Furry Faces: How to Take Better Photos of Your Pet
We all know your pet is the most beautiful of them all – here's how to show off their best features
Joanna Tovia
30 March 2018
Photographer, journalist, dog person. Lover of travel, design, good food and wine. On a mission to help animals in need with @unfoldingtails, a photo-interview series about pets and the humans who love them. Follow along on Instagram.
Photographer, journalist, dog person. Lover of travel, design, good food and wine.... More
Whether you’re building a following for your dog on Instagram, sharing your cat’s antics on Facebook, or want to take the perfect shot of your pet so you can frame it and put it on display for all to see, hitting the mark with your photography is worth aspiring to. Take your skill levels up a notch with these tips on composition, creativity and encouraging co-operation, no matter if you’re snapping pics with your phone or using a camera with more advanced features. Share your own pet photos in the Comments at the end of the story – we’d love to see your favourite shots.
Make eye contact
Photographic portraits are powerful communicators of feeling, mood and even thoughts, whether they’re of humans or animals. Pet portraits pack more of an emotional punch if their eyes are in focus and your pet is looking directly at you.
If you’re using your phone, tap on the screen to pinpoint the focus before taking the shot; if you’re using a digital point-and-shoot, DSLR or mirrorless camera, activate the eye/face recognition feature if it has one, and check your focus to make sure the eyes are sharp before taking the photo.
Tip: A shallow depth of field will allow you to emphasise an animal’s face and soften the rest of the scene. Some smartphones have this feature built in. For those who have a capable camera but tend to use it in ‘auto’ mode, now is a good time to master its manual controls. Playing around with aperture will open up a world of amazing photography.
For the Love of Felines: Our Fearless Furry Friends
Photographic portraits are powerful communicators of feeling, mood and even thoughts, whether they’re of humans or animals. Pet portraits pack more of an emotional punch if their eyes are in focus and your pet is looking directly at you.
If you’re using your phone, tap on the screen to pinpoint the focus before taking the shot; if you’re using a digital point-and-shoot, DSLR or mirrorless camera, activate the eye/face recognition feature if it has one, and check your focus to make sure the eyes are sharp before taking the photo.
Tip: A shallow depth of field will allow you to emphasise an animal’s face and soften the rest of the scene. Some smartphones have this feature built in. For those who have a capable camera but tend to use it in ‘auto’ mode, now is a good time to master its manual controls. Playing around with aperture will open up a world of amazing photography.
For the Love of Felines: Our Fearless Furry Friends
Get creative with angles
Some of my favourite animal portraits are striking not because of their cute factor, but because a pet’s true personality has been caught on camera. Thor, a rescue sausage dog, looks positively regal in this photo as he gazes out the window pondering who knows what (although probably it’s ‘what’s on the menu for dinner?’).
Some of my favourite animal portraits are striking not because of their cute factor, but because a pet’s true personality has been caught on camera. Thor, a rescue sausage dog, looks positively regal in this photo as he gazes out the window pondering who knows what (although probably it’s ‘what’s on the menu for dinner?’).
Tip: Take your time and observe what your pets do when they’re relaxed and left to their own devices. Rather than always having them pose, try to capture a moment when they’re truly being themselves. Not every picture has to be taken front-on. Some shots are more emotive when your subject is in the distance rather than right in front of the lens, like this dog waiting for the humans of the house to come home.
Be picky about the backdrop
The right setting can make a good photo great. Complementary colours are particularly effective if your pet is especially beautiful – and don’t we all think our own pet has been blessed in the looks department? This grey-on-grey scheme makes for a stunning photo of this gorgeous feline stretching out luxuriously on the sofa.
The right setting can make a good photo great. Complementary colours are particularly effective if your pet is especially beautiful – and don’t we all think our own pet has been blessed in the looks department? This grey-on-grey scheme makes for a stunning photo of this gorgeous feline stretching out luxuriously on the sofa.
Sometimes it pays to step back a little and take a wider shot. In this photo, the peaceful slumber of the family pooch has been perfectly captured in the context of home.
See more beautifully laid-out living areas
See more beautifully laid-out living areas
Capture your pet at their most joyful
If your pet gets excited about a particular outing or activity, this is the time to break out your camera. You’ll always remember these moments, of course, but having a record of them will be an endless source of joy. Fergus, seen here, loves to go paddle-boarding on the river every chance he gets. Other dogs are happiest during a romp with their friends on the beach, on a peaceful bush walk full of interesting smells, or snuggled up on the couch with their favourite companion – you, probably.
If your pet gets excited about a particular outing or activity, this is the time to break out your camera. You’ll always remember these moments, of course, but having a record of them will be an endless source of joy. Fergus, seen here, loves to go paddle-boarding on the river every chance he gets. Other dogs are happiest during a romp with their friends on the beach, on a peaceful bush walk full of interesting smells, or snuggled up on the couch with their favourite companion – you, probably.
Get down on their level
Lying down in the grass to take this shot made little Mochi look larger than life, and captures her true nature far better than a shot taken from above.
Tip: A shot with movement in it can be far more dynamic than one of a dog just sitting and posing for the camera. If you’d like to shoot a photo of your dog in action, ask them to stay, get yourself in position, then call them to come to you and capture them on the move – experiment with shutter speeds if you’re using a DLSR to achieve different effects.
If it’s a cat you’re attempting to capture coming towards you, good luck! As every cat owner knows, they’re likely to do the opposite of what you most want them to do. Patience is what will pay off where cats are concerned – follow their lead rather than trying to get them to follow yours.
Lying down in the grass to take this shot made little Mochi look larger than life, and captures her true nature far better than a shot taken from above.
Tip: A shot with movement in it can be far more dynamic than one of a dog just sitting and posing for the camera. If you’d like to shoot a photo of your dog in action, ask them to stay, get yourself in position, then call them to come to you and capture them on the move – experiment with shutter speeds if you’re using a DLSR to achieve different effects.
If it’s a cat you’re attempting to capture coming towards you, good luck! As every cat owner knows, they’re likely to do the opposite of what you most want them to do. Patience is what will pay off where cats are concerned – follow their lead rather than trying to get them to follow yours.
Get your pet’s favourite human in on the act
Hand over the camera if you’re the chosen one, or rally the troops for a photo shoot that embodies the feeling between a pet and the one they love best. Oreo is feeling the love from his adoring human in this portrait.
Tip: Ask the person you’re photographing some questions during the shoot to get them to tune in to how they really feel about their pet. The emotion will come through in the photos.
Hand over the camera if you’re the chosen one, or rally the troops for a photo shoot that embodies the feeling between a pet and the one they love best. Oreo is feeling the love from his adoring human in this portrait.
Tip: Ask the person you’re photographing some questions during the shoot to get them to tune in to how they really feel about their pet. The emotion will come through in the photos.
Go for contrast if your pet is black or white
Pets with faces that are black or white are always trickier to photograph – without a little planning, their features tend to disappear into nothingness. Solve this by framing a white pet on a dark or colourful background and a black pet on white. Mr Bun usually lives inside, but an excursion into the backyard provided the contrast this little bunny needed to show off his bonnie good looks.
Pets with faces that are black or white are always trickier to photograph – without a little planning, their features tend to disappear into nothingness. Solve this by framing a white pet on a dark or colourful background and a black pet on white. Mr Bun usually lives inside, but an excursion into the backyard provided the contrast this little bunny needed to show off his bonnie good looks.
Positioning Fred on the bed (his favourite spot in the house) at an angle that made use of light from the window made the most of those toffee-coloured eyes – his best feature.
Tip: Use a photo editing app or desktop software that allows you to lighten the shadows in your shots. Doing so works miracles on the faces of black and white pets in particular.
For the Love of Dogs: Our Ever-Faithful Companions
Tip: Use a photo editing app or desktop software that allows you to lighten the shadows in your shots. Doing so works miracles on the faces of black and white pets in particular.
For the Love of Dogs: Our Ever-Faithful Companions
Have a sense of humour
There’s a reason so many of us welcome pets into our homes and hearts – they bring us boundless love and untiring companionship, but they also make us laugh. Capturing your pet’s funny antics will bring a smile to your face even after their time with you comes to an end. Crumpet is doing her best impersonation of Stitch out of Lilo & Stitch in this shot.
Tip: Have an assistant help get your pet into position so you can concentrate on nailing a great shot. Different tactics work better on different pets: one might find a squeaky ball captivating, another might respond to a shake of the treat bag. Bells, whistles, calling their name and clapping are all worth a try. If your pet is starting to look distinctly disinterested or stops responding to your attention-getting efforts, have a break or try again another day. Otherwise, their boredom or tiredness is likely to be reflected in the image.
There’s a reason so many of us welcome pets into our homes and hearts – they bring us boundless love and untiring companionship, but they also make us laugh. Capturing your pet’s funny antics will bring a smile to your face even after their time with you comes to an end. Crumpet is doing her best impersonation of Stitch out of Lilo & Stitch in this shot.
Tip: Have an assistant help get your pet into position so you can concentrate on nailing a great shot. Different tactics work better on different pets: one might find a squeaky ball captivating, another might respond to a shake of the treat bag. Bells, whistles, calling their name and clapping are all worth a try. If your pet is starting to look distinctly disinterested or stops responding to your attention-getting efforts, have a break or try again another day. Otherwise, their boredom or tiredness is likely to be reflected in the image.
Display pet photos in novel ways
Now that you have some shots you love, it’s time to show them off. Social media is an obvious way, but why not find ways to display them at home to really make your pet feel like one of the family? Frame a photo and include it on a gallery wall, make a photo book for your coffee table, or show a shot some love with a more imaginative approach. Etsy artist Elsie Von Craft created this cool canine creation, for example, or have your favourite photo printed on canvas and hung up at home for all to admire.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, save it, save the photos and share your pet photos below. And follow Unfolding Tails on Instagram for heartfelt stories and photos of pets and the humans who love them.
More
Read more fun and funny stories about our favourite pets
Now that you have some shots you love, it’s time to show them off. Social media is an obvious way, but why not find ways to display them at home to really make your pet feel like one of the family? Frame a photo and include it on a gallery wall, make a photo book for your coffee table, or show a shot some love with a more imaginative approach. Etsy artist Elsie Von Craft created this cool canine creation, for example, or have your favourite photo printed on canvas and hung up at home for all to admire.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, save it, save the photos and share your pet photos below. And follow Unfolding Tails on Instagram for heartfelt stories and photos of pets and the humans who love them.
More
Read more fun and funny stories about our favourite pets
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My favourite picture of my cat reminds me of a painting by Vermeer
Love these pictures of Bonnie and her Little sister Shilo :) cant go wrong with Black & White with these beautiful dogs