Say cheese! Tips for photographing your pet

The Insurance Emporium is on hand to help frame your furry friends with pinpoint precision

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We’re all familiar with the phrase ‘never work with children or animals’, but household pets are an important part of our lives, so it’s natural we’d want to photograph them. Animals are unpredictable; they don’t care about the best angle or how they’ll look, so what can we do to get their best side? These are The Insurance Emporium’s top tips.

Keep your distance

To an animal, a lens could look like a big eye and they may be unsettled if the camera obscures your face. The sound of the shutter may also take a pet by surprise. Using a telezoom or telephoto lens will help keep some distance, and you should consider switching to the electronic shutter to keep noise to a minimum. Also, stick with natural light rather than flash, which could scare them.

Short and sweet

Making images should be done in short bursts, rather than a drawn-out photo session. Grab a handful of treats, or a favourite toy to keep them engaged. Plus, it’s helpful to have a family member or helper who can get their attention while you concentrate on making images.

Get technical

Essentially, you’re taking a portrait image, so your pet’s eyes have to be sharp. Use face/eye detection, or animal subject detection if your camera offers it. Start off with your pet sitting – or even asleep – so that they get used to you taking pictures. Then perhaps try some action shots in the garden or on a walk. 

Vary your viewpoint – getting low down is the best option – and make sure you keep an eye on the background. Plain and uncluttered is favourable here.

In summary

Our pets are part of our families, so it’s only natural that we’d want to include them in our special moments such as family occasions, weddings and caravan holidays.

Whether you’re a pro, or a casual snapper, camera equipment doesn’t come cheap, so it’s always worth looking at camera insurance. Down at The Insurance Emporium, they like to look after all your passions together, under one roof, so give them a call and find out how they can protect the things that matter to you. From cameras to cats, it’s worth a shot!

theinsuranceemporium.co.uk

Originally featured in Issue 112 of Photography News.