Make the Most of Natural Light
Natural light is a priority in almost every photography genre. Using natural light, you can take well-lit photos of your pets. You won’t have to worry about professional equipment.
For indoor photography, take photos next to a large window on a sunny day. If the light is too harsh, use curtains to soften it.
For outdoor photography, take photos in a shaded area when it’s sunny. All the surrounding light will make your pet’s eyes sparkle and give them a flattering glow.
You can also take photos in an open field when it’s cloudy. This will ensure that your pet gets hit by as much soft light as possible.
Focus on the Eyes for Emotional Photos
If you want to take soulful and expressive photos of your pet, focus on their eyes. You can take closeups or crop your photos so that only the eyes are visible.
When you take photos indoors, make sure there’s enough surrounding light to make your pet’s eyes stand out. You can use white walls or reflectors to create that special glow.
Get on Your Pet’s Level to Make Them Feel Comfortable
If you get down on your pet’s level, you’ll have a lot of unique perspectives to work with. You’ll also make your pet feel more comfortable.
If you always take photos while standing, you might have to crop your photos. This will lower your image quality.
The closer your smartphone camera is to your pet, the easier it will be for you to take high quality photos.
Use Simple Backgrounds to Avoid Unflattering Photos
Avoid busy backgrounds filled with messy clothes, people, and vibrant colours. The simpler your background, the easier it will be for people to focus on your pet.
You can hang up bedsheets to create a makeshift studio backdrop. Or you can use a white wall, or take photos in empty spaces. Fields and white rooms are perfect for this.
Never Use Flash
Even in portrait photography, flash is considered disruptive unless professional equipment is used. It’s very unlikely that your phone has professional flash features available. So don’t use it.
Flash will make your pet’s eyes glow in an unflattering way and might even scare them. Instead, experiment with creative photography techniques if it’s too dark. Take photos of your pet’s silhouette or shadow.
Be Patient With Your Pet to Avoid Unnecessary Discomfort
Keep your pet’s comfort in mind before your photoshoot. If they’re sleeping, take advantage of their calmness. Take serene pet photos. If they’re grumpy, try again another day.
No matter what, never force it to pose for you unless you want to end up getting scratched or bitten. If you make your pet feel uncomfortable every time they see your smartphone, they won’t be interested in posing for you again.
Make the shooting process comfortable and safe. Give your pet rewards and let it go if it wants to sleep or gets distracted.
Don’t Forget to Take a Selfie!
If you have a cuddly pet, chances are it will enjoy the selfie-taking process. If your pet is too cool for cuddles, you can still take beautiful selfies with it.
If All Else Fails, Experiment With Sounds
Some pets are too rambunctious to listen to instructions. If your pet is making you rethink this whole pet photography idea, you can experiment with sounds.
This doesn’t mean you have to scare your pet with terrifying noises. Classical music or rustling sounds might be more than enough.
For example, my cat loves bird sounds. Playing bird sounds during a photoshoot catches her attention and makes her feel at home.