Photographing your Pet

With the Holidays fast approaching, we thought everyone might like some tips on photographing your pet in all those cute party poses.

An animal's unpredictability, like a young child's, is what makes them infinitely photogenic and interesting subjects. By that very nature, they don't take directions very well and can be a challenge to photograph. Yet with a few simple tips and oodles of patience, you'll soon be able to snap your pet to the best advantage.

1. Plan ahead
To ensure your picture turns out the way you want it, you have to plan, plan, plan! Before you begin snapping, it is best to have in mind some basic picture ideas, i.e. locations, lighting, props, etc. You should also consider the general composition of the shot beforehand. Do you want a close-up, medium shot, full-length portrait, or an action one? Plan to take the pictures before meals and after relieving themselves, and keep the sessions short before they tune out and become unresponsive.

2. Freeze
A key problem in photographing pets is confining them to a specific area so you can have more control over the situation. One way is to pick a familiar spot the pet is used to, such as a favorite chair or rug, and allow it to feel at ease within the boundaries. If you are shooting a brood of puppies or kittens, consider restricting them in one place such as a basket.

3. Watch your background
A plain and uncluttered background is most ideal in taking photos of pets. This is often overlooked by many. Distractions in the background compete for attention and taint the overall ambience of the picture. Make sure your background is not cluttered by piles of newspaper or stray household stuff. Move a few steps to the left or right to avoid this, or hang a plain-colored cloth or paper to mask out the distractions.

4. Up close and personal
The most common mistake most people make is to keep too much of a distance when they are snapping pets. To get better shots, you should move closer to the dog or cat as this will ensure greater composition within the frame. Remember, you are not taking a picture of the sofa, but a picture of the animal resting on the sofa. So ensure the pooch or feline takes up most of the space in your framing.

5. Level up
Don't have the pet looking up into the camera unless this is the angle you want for the picture. It's always a good idea to place the camera at about the same level as the animal so you'll be seeing the pet's point of view. If your cat suddenly pounces on a feather, get down in the dirt so you can be at the same level. If you don't fancy crawling on all fours, consider moving your subject to a higher level, such as a sofa or steps. However, the picture won't be as spontaneous or creative.

6. Easy on the flash
Red eye ruins otherwise good portraits, but are more pronounced in animal pictures. Jack the Russell could turn into Demon dog. The simplest solution is to turn off your camera flash. If you must use flash, use an off-camera unit and hold it off to the side so the light doesn't reflect straight back from the subject's eyes into the camera.

Another approach is to take the pet outside and use natural lighting. However, avoid direct sunlight as it tends to alter the natural coloring of the animal in photo shoots. A bright but overcast day is great; the best light for photo-taking is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Not a fan of the outdoors? All you have to do is find a window where the sun shines through and you're set to go!

7. Here, boy, here
Cameras can be distracting for some animals. One way to get their attention or to lure them into position is to dangle their favorite treat or toy before them. Of course this could turn out chaotic. Having a helper or even the pet's owner around may be a boon. In fact, this could also work especially well photographing the owner with the pet.

Hold the treat or toy near the camera to catch (and hopefully hold) interest in the right direction. Most importantly, don't be afraid to act silly to catch their attention. For trained pets, verbal directions may do the trick. Alternatively, you can photograph the subject when it isn't looking. Meanwhile, here's a tip we read about: If you want two animals to get playful, try rubbing some food behind the ear of one of them. Then get ready to shoot fast!

8. Say cheese
How do you capture the right expression in pets? The key is in the behavior. Study your subject. What do they do to entertain themselves? Some dogs like to chase their tail or chew on old shoes. Some cats like wrestling with lizards or lazing on the balcony. Watch particularly for candids. Finally, do run a damp towel over the animal to clean out eyes, nose and ears before photo taking. And if you want an "alert" and happy subject, ensure both eyes of the pet are visible in the picture, and avoid droopy ears. A slouching, tired look will be magnified and unattractive.

By Michelle Chew, CNET editor