Your Best Shot

Pet Photography Tips from award-winning photographer Gina Stancel

Getting great dog shots takes a lot of patience and a good sense of humor. Many times owners tell me they just can’t get a good picture of their dog and are looking for tips to getting that perfect shot.

A good photo needs to have all of the technical elements as well as reflect the personality of the pet. Capturing personality is really a matter of being able to bond with your subject and that is tough to teach. If you are photographing your own pet, it’s more likely you have already bonded with them and they are comfortable with you. This provides more opportunity to photograph them as you see them. If you are photographing someone else’s pet, you have to take time and allow the pet to become comfortable enough with you so that they start acting normal and relaxed.

In today’s world of digital cameras and computers, the camera settings for amateur photographers are not as critical as they used to be. The automatic settings are so advanced they take a lot of guesswork out of the image outcome. What you can’t fix though is the perspective itself and the human element behind the lens.

The first thing to do is allow your dog to get used to the camera. You can just carry it around on daily activities so the curiosity of what you have fades. Clicking off some shots lets the dog hear the noise it makes. If your dog seems overly anxious, click the camera and give him a treat so he associates the camera with positive reinforcement.

Outdoor shots in the early morning or evening are going to give a softer light and you won’t need a flash to get a good shot. Many dogs are spooked by the flash so try and use it inside only and then angle it up so the light can bounce off the ceiling.

As with little kids, timing is everything. If you want action shots, take them when the dog is fresh and ready to go. If you want more quiet poses, make sure your dog has had plenty of exercise and had time to cool down before trying to shoot. Take advantage of noise makers like squeaky’s and unusual high pitched noises. You can have someone stand behind you and make noise or bounce a ball. Some dogs will work for treats (my Brussels ) while others have favorite toys that will help you keep their interest. Remember your goal is to get the dog looking at you not his tail.

Pay attention to the background and what’s going on behind the dog. You can always be creative and change the background but for natural looking photos it’s best to try and capture the right look from the start. Take into account the size and coloring of your dog and look for things that might cause a big distraction. You want the dog to be the main focus.

One of the most important tips is to GET DOWN on the dog’s level…no matter how small he is. You want to take photos that don’t distort the animal and standing up and shooting down on him is going to give an awkward angle to his whole body. There are times when this kind of shot is desired but for great shots that make your dog look his best, get down.

Remember to take your dog from a lot of different distances. It’s important to get good full body shots but if you’ve seen many of my photos, I like to fill the frame with the whole face or just a part of the dog that is intriguing or unique. As with humans, the eyes tell it all. Don’t be afraid to zoom in or move in close.

Lastly, take LOTS of pictures. The more you take the better you’ll get and the better chance of getting the shot you hoped for. It only takes one good one but that may mean dozens of others. With digital this is so much easier and there is no reason not to keep snapping away. Enter your photos in one of the many online amateur photo contests and look at other winners for ideas and tips.

Gina Stancel
www.GinaStancel.com
 

 

For an example of Gina's work, please visit www.animaleyedoctors.com