Some pet owners hire professionals for pet photos. But for those without the time, money or pet-mania for such a move, you can still snap great shots using your digital camera.
Here are their tips to take the perfect photo of your beloved critter:
• Make the photos natural. Make sure your pet is comfortable, preferably in an environment he's used to, such as your living room or a lake you frequent. Then follow him around while he does his own thing.
• Take a lot of photos. Some of them are bound to be magic.
• Remember to be patient — the good shot will come if you wait for it. Eventually, any pet will lose interest in rebelling against being photographed and forget you're there. Then you can take pictures of him being natural.
• Two people are best for a pet shoot: one to take the photos and another to handle the pet. The handler will need to give the pet treats when the pet does something good, make funny noises to get the pet's attention and keep smaller pets from running off.
• Get close.
• Don't try to get fast action. Without a professional camera, it will probably blur.
• For lighting, outside at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. is best. The natural light creates soft shadows that flatter any animal.
• When outside, try the macro mode on the camera. It will focus on the pet and blur the background.
• Inside, make sure you have sufficient light to avoid having to use the flash (it scares pets) and, to avoid harsh shadows, don't point the light straight at the pet.
• The best angle is often at eye level with your pet, so get down on the ground.
• For caged birds, take the bird out of the cage and have him perch on the finger or shoulder of someone the bird is used to. If you can't remove the bird, use the cage as part of the shot.
• For reptiles and other sedentary creatures, make the shot more dynamic with the lighting or contrast the color of the background with the animal.
• For fish, make sure you have a good angle with the glass of the tank so there's no glare. Otherwise, the tank will reflect light and your photos won't show what's inside it.
• Have fun being creative. Sometimes the best shot is a close-up on your pet's eyes or a shot angled looking up at them.