in pet photography. If you know your pet has a weakness for...say carrot cake, liverwurst, or peanut butter, do not be afraid to use these to help you take that unforgettable shot. This can work especially well when photographing people with pets. (Though, you may want to get your vet's approval for the peanut butter.) If you want to have a great portrait of your child and pet, try getting the child and the pet to look in the same direction. Make sure the child is comfortable with the pet and vice versa. The child can cuddle the animal if it is small enough or stroke it if the animal towers over the child. It probably isn't a good idea to have the child play rodeo and ride it around the living room. The trick is to show the relationship between the pet and the person in the picture.

This post was taken from my photography class at the New York Institute of Photography.

It's All About Light

Several weeks ago I did a photo shoot for a friend. She wanted some close up shots of "her baby" to place in some cards for close friends. This special pet is a
very cute little Yorkie & she turned out to be a great little model. We took several shots outside & then decided to move inside where it was cooler. I wanted to use my 100 mm lens for some nice close ups. Unfortunatley I did not have my flash with me. I was able to increase my ISO ( speed) & get some pretty decent exposure times, but looking back at the shots I just wasn't happy with them.
Yesterday I went back over for a second try with little Miss Sophie. This time I was packing a flash & also an extra side light. The difference was unbelievable! I could tell even before I took my first shot that they were going to be much better. We shot about 30 pictures & they were almost all winners! She was happy & I certainly was happy. Sophie got her treats so it turned out to be a win, win, win situation!
My flash I used mostly to bounce from the ceiling. The sidelight I placed at 45* to the subject. It created a very warm feeling to the pictures ,& also greatly enhanced the look of her coat.

A Simple Dog Picture

Simple..that's it. I set out to take some simple pictures of my sister's dog
Bitsy. This dog is not just a pet, she's really a child, & treated far better than
any child I know of. We took props; blankets, sweaters, toys, a hairbrush..yes...
a hairbrush. I thought we were prepared for everything, but apparently I didn't
figure in the weather & Bitsy's attitude. Our first pictures were outside in front of
a nice pumpkin arrangement. The wind was blowing, the sun was rather warm &
Bitsy didn't want any part of all that. We got 2 pictures & neither were all that great. After that we went inside. We had 3 different blankets for backgrounds, one was a snowflake, one was just black & the last one was a Christmas scene. I had extra lighting that we placed to the side & we were ready to go. Bitsy had other ideas. She did not want to sit up or lay out straight. Instead she rolled on her side & just ducked her head down. My sister tried several times to sit her back up so I could quickly snap a shot or two. This didn't work out all that well. We got lucky once or twice but we needed something more. Finally we figured it out...DOG TREATS!! We had left them in the car. Boy, did that do the trick. Bitsy perked right up & sat there like a model. We got lots of shots in her cute little red
sweater. We got great pictures with her sitting, laying out straight...she did it all.
Sooo..I guess the most important thing to remember when taking several pictures of your pets is bring Treats!!

A Short List of Professional Pet Photographers in the Southeast

SPONSOR LINKS : A Short List Of Professional Photographers In The Southeast..There are
Many, Many More!

Professional Photography Available for Studio or On-Location VA, TENN, NC, SC, KY, AL, GA, FL.http://www.ShayneHensley.com/

3Sight Photography Photojournalistic weddings, events, portraits, sports, music & retail.http://www.3sight.com/

The Perfect Pet Portrait Your special pet photo becomes canvas artwork. Precious memories!http://www.CanvasOnDemand.com/

Charlotte Wedding Photos Husband and Wife Photography Team Weddings, Portraits, Events, Lifehttp://BellaLoren.com/