Fetching Photos

How to take purrrfect pictures every time.
Some pets are camera shy and others seem to enjoy making a spectacle of your photo sessions. How can you avoid the drama of taking your pet’s picture and get some good quality snapshots? Lucky for you, we have the secrets. With some pre planning and tricks of the trade you can capture adorable pictures of any pet.

Come prepared
Setting your shutter speeds ahead of time can save a lot of film and wasted shots. Film speed should be at ISO 400 for outside pictures. Inside photos come out best at ISO 800.

Setting your shutter speed to 1/125 for pet photos will help to eliminate the chance of blur should your pet suddenly decide to make a run for it.

Catch the right light
Taking your photos outdoors will provide the best possible lighting. Position yourself with the light at your back to avoid getting a glare on the picture and your pet will show up well without needing to use the flash. Sunlight is preferable, but a bright lamp or overhead light can work as well. If you need to use the flash, avoid taking photos when the pet is staring right at the camera. Doing so may cause red-eye and some animals can get scared of the sudden burst of light.

Natural or strike a pose?
The urge to pose your pet may be strong, but try and hold off at first. The best and most treasured photos are rarely of posed pets, but of animals doing what comes natural. These pictures capture your pets’ personality and tell a story about that moment.

Of course you can still pose your pets, but doing so is not as easy as asking a human model to look a certain way or lift a hand in that direction. Your pets will often do what they please and that’s usually quite different than what you hand in mind. Using treats or squeaky toys to get their focus on you can help make that perfect shot a reality.

Important Points

Pay attention to the accessories. Did you cut off the end of the sofa? Is your cat missing the tips of her ears? Line up and center your shot before taking the photo.

Get up close and personal. Most pictures are taken too far away, try standing about two feet away from your pet.

Have someone help you. two humans are often better than one. If you’re trying for a certain pose having a friend dangle toys or treats above your head while you shoot can be a big help.

Most importantly, have fun and encourage your pet to do the same.