10 tips for taking beautiful pictures of your pets

Nowadays, it's easy to take photos of our surroundings. And what better models than our pets? Whether you're using a digital camera (compact, hybrid or SLR) or a smartphone, all you need to do is learn a few basics and you'll get good results.

man taking a photo of a dog outside in autumn

Here are a few tips for taking taking beautiful pictures of your pets.

Choose an appropriate background

Choose a natural environment or a familiar place where your pet feels comfortable. Outdoors, feel free to use surrounding elements such as flowers, leaves, trees and water. If you’re indoors, pick a bright and cozy spot (rug, blanket, wood, chimney).

Manage the background

Remove anything that might grab your attention (e.g., a sock, keys on a table). Keep in mind that, when you look at the photo, your eye should be drawn to your pet and not some other object in the background. Photograph your pet in a clean place. A garbage can or an area where your dog does its business isn’t the best backdrop for a great photo.

Take backlighting into account

Never shoot your subject in front of bright light. If you do, your subject will appear very dark in the photo.

Have your pet look toward the light source

Lighting is the key element in photography. Without light, your image will be too dark or of poor quality.

woman taking photos of her dog with her smartphone

Avoid using a flash

A sudden flash of light may be very unpleasant for animals and will often produce lower quality results than natural light.

Frame your shot correctly

There are a few important concepts to keep in mind in photography, including framing. Avoid cropping your pet’s ears, legs, or tail. If you want to do a portrait, take the head and part of the animal’s chest.

Otherwise, feel free to vary the framing. Apply the rule of thirds to compose your photo or use perfect symmetry by placing your pet in the centre of the image with a solid background.

Leave space in front of your pet

The subject of your photo should never be blocked by another object.

Focus on your pet’s eyes

Be sure to set the focus of your digital camera or phone on your pet’s eyes so that they are the sharpest part of the picture.

How do you do that?

Using a digital camera: press lightly on the button to take the photo. When the focus area on your subject’s eyes turns green or the camera makes a “click” sound, the camera has focused. You can now press the button and take the photo.
Using a smart phone: tap the screen where your subject appears. When a square surrounding the selected area pops up, the phone has focused. You can now press the button and take the photo.

a woman taking a photo of a cat in front of a window

Position yourself at your pet’s height

You’ll get beautiful results if you’re at the same level as your pet’s eyes.

Show your pet the camera

Let your pet smell the device to create a positive association with it.
Don’t orchestrate the shot. Instead, allow your pet some control. Encourage play and give your pet some freedom. If you try to force the shot, it will show in the photo.
Remember to have treats or toys on hand to motivate your pet, but don’t lead your pet on. If you ask your pet to do something, be sure to come through with a reward, as promised. You want your pet to associate your camera with a pleasant activity.