Tips on taking better photos of your cat or dog
Our NEW partners Animal Friends Insurance know that pets are part of the family. And they don’t have to be mind-readers to know that your camera roll is probably filled to the brim with snaps of your cat or dog (rightly so!). But capturing the perfect photo of your pet can be hard work! They just know when you want to take a picture of them and do their best to ruin your shot.
As part of our exciting new partnership, Animal Friends’ expert photographer, Ben, has shared his top tips on taking the best photos of your pet.
Make the most of natural light
Our pets love nothing more than to bask in the sunlight, so if you see them getting cosy next to a window or in the stream of natural light, it can be the perfect opportunity to start snapping away. If they’re not looking at you, try moving their bed or using their favourite toy to your advantage – this will help you make the most of lighting to capture your favourite features.
Use your phone’s light if you have to!
If it’s too dark and you’re not able to move your pet, or you’re keen to capture a candid shot without disturbing them, you could use a friend or family member's phone torch to help with the lighting while you snap the shot on your device.
If you don’t have a second phone available, or the torch isn’t strong enough, you could try angling a lamp towards your pet or changing your camera’s exposure settings to make up for the lighting.
Top tip: Most smart phones offer a night-time shooting setting, perfect for those darker moments!
Get creative and change your perspective
Instead of snapping a photo from above, why not get down onto your pet’s level and capturing them from a new angle? Simply crouch down or lie on the floor to refresh your style!
Top tip: Taking a photo of your cat through their play tunnel can add creative depth to your photography!
Have a go at reflection photos
If you’re out and about and spot a puddle, pond, or a still water feature, you could try to take a photo of your pet’s reflection in the water and flip the photo! If you have a cat, why not capture them gazing through the window to add some interesting elements to your shots?
Hint: This might be a little trickier than the other ones so keep trying!
Use a treat, ball or toy
We know just how hard it can be to get our pets to stay still, but taking photos of your cat or dog is much easier with some added help… Get someone to help keep your pet distracted with a treat, ball or toy, so you can work the camera without having to multitask.
Don’t worry, if it’s just you, you might be able to manage to hold a bribe with one hand and snap the photo with the other.
Top tip: Try holding the treat, ball or toy where you’d like your pet to look but make sure it’s behind the camera, so it doesn’t get in the way of your photo!
Less is always more!
A cluttered background can distract from your main subject, so try and cut these out when you can. If you can’t change or move what’s behind or around your pet, get in close and get snapping. This way, they’ll get the attention they deserve!
Top tip: Some smart phones have a portrait mode that will soften or blur the background of a picture. This tool can really help your pet become the focus of your photo!
Editing your photos
Now that you’ve taken your photos, it’s time to make them look even better with some simple editing. Most phones (usually through the camera app itself or in your gallery settings) include tools to straighten crooked shots and enhance the existing colour to help really make your pet pop!
Top tip: The cropping tool is great for getting rid of any unwanted background mess!
Sometimes the best photographs end up being the ones we thought nothing of before taking. Maybe it’s the ones we snap when we’re attacked by wet kisses, or we’re left with the blur of a distracted pet. Whatever you end up with, make sure you have fun because they’re still beautiful memories after all.
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Capture your exclusive deal! That’s where Animal Friends’ pet insurance can really help. Not only can you choose from a range of policy and excess options to help meet your budget and needs, you’ll also get FREE vet support. PLUS, when you take out a new cat or dog policy, you can get a £30 retail e-voucher* to spend however you like. Members log in to access this offer. |
