How to take perfect pet photos

Furry pets are the sweetest spices in our lives, but photographing pets can present challenges for even the most experienced photographers!

Animals don't understand the concept of taking a photo, but luckily with a few simple tips, you can capture adorable photos of your pets in your life.

Ready in advance

Animals don't always sit still for very long, and certainly won't be patient when you adjust settings. Ideally, you'll want to work in full manual mode, but if you're still learning, try modes like Aperture priority or shutter priority. This controls some of your settings, but the camera will arrange the rest for you. So how should you set up your camera?

Shutter speed: If your pet is static, you won't need a particularly fast shutter speed, but make sure to shoot at 1/60th of a second and above to avoid the risk of camera shake. For action shots, you will need a faster shutter speed to freeze the pets. Start at 1/250 sec, and if you need more speed to keep your pets sharp and in focus, handle it from there.

Aperture: In general, it's best to photograph your pet in an environment where he or she is comfortable. But that probably means your background won't be particularly attractive. Therefore, use a smaller depth of field (i.e. a larger aperture). This will blur the background and help your pet pop out of the photo.

ISO: Low ISOs will be most attractive, to preserve detail and prevent noise (digital grain). However, since using a flash is not a good idea for pets (unless you're completely out of other options), you may want to crank up the ISO to allow more light into your camera. Modern DSLRs are usually acceptable at higher ISOs, so you can still get lovely results.

Focus: Set the camera to continuous autofocus mode so you can pan your pet when it starts to move.

Interact with your pet

Most of our pets respond to our voices. So instead of trying to get them to sit in one place, use their toys or treat their attention, you'll get a wider variety of shots. You may also find that this helps capture action shots, so make sure to use a fast shutter speed to freeze pets. Another good tip is to try using continuous shooting so that you get a series of photos of your pet. This can give you a very interesting and varied photo!

Get closer

Most pets are smaller than humans (horses are an exception), and you don't want them getting lost in the frame. Make sure you fill the frame with your pet so that the image remains in focus. This can also help remove any distracting background details. Some pets may not be as accessible, so you might try using a telephoto lens. This will also help you use a smaller depth of field.

Sharp eyes

As with human portraits, it's very important to make sure your pet's eyes are clear. The eyes are what draw the viewer into the image and help them interact with the shot. Make sure you choose a suitable focal point that you can place between the eyes. This is especially important when you're using a small depth of field to ensure the eyes stay sharp.

Light

Using flash with pets in general is often a big no! For one, the flash is most likely to distract your pet, and possibly even annoy them - causing them to run away. Also, the red eye problem can be magnified with animals. So using natural light is always the best solution. If you can't get outside with natural light, try using a window to photograph your pet to make it easier. Also, don't be afraid to push the ISO up a bit if needed.

Pets are different

Like humans, all pets are different and have different personalities. The best pictures of animals come when they are relaxed and in their natural daily routine, and you need to work with their personalities. Think about what your pets like to do and snap photos when they are in a happy place. You can even try photographing your pets when they are engaged in an activity and don't know you are photographing.

With these tips in hand, you should hopefully start getting some adorable pet photos!