Find out how to make your pet photography shine! This guide includes simple pet photography tips and tricks for ensuring you capture the best shot possible.
Is your social media presence in need of some adorable pet content? Are you looking for fun ways to satisfy the cravings of your followers for more snaps of your best bud? Or, do you want a pet portrait that captures your pet's unique character? Whatever it is, pet photography can be a tricky art to master.
As an artist who specializes in colored pencil pet portraits, I know how important pet photography is. Capturing the essence of your pet’s personality in a photo is key to creating a pet portrait that really stands out and pays tribute to your pet’s unique character.
This blog post will be your go-to guide for taking pet photos with enough detail to make amazing pet portraits. Remember, pet photography is the key to revealing your pets’ personality and telling their story, which is precisely what will make your followers keep coming back for more.
Let’s start with the basics.
How to Photograph Pet Portraits with Your Phone
Capturing pet portraits with your phone will likely be your preferred method of pet photography, so let’s take a look at some tips for taking pet photos that will bring out the best in them!
Capture Your Pet in Natural Light
If you’re looking to snap stunning pet photos, natural lighting is key. For the best results, I suggest shooting your four-legged friends outdoors or close to a window if they are an indoor pet. This will guarantee that your furry friend looks their absolute best and all of their unique features shine through in the portrait!
Focus on the Eyes
Crafting pet portraits is, in part, all about the eyes. To truly create a remarkable portrait of your beloved animal companion, you must hone in on those special details that lie within their peepers. If you can accurately depict these characteristics and convey them through your image-making process, then you’re off to a great start.
Make Sure the Photo Is True to Color
As an artist, I understand the value of pet photography in relation to my work. It is essential for me to be able to obtain accurate images of a pet’s eye color and fur tone so that I can create amazing portraits. To do this, you must take pet photos in true-to-life color and ensure no settings on your phone are set to over-saturate the pet’s fur or eyes.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Close
To capture pet portraits that truly represent your pet’s personality, you must get close enough to them, so their face fills the frame. This will ensure all pet details are visible and can be translated into pet portrait art, or at the very least, a rocking social media post!
Try Photographing Your Pet with Their Favorite Toy
You can never go wrong by capturing your pet with their favorite toy. Mr. Fuzzybutt’s pet portrait is sure to be extra-adorable if you snap a picture of him with his beloved teddy bear! Try playing with him to get his attention and make the pet portrait process more enjoyable for your pet. You can even incorporate props like pet bandanas or hats to make pet portraits more interesting.
Favorite Spots Make the Best Pet Portraits
Finding pet portrait inspiration can be tough, but you won’t have to look any further than your pet’s favorite spots. Perhaps they love lounging in a sunbeam or cuddling on the couch - whatever his/her special spot is, try to make pet portraits in those familiar places. Not only will pet portraits taken in favorite spots bring out your pet’s personality, but they will also be a great way to cherish these memories for years to come.
Don’t Force It
Learning how to photograph your pet can take some time, and it’s important not to force pet portraits. Pet photography should be fun for everyone involved, so don’t push your pet too much if they are getting frustrated. Talk to them in a calm voice and try giving some treats or playing with them before you start taking pet photos.
Don’t get frustrated if it takes a few rounds to capture the one that best encompasses your pet’s spirit. It’s all part of pet photography and the pet portrait process!
Get Down to Their Level
When shooting pet portraits, the angle you take your photo from is of utmost importance. To get an intimate look into their unique personalities and ensure that they’re comfortable, make sure to come down to eye level with them. This way, it’s easier for you to capture meaningful images without ever disturbing their space.
Use Portrait Mode
Pet photography can be taken to the next level by using portrait mode on your cell phone camera. If you have an iPhone 8 or later, this feature is available and allows you to focus primarily on your pet while also softening the background of pet portraits. This will make pet portraits look even more professional by making the pet really pop against the background.
Conclusion
These pet photography tips will help you capture amazing pet portraits of your pet that you can cherish and look back on for years to come. Try to remember these pet portrait photography tips when you take them out for a pet photo session, and I’m sure they’ll turn out great!
Now that you know how to photograph your pets, why not take the next step and get a pet portrait created? I specialize in pet portraits using colored pencils, and would love to create a pet portrait of your pet that you can hang proudly on your wall.
Feel free to contact me if you’re interested! I’d love to turn your pet portrait photos into a pet art masterpiece.
Best of luck with pet photography, and happy snapping!
