Photography Tips

These are tried and true professional tips that I use when taking reference photos for commissions...have a friend to help you, and have a few treats on hand for rewards also squeaky toys on hand to help get your pets attention and to get those ears to perk up and turned forward. Have your friend stand slightly behind you to the right or left. Position yourself at your pets eye level. (If you are below your subjects eye level you may get a shot angled up his or her nostrils, not the most flattering of angles). Check the lighting, focus, and ask your helper to squeak a toy at your shoulder level, (to the left or right of you) and your pets attention should turn off center towards the toy and then snap a shot. Best angle is slightly off center because it captures a more noble pose of your pet. (Especially when taking photographs of horses). I suggest continuing to move to the left or right of your subject to get slightly different angles as you take more photographs. If your pet does not stay on command you may need a third person to hold the animal with a leash or lead line as in the case for horses. (I have my helper stand stationary while I move around the subject to get different angles of the animal, that way the pets focus is on the toy and helper and not me all the time).

Try and fill the frame of your camera with your subjects, a telephoto lens can help you get in closer without disrupting the situation. Look at the edges of your viewfinder. Do you see things you don’t want in the picture? Yes, then get in closer. (The closer you get the more details will show in the photographs). Please note, if you want a full body portrait you will need to get the whole body and still get some close up for details. Trying to keep the angle of the photograph the same in the detail shots as the angle of the full body shots will be very helpful to the artist when drawing from your reference photographs, especially in the case of animals with unique color markings and patterns.

For 35- mm cameras using a 200-speed film is still a good choice. It gives you good detail and moderately fine grain and still allows the faster shutter speed to help stop some action. Outdoors on bright days, or indoors with a flash, a 100-speed film is still your best bet. For action shots I use a 400-speed film to capture animals in motion- whether it is a dog catching a frisbee or a horse prancing in the field.

Lighting techniques: Some light is soft and some is harsh. Remember your camera and film see things differently than your eyes do. Shadows will be deeper and highlights brighter than they appear to you. (On sunny days I try and keep the sun to my back). Also the soft, dull light of an overcast day can be a problem because it won’t highlight all the textures in your pet’s coat. You can alleviate such problems if you can get in close. That will allow your camera’s auto exposure system to accurately read the light off the subject. (It will also make little details bigger in the frame). Sidelight can bring out the details of your pet’s coat. Be sure that you wait until your pet’s face is turned toward the light, not lost in shadow. (Looking for reflections of the light source in the eyes will tell you that you are all set). Backlighting is another option. It can make your pet’s coat shimmer, but it also leaves the face in shadow. Again, getting in close will help your camera’s auto exposure systems compensate. Another option, both for backlight and harsh sidelight, is to “fill” the shadows with your camera’s flash. Remember flash pictures can scare some pets. Be sensitive to your pet’s reaction. Flash can also cause “red eye” in pictures. Check out your camera’s instructions as most camera’s have systems to reduce this, some by pressing an icon button or simply selecting the option on the camera menu.

Take a variety of shots of your pet in different positions and lighting. Using 2 rolls of film for a session is normal. When you're finished enjoy a job well done. Pick out your favorites and submit the ones you feel best represent your pet's true personality and likeness. (You have my permission to print a copy of the photograph tips for your own use).