Eleanor got a little wet!

Tip #4: Disable Your Flash

The easiest way to utilize this tip is by shooting outdoors. However, if you’re an indoor cat owner, like myself, Tip #4 may require locating your camera’s user manual and reading or rereading a couple small sections. Sounds boring, right? Well, call me an uber nerd, but a large part of the reason that I enjoy photography is because I took the time to read the manual and I learned how and why my camera operates the way it does. Still sounds boring, doesn’t it? Damn. Well, don’t think that I’m done trying to turn you nerd.

Nearly all modern cameras have a flash toggle button, allowing you to switch between “Flash,” “No Flash,” “Auto Flash,” and “Red-Eye Flash.” You’ll need to be able to locate this button to disengage the flash. Keep in mind that some cameras may not allow you to disengage the flash when shooting in dimly-lit spaces while in “Auto” mode, which is another great reason to get out that manual and go nerd with me.

If you’re confined to photographing indoors, sunlight is your best friend, so try to get your pet as close to the patio door or living room windows as possible. If you find that many of your pet’s super-cute poses are occurring away from natural light or after sunset, you may want to further explore the sections of your manual that explain your camera’s ISO speed (image sensor’s sensitivity to light) and shutter speed. An easy way to determine both ISO and shutter speed is to consider two variables: 1) the amount of available light, and 2) whether your subject is stationary or mobile.

If there’s an abundance of light, it is best to shoot with the lowest ISO speed possible (usually 100) because it will result in crisper, “less-grainy” photos. However, it is important to understand that low ISO speeds require more time (longer shutter speeds) to capture light, so you may need to extend the exposure in order to capture enough light to create a properly-exposed photograph. This may present a problem for those of us with hyper pets or shaky hands because longer shutter speeds and movement do not mix well. Therefore, if you haven’t much light, you may want to trade a little grain for a blur-free photo and use faster ISO and shutter speeds (e.g., ISO 800; 1/125 sec.).

If this material sounds like mumbo-jumbo and seems to be “over your head,” just remember two things: 1) good photography takes practice, so don’t be afraid to take a couple thousand practice shots, and 2) every great photographer, at some point, made the decision to take control over their camera, read the manual and not take photos in auto-mode. Will you take control?
 

Horses on the move in western Ireland

The one and only Gracie The Deer at Magnolia Plantation

Ellie loves helping her papa with lighting

Peacock displaying everything it's got at Magnolia Plantation

Molly in thought

Tip #3: Minimize Distractions

Some pets can be extremely difficult to photograph and others are a breeze. You know your pet’s tendencies and behaviors better than anyone, so apply that knowledge to your advantage when considering a location for your shoot. For many dog owners, a great place to start is your backyard. Your dog knows its backyard like the back of its paw, so its attention will be less diverted to its surroundings and more toward you and your camera. If you’re attempting to photograph an indoor pet, your living room can serve as a great studio with minimal distractions.

If your yard is fenced, be sure to position your pet in area that allows for your pet to be the highlight of your photo, rather than the fence. If you cannot escape the wrath of your chain-linked fence, you may want to abandon your backyard altogether and call a friend with an unfenced yard. If you haven’t any nearby friends, try searching for a county park or somewhere where you’re unlikely to encounter both fences and distractions. If you have a well-maintained wooden fence, you may be able to use it as a backdrop for your shoot. Wooden fences, in my opinion, don’t seem as obtrusive as chain-linked; perhaps it’s the association that I make between chain-linked fences and dog kennels and rescues. Regardless, fences made of wire rarely add beauty to domestic pet photography. And if your pet is a high flight risk and you must choose between a leash and a fence, go with the fence. Leashes seem unnatural and, if dirty or torn, can be an eyesore to your photo. (Note: When photographing livestock or wild animals, don’t spend too much time worrying about fences because they may actually enhance your photos.)

If you find that your pet is afraid of your camera or unable to look in your direction long enough to get a decent shot, try using treats or toys. Tennis balls, strings, squeaky toys, and treats will often buy you enough time to get a couple clicks with your camera. If you want photos of your pet looking in your direction and your camera is too heavy to hold and shoot single-handedly, you may need an assistant to hold the toy or treat behind you, in line with your camera. If you’re unable to get any shots of your pet looking directly into the camera, do not fret — you may be like me and love the look of animals gazing into the distance.

If you’re shooting indoors, do your best to tidy what will appear in your photos — you don’t want a bunch of clutter in the background getting all the attention. If you’re determined to capture something great, you may even want to turn off the television and the ringer on your phone. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a great shot in your viewfinder, but not capturing it because a sound from your T.V. or phone distracted and repositioned your pet’s pose. Again, treats and toys work wonders, so don’t be afraid to reward your pets for giving you their attention!

Molly and her toy

Friendly and curious donkeys in Ireland

Ringo getting comfy

Squirt without distraction

Eleanor becomes a Turner!

Tip #2: Get Close

While you’re down there getting dirty, get as close as possible to your pet. Some pets can be camera shy, others will leave wet-nose marks on your lens, so you’ll need to adjust accordingly. If you have a zoom lens, it can help you tremendously. Just remember that zooming on your subject usually decreases the amount of light reaching your sensor. Therefore, if the available light is sparse, you may experience blurry results. If light is abundant, zoom all day! Regardless of the light, take a few shots and check them on the LCD screen to be sure that your camera’s settings are where they need to be. But whatever you do—and I cannot stress this enough—do not get obsessed with checking your results after each shot. You will miss out on some of the best shots of the day. Stay focused and take a lot of photos. You can review large-scale versions of all your great photos on your computer screen after you capture them…but you’ll need to capture them first.

For dog owners, having an obedient dog with a loyal “stay” command will pay dividends. For cat owners, patience may be the key to your success. I’ve found that my cats are relatively easy to photograph, but perhaps that’s because they’re used to having a camera in their faces. Whatever the reason, if your pet doesn’t cooperate at first, give them some time to realize that your camera poses no threat and may, in fact, possibly lead to something tasty (we’ll talk rewards in a later post).

The goal is to fill the majority of your camera’s viewfinder with your pet. Whether it’s your pet’s entire body or only its paw, nose, ears, eyes or tail, getting close and personal will result in interesting photographs that will make you smile.

Friendly white horse encountered in the backroads of western Ireland

Squirt, laughin' in the Sun

Not-so-friendly black horse encountered in western Ireland

Getting close and personal with Eleanor after a bath

It appears that Squirt enjoys company at her level.

Capturing great photos of your pets can sometimes be a challenge. Thus, over the next couple of weeks, I’d like to offer five simple tips that have allowed me to capture some memorable shots in both pet and animal photography. I’m betting that many of you already utilize one or more of these tips, and for that, I offer you a high-five from yours truly. If you’ve not yet put any of these tips to use, here’s your chance to create something worthy of adding an additional photo to your wall.

Tip #1: Get Dirty

When I think about all the great photos of my human friends and family that I’ve taken over the years, I find that the majority of my “keepers” were taken eye-level with my subject. Now think about your “keepers” — how many were shot standing directly above your subject while they lay or sit on the ground? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some amazing shots taken directly above dogs begging for treats and of cats napping in cardboard boxes, but more often than not, I see overhead shots of dogs on kitchen tile and cats on carpet. These shots are okay, but that’s about it. What I’m striving for—and I hope you are too—is something fun, something wonderful, something I want to show my friends, something I want to frame, something I want to look at and say, “I LOVE that shot.” This is where I’ve come to the understanding that I’ll need to put forth a little effort and get down on their level in order to capture something better than “okay.”

You’ll most likely find yourself on your hands, knees and stomach trying frame your pet in the shot. So, before you get down and dirty, you might want to put on some old pants and do some stretches. Yes, it’s possible that you’ll pull a muscle or three capturing these shots. You’ll also probably notice some of the people at the dog park staring at you. Yet, if you’re willing to put aside the pains and creepy stares, and capture a few photos of something more than your pet and the ground, I promise that you will be rewarded for your efforts. Notice that I said “something more than your pet and the ground” because it’s a very important part of this equation (i.e., Pet + Furniture + Trees + Clouds + Horizon + Endless Variables = Something Spectacular).

George Down Low

Molly in the grass

Elk at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, CO

Ringo and his toy

]]> http://nateturnerphotography.com/2012/02/tips-to-purrfect-pet-photography-tip-one-get-dirty/feed/ 2 http://nateturnerphotography.com/2011/11/alright-alright/ http://nateturnerphotography.com/2011/11/alright-alright/#comments Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:23:21 +0000 Nate Turner Photography http://nateturnerphotography.com/?p=809 I’m happy to say that my new Web site is really starting to come together.  It’s still somewhat sparse in areas, but beginning to look like a Web site again.  Now I just need about 200 hours to set aside for editing.  Nothing more exciting…

Unrelated, the weather down here is still amazing.  I’ve been spending my Sundays lying on our living-room floor next to the patio door, basking in the sun and watching football.  Nothing beats feeling the sun’s warmth and cool breeze blowing through the screen.  Oh, did I forget to mention that we still have our windows open during the day?  Later, Wisco!  :)

-Nate