Secrets of candid pet portraits from a professional pet sitter, photographer
It’s not always all about a treat.
There, I’ve said it. I see many studio photographers using multiple treats to bribe pets to strike a pose during a photo session. This is not my first option. Rather, I talk to them in a soothing voice using full sentences and their name. In this way, smiles and peaceful poses are common for me to capture.
Next, I look for them to choose to be in complementary lighting — it’s all up to them. Then, I prep my iPhone 13 Pro Max (your cell phone will have similar abilities) by taking a test image in the same lighting and making any adjustments I need to capture all the tones from bright highlights to dark shadows.
Just before I start taking memorable candids, I lock my focus on the eyes of the fur person star; This is accomplished by composing an image, then pressing and holding their closest eye to the camera on the cell phone’s screen until a lock focus box appears. Now, I’m ready. I hold my camera in one hand either vertically or horizontally and use my free and to direct their attention where I need it to go so I can see specular highlights in both eyes. Why? These specs of light makes their expression pop as if the image is in 3D.
With practice, my cell phone camera prep has gotten down to under 5 seconds and this speed is what it takes to capture the best moments.
More tips:
* when possible, use soft cloudy light coming from a window to light their face;
* when possible, look for a non-cluttered, neutral toned background to frame their face;
* watch for the position of ears as these are a key part of the animal’s facial expression;
* be daring in the way you crop the composition in camera;
* most of all, make each session fun for the fur person and you!
When I’m done with each composition session, then it’s treat time! And, during each visit, there’s more than one!
Enjoy the examples I’ve included in the collection, below — click any image to see it with more detail.