How to Take the Cool Portraits Your Pet Deserves
Judging by the number of photos of pets on social media, you might think that making a good one would be pretty easy. But if you’ve ever tried to photograph a cat, dog, rabbit, hamster, or other creature, you know it’s actually quite difficult. On the move, your pet probably looks cute, if not all the time. But when you look at the camera roll on your phone, you may notice that not all of the photos really capture the essence of your precious pet.
It’s not that you need expensive equipment: you can absolutely decently take portraits of pets with your smartphone. In an article in the New York Times, J. D. Birsdorfer goes into detail on this. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Choose time and place
You want your pet to be calm, so choose a place that he is used to. In addition, Birsdorfer notes that some pets are most relaxed right after a meal or right before bed, so this might be the best time for a photo shoot. If you’re going to try to recreate the magic of Sears portrait studio, lay down a sheet or cloth, or shoot against an uncluttered wall. For action shots, head to the park or backyard. Regardless of the location, get ready to spend some time looking for many different options in the hope that one of them will turn out to be the best.
2. Turn off the flash.
The flash can not only scare your pet, but it can also give your furry friend creepy red or bright green eyes. While natural light is best if you are indoors and need to amplify the light, try adding some spotlights or bulbs.
3. Adjust the settings.
At the moment, most new smartphones have some version of “portrait mode” where the focus is on an object or person (or pet, in this case). If you are going to shoot indoors, this is a good option. Another option, which Birsdorfer calls, is “burst mode,” where you hold down the shutter button when you take many pictures in quick succession. While this does not guarantee a perfect shot, it increases your chances of getting one.
4. Adjust the snapshot.
Similar to taking pictures of babies and other young children, it can be helpful to have someone else distract your pet or keep your pet focused with toys and / or treats. If no one is around, use the self-timer and try to distract yourself. Birsdorfer also suggests playing at different angles, including at your pet’s eye level, and using a tripod if that makes things easier.
5. Edit
No, you don’t have to search and then learn Photoshop – just use the editing software that comes with your phone. You can adjust the light, background and color, use a filter, or crop and straighten the image. Ideally, you will have something that you proudly place on your main grid.