Whether you’re looking for a fun photography activity or aiming to capture the likeness and personality of your beloved pets, there’s a lot to learn about pet photography! As much as we adore our pets, they can be difficult subjects, which is why capturing pet portraits comes with its own unique challenges!
Grab your camera, follow along for our tips and tricks, and get started with capturing pet portraits!
Capture Pet Personalities
When photographing pets, much like people, it’s important to get to know them! If you are working with your pet, you are starting with an advantage! If not, spend time getting to know if your subject is playful or calm, shy or outgoing. This will help you plan your photography approach and capture their personality better!
Use Natural Light
When photographing animals, we advise using natural lighting as much as possible. Natural light softens your subject's features, minimizes shadows, and helps prevent challenges like red eyes caused by flash. Typically you can find the best natural lighting early in the morning or late afternoon.
Focus on the Eyes
In any type of portrait photography, the eyes are the most important part of your image. Using your subject’s eye as the focal point of your image will help you create a stronger more expressive image and help your viewer connect more with the subject.
Get on Your Subjects Level
Shooting from your pet’s eye level is a great way to create a more compelling and intimate portrait. Changing your perspective will also help visually draw in your viewers by making them feel like they are a part of the pet’s world rather than looking in on it.
Use Fast Shutter Speeds or Continuous Shooting Mode
Fast-moving subjects like animals make fast shutter speeds a necessity. Fast shutter speeds will allow you to freeze motion and capture crisp images even when your subject’s movements are unpredictable. We recommend starting with a shutter speed of at least 1/250 and adjusting based on how active your subject is. Trying out continuous or burst shooting mode can also help as it increases your chances of capturing the perfect moment by taking a series of shots quickly instead of one image at a time.
Be Patient and Use Treats or Toys
Patience is key when photographing pets. If you are struggling to get your subject’s attention, use their favorite treats or toys to get their attention! Having a squeaky toy or treat near the camera can direct their gaze into the lens and make it easier to get the perfect shot!
Capture Candids
While posed portraits can be super fun to capture, going for a more candid approach can be great for showcasing the pet’s personality or their natural environment. Candid shots can also help make your images seem more authentic and expressive!
Avoid Distracting Backgrounds
Positioning your subject in front of a simple background will keep the focus on the pet. When shooting indoors, use a plain wall or the floor. You can also set up colored paper backgrounds for more of a studio photography look! When outdoors, find simple areas like grassy fields or dense semi-monochromatic foliage.
Use a Wide Aperture
Utilizing lenses with a wide aperture, like f/2.8 to f/5.6, will create a shallow depth of field. You can use shallow depth of field to separate your subject from the background and blur the background into a visually pleasing blur that will reduce distractions and make your images look super high-quality. Wide apertures are also super helpful in low-light conditions as they let more light into your lens and make it easier to focus and shoot in low-light situations.
Experiment with Different Angles
Experimentation is one of the most exciting parts of trying a new type of photography. When creating pet portraits, don’t be afraid to try different angles! Shooting from above or below your subject can add creativity and uniqueness to your images.
Pet photography is an exciting opportunity to experiment with different techniques and try your hand at photographing a new subject! With these tips, you can take stunning portraits that capture your pet's personality!
Need some more help? Join us at our Pet Photography Workshop with Sigma’s Annabel DFlux in Cleveland!
In this workshop, SIGMA Ambassador Anabel DFlux will cover everything from portraiture, dynamic action shots, lighting, and techniques, all the way to managing animals during a photo shoot!
Bring your camera! This will be a lecture and two hands-on workshops in one. We will photograph sweet pups in the photo studio and then take them outside for some high-speed fun!
Workshop Schedule:
- Lecture on Pet Photography
- Indoor studio hands-on workshop - bring your camera!
- Outdoor hands-on workshop - bring your camera!