Pet Photography Tips from a Real Las Vegas Photographer

Be patient. Take your time. And breathe. It is difficult enough to get adults and children to pose and behave perfectly for the camera; it is almost impossible for pets to do it. Understand that the best way to photograph your pets is to catch them when they are being natural, being "themselves". You cannot capture the perfect moment easily on a strict schedule in a studio. Even well-behaved pets have problems sitting still for longer than a moment. Since they are your pets, you are always around them, do don't fret if you can't get your pet to behave correctly this session. Try again later on in the day, tomorrow, or next week. However, take it from a real Las Vegas photographer: there is one sure-fired way to get pictures of your petting being still for the camera. You can--

• Catch them when they are tired. In the morning, or as they fall into a nap are great times to capture photos. While not necessarily the most exciting shots around, a few photos of your animal simply lounging about in a lazy daze are a great addition into your pet photography portfolio. These are not always the easiest shots as well, as our animals oftentimes take naps in unconventional areas, such as rooves or under cars (not the most convenient places for a photography session). However, they are a useful weapon in your arsenal.


• Capture your animal's photos when they are behaving naturally. If you have a horse, a galloping shot is simply a must-have. If your dog is great at catching frisbees in the air, go to the nearest park or beach with an assistant (any child who can throw a ball or frisbee will do), and photograph that. Take pictures of your cat and she stalks a bird in your yard. These moments are both beautiful and priceless. Capture them by allowing your pet to simply "be", and you will eventually be rewarded.


• Learn Photoshop. Is it cheating? Do you want to make good pictures perfect and perfect pictures more perfect? Then find a way to get your hands on a copy of Adobe Photoshop, take a quick course online at Lynda.com and learn the program! You will be able to easily edit your photos of imperfections. Perhaps you needed to have someone hold your pet down so you could get a face portrait. With programs like Photoshop you can easily edit the mark of the arms out and replace it with fur as if the arms were never there. Or maybe you were almost able to catch that perfect photo but the flash caused red-eye (a common photography mishap) to appear in the photo. With programs such as Adobe Photoshop such mishaps can be easily erased as if it had never occurred.


• Have fun. No seriously. It's supposed to be a good time, remember? Your photos will come out better! Imagine capturing those perfect moments with you and your pet, having fun together as you always do. These photos you take at those moments will be both priceless and timeless additions to your pet's photo album. They will be the most precious memories in the album!


• Choose the perfect aperture. Pets, as you know, have the tendency to move. You're going to need a fast shutter speed, one that freezes the action, combined with an adequate aperture. Otherwise, if your photo was taken while your pet was moving at all, your photos will come out blurry. Many digital cameras have an automatic setting for this (usually called "sports") which will usually do the trick. Many cameras also let you manage the balance manually, for those of you who feel comfortable doing so.