Why would a photographer tell you how to get your own great pet photography at home? It may seem counterintuitive for someone selling their services to offer free tips, but I really do want you to have great pictures of your pets! If I can help you do that in any way, then I want to do it. So, let’s skip the small talk and get down to the important stuff!

1. Use the best camera you have. It doesn’t matter if you have a digital SLR or mirrorless camera, a purple point and shoot you bought ten years ago, or your mobile phone. Just use the best one you have. The brand doesn’t matter because they all do the same thing! Which one is the best one? The one you have with you.

2. Know your gear. That best camera you have might not be your best if you don’t know how to use it. If that’s the case, read your manual, ask Google, take classes, or ask a photographer for tips (hm, who could you ask?), but above all else USE your gear lots and lots. The more you practice, the more you’ll know about your equipment. The more you know your tools, the better you’ll be able to use them. The better you can use them, the better pictures you’ll be able to get.

3. Have a plan. You know your pet best. You know how to get their attention and you know all their favorite things. Use this knowledge to create a plan for how to get the pictures you want. Write it down somewhere. Try the notes app on your phone or go low-tech and write it on paper. What locations do you want for your backgrounds? What colors compliment your cat best? Where is your dog most comfortable? What temperature keeps your snake happiest? Think about the details when you’re planning. Be prepared to throw your plan out the window if a better opportunity presents itself.

4. Clean and declutter the area. Pick up in the backyard and mow. Dust Kitty’s favorite napping spot. Wash all the fur off the bed. Vacuum the carpet. Sweep the floor. Wherever you planned on taking your pictures (remember that plan you made?), make it look as nice as possible. The less distractions you have in your pictures, the more the focus will be on the very important subject.

I know what you might be thinking, NONE of these tips are about working with animals! And you’re right! But that’s the thing about good photography. Taking consistently good pictures of anything involves all the steps above. Sometimes you get lucky and catch a great shot without all this preparation, but luck just isn’t promised to us. So set the stage and your chances of getting the shot you want go WAAAY up. Now let’s move on to the animal specific portion of our show.

5. Have an assistant. Most animals are easier if you have an assistant that is comfortable handling your pet. You can have them soothe your pet, get their attention, or just fetch things for you–this frees your hands up to operate your camera. Make sure this is someone with whom you already communicate well, and share your plans with them so you’re on the same page. Ideally, this is also someone your pet already knows and likes.

6. Lots. Of. Treats. I can’t emphasize this enough. Have lots of rewards your pet really loves and have them easily accessible to you.
– You know those geeky pouches animal trainers wear on their hip? The fancy fanny packs that are designed for training treats? Yeah, this is a good time for one of those. They keep your treat supply really close at hand and easy to get to. Drawback? You might be laying down, kneeling, sitting, crouching, standing, running… let’s just say there’s a good chance you’re going to be moving around a lot. If you use the pouch thingy (these are technical terms, folks), make sure it’s easy to open and close! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dumped treats on the ground when changing positions and Bonnie’s gotten a big bonus she didn’t earn!
– What to use for rewards? What your pet loves, of course! High value treats are best. Most dogs love chicken or cheese. Cats usually pay attention when tuna or chicken is involved.
– If your pet isn’t food motivated, try toys, or affection. Use whatever works best for your critter! Remember, you know them best, so start with what you know and then experiment. (That assistant can also come in handy here, handing out treats or pets while you click click!)

7. Get the best light you can. Most of the time “best light” will be bright indirect light. This could be light from a window or door, but outside cloudy days work too. Open shade is another great option and is created when your subject is shaded by a building, tree, or other object, but the sky above them is bright. Every setting is different, so use what you have to your best advantage. Avoid using the flash on your camera as your primary light source, except as a last resort. For more on good and bad light, see my previous blog post on the subject.

8. Get on their level. This might mean you’re belly down on the floor. Or that kitty is on the back of the couch, and you’re kneeling. Or your iguana is on the dining room table and you’re sitting. Anyone can get shots where the photographer is standing and the animal is on the ground. You’ve seen a million of them, and it’s just not your pets best look. Sometimes it turns out well, but you’ve got a much better chance if you change your point of view to be more like theirs.

9. Focus on the eyes. This is where the magic is. If you forget all the previous tips, remember this one. Ideally, get them looking into the camera to really get that feel of connection that we so love about portraits. Some pets don’t like not being able to see your face though, and if you’ve blocked it with your camera they may turn away. Use treats, toys, and all the weird noises you can possibly make to get their attention back to you.

10. Break these rules. The wonderful thing about knowing the rules is that you also learn to break them. So try these tips. Read other tips and try those too. Try all the things you think of that that aren’t mentioned on any of these lists. These are your starter pack for better pet pictures. Use them as a launching pad to propel your pet photography to the next level. You can do this for a lifetime and still learn something new every time you work with an animal.

11. Have fun. Whatever you do, make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for your subject. The better time they have, the more likely they are to grace your camera with their beauty again in the future. Aim for a few minutes at a time, and be prepared to stop and pick up the camera another time if necessary. If you don’t get what you want right off the bat, try again later. If you get frustrated or anxious, your pet will feel it and they’ll get frustrated and anxious too, so keep it light and fun for everybody. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it.

Now that you have all this advice, go get started and capture your cat being the high fashion model she is! Show friends what an athlete your new puppy can be! Birds, reptiles, fish–all the pets–make them all look spectacular!

If you find these tips valuable, share them with your friends! If you want to say thanks, drop me a line–I’m available by email or phone anytime (well, 9am to 9pm anyway).  When you get your great pictures, post them to social media, and tag @okkatphoto on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. I’d love to see what you create with your pets!