Photo Tips – Photograph your Pets

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Our pets are important members of our family and photos of them are always treasured.  It can be fun taking photos of our pets, but also frustrating!  Just like children they don’t always do what we want them to, when we want them to.  I have come up with a few tips that you may find helpful.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Just relax and have fun with your pet and try not to get stressed when you want that perfect photo.  If you are feeling stressed they will feel it.  Patience is the best  quality to have and treats too!

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And if you don’t have treats they will eat the photo ops!

GO TO THEIR LEVEL

Just like children it is best to get down to their level.  Get at eye level and not standing over them.  Focus on their eyes just like with people so they are sharp.

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BE READY

Always have your camera ready!  Sometimes the best photos are when you are not getting them to pose and they are just being themselves.

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AGES AND STAGES PETS

It is important to get photos of all ages and stages of your pet.  The puppy photos are so special because they are only that size for such a short time.  Getting a human in the photo is a good idea for size comparison.  As your pet ages don’t stop taking photos as we never know when that the last photo will be snapped and it is fun to look back at all of the stages of their life.

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Include your pet in the family photo.  So thankful Cooper was here for the family photo.

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Two years later they added a new furry member, Harley to their family.

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In a year it is fun to see how much Harley has grown!

NATURAL LIGHT

Natural light is always the most flattering and turn off your flash.  Animal’s eyes glow when the flash hits them directly in the eye.  Also, some animals don’t like the flash and once you hit them with the flash once they may run and hide from the camera.  Try to find a spot in your house that has soft filtered sunlight coming in.  Going outside is an option as well for sunlight, but they then have freedom to run and it may be difficult to get that posed photo.

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ACTION

If it is action you want, then head outside to catch them doing what they love.  It is best to turn you your shutter speed to 1/1000  or sports mode to freeze action.

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PEOPLE

Our pets are so special to us and getting photos with the people that love them are treasured forever.  It is so wonderful to capture that relationship of unconditional love in a photo.

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PERSONALITY

Some of my favourite photos are showing the little quirking things about our pets personality, favourite places to sleep, doing the things they love, favourite toys and being with the people they love.

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Brody loved the boat and Papa was one of his favourite humans.  He always has treats in his pocket.

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Some of Brody’s favourite spots around our house were the warm fireplace and sitting on the front step watching everything going on in the yard.   We cherish these photos as we only had him for four years.

PRAISE AND TREATS

Make sure you have a pocket full of treats!  Animals respond well to rewards and praise.  If they know they are getting rewarded they will behave much better for you!  Maybe use extra special treats to get that pose or trick you want!

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Or his favourite ball which works better for Gunner!

Also, thank your pets after a photo session and praise them with lots of affection.  The next time you bring out your camera to photograph them they will remember all of the treats and love you gave them!

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Even fish need love too!  Grant and Bubbles – best of friends!

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