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Great photos can be taken with any camera
- film or digital. However if you can, use one with a zoom lens
or a short telephoto lens. If you are using a digital, please
check that your camera is set at the highest resolution possible,
for a sharp image.
Ensure you have your pet well groomed
before taking the photos. Decide if you want it to have its collar
or bridle on or off?
Photographing animals does require some
patience. To capture the ideal shot it is best to shoot lots
of pictures from different angles, It is also important that
the animal remains comfortable and relaxed.
Light
Photos are always best taken in natural light outdoors. Early
morning, late in the afternoon or mid winter provides the best
lighting, when the sun is low in the sky. A bright cloudy day
with diffused light will work well too.
Avoid taking pictures between 10am to 3pm on sunny days as the
bright light results in altered colours, hard shadows, high contrast
and squinting eyes.
Otherwise have your pet close to a window
with plenty of natural light streaming through and coming from
behind or to the side of your pet.
Turn your flash off as this can result
in inaccurate colour, shading, red eye and will flatten the subject.
Camera Angle
Position yourself and your camera at the same height as your
pet. You may need to sit, squat or lie down on your stomach.
Hold the camera at your pets’ eye
level and fill the viewfinder with its head and shoulders. To
avoid distortion, stand at least a metre from your pet. Some
close-up shots of the head are also helpful.
When taking ‘full body’ shots,
the camera should be positioned at shoulder height for laying,
and chest area for sitting and standing, to avoid a distorted
look.
Photographing
Dogs | Photographing
Horses | Photographing Cats |
Photographing Birds | Sending
of photographs
Photographing
Dogs
The photo session should always be fun
for you and the dog! It will show in your dog’s expression.
Positioning:
If possible have someone assist you with the positioning of your
dog. It doesn’t matter if there are hands in the photo.
Start with any pose the dog finds comfortable.
Head & Shoulders
Try photographing your dog in a sitting position at a 45 degree
angle and zoom in on the head.
Full Body:
Sitting
For a sitting position you want your dog to look relaxed and
alert. Try positioning your pet at a 45 or 90 degree angle to
the camera.
Standing
Try photographing the body on a slight angle to the lens with
a three quarters view or the face.
Lying Down
A very relaxed position. Lower your camera so your lens is still
level with the dog’s eyes. Try photographing straight on
and at a 45 degree angle.
Attention Getters:
Only one person should be directing your pet’s attention.
These are some of my favourite attention
getters: Where’s the ball? Where’s the cat? Show your
pet its special ball or squeaky toy. A whistle, or try directing
your pets attention with a food treat. The latter is guaranteed
to get your Labrador looking attentive but keep your eye out
for drool.
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Taking
Photographs Of Horses
Time of year
Your horse may be best photographed after it has shed it dull
winter coat and has a shiny new one. Photos should be taken in
natural light (outdoors).
Appearance
Before the photo session the horse should be well groomed. Coat-enhancing
products may be applied, and if it is wearing a halter or bridle
it should be clean and polished. It is helpful to have a towel,
a bottle of baby oil and fly repellent spray with you. The baby
oil rubbed on with a towel is a quick way to remove dust and
add shine.
Positioning:
The owner or handler should be the one that leads and positions
the horse.
A third person is always helpful to obtain the horses attention.
It is best to take several photographs
of different profiles and camera angles, to capture the likeness
and personality of your horse.
Head and Shoulders
Photograph your horse with both ears forward and visible, and
follow the natural arch of the neck.
Position the camera between your horse’s
eyes and chest, focus on the eyes and ‘fill the frame’
with its head and shoulders. To avoid distortion, stand at least
a metre from the animal. Some close-up shots of the head are
also helpful.
Full Body
Have you horse facing ahead with his ears forward and all four
legs showing.
You may need to have your assistant help with the placement of
the legs for full body shots. Your horse’s body should be
squared, with the space between the front legs equal to the space
between the hind legs.
Action shots
For action shots it is best that you have a zoom lens to fill
the frame.
You will need a fast shutter speed of at least 1/400 or set the
camera on the action shot setting.
Attention Getters:
For your horse to look alert there are a number of things you
can try:
Visual
Have your assistant stand a few metres away from your horse and
wave a towel or similar object. Obviously not too close, you
don’t want to scare the horse. Introducing another horse
is highly effective!
Noise
A good one is shaking the food bucket or you could try a whistle.
Food
Have your assistant hold a carrot or pick some grass and hold
it up.
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Photographing
Cats
If you are a cat owner then you will
understand that a cat is its own Master and is happy for us human
admirers to worship it. Your cat is not going to respond as a
dog would to “sit and stay”. If you try to get your
cat to do something it does not want to, it may end up in a “catty
mood”.
It is important that your cat is as comfortable
as possible.
You want your cat to feel safe with the camera, so speak softly
with gentle patting and offer a treat.
Attention Getters:
Cats are more likely to respond to visual stimuli. What things
does your cat find most interesting? It is likely to resemble
a small feathered friend.
If you have an indoor-outdoor cat, try
photographing it outside. You can capture it closely focused
on watching a bird (out of harms way), or regal and relaxed lying
in the sun. Otherwise inside, try to photograph it near a sunny
window. You may like to include your cats favourite chair, pillow
or blanket in the painting?
If relaxed, it may respond to play and
your assistant can tease it with a toy mouse, feather or a piece
of string attached to a long handle.
Positioning:
If your cat is relaxed you should be able to position it.
Full Body
Position your cat with its tail wrapped close to its body, either
in a laying or sitting position.
Head & Shoulders:
You can take a head and shoulders shot with either position.
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Photographing
Birds
Provide the bird with a safe perch or
human companion that it feels secure on.
Head & Shoulders:
Try to photograph your bird with its naturally curved “C”
shaped head. You can get the bird to curve its head by getting
its attention with food.
Full Body:
It is often best if the position of the birds body is a side-on
profile or
semi-profile, with the full tail visible. Otherwise, if facing
directly at the lens the face looks very narrow.
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Sending
of Photographs
Digital photos ought to be taken at the highest resolution possible,
and are ideally cropped before emailing.
Great care will be taken of any prints
and disks, sent by post. These will be returned to you with the
finished portrait.
When sending digital images by email, these are preferably of
a high resolution of 300 dpi for best results.
If you require any further assistance,
please email me and I will do my best to help.
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Phone: +64 3 578 5756
Email: vicki.jackson@paradise.net.nz
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