Photographing your pet at play is a great way to capture some interesting shots of his personality. But when he’s active, getting a good photo can be a real challenge. Here are a few things you can do to improve your odds of getting some good shots.
Up close and personal
Of course getting close isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to catch a shot of them on the go. If you can’t physically get close to your pet use your zoom lens from Buydig.com. The added benefit of a long focal length will help give you a nice blurry background so that your pet is the center of attention with no distractions.
Freeze the action
Because your pet will be moving quickly and you want to make sure the photos are free from blur, use Shutter Priority mode. Set the focus mode to continuous focusing, AF on Canon cameras and AF-C on Nikon, so that the lens can constantly maintain its focus on the moving pet. For multiple shots use continuous shooting mode and hold down the shutter button as long as you’d like to help catch that perfect moment.
Get on their level
Capture some dramatic, yet natural shots by getting on the floor or ground at the same level as your pet. Enter their world and get a glimpse of what life looks like from their angle. The results will be more personal and have a real element of intimacy. Keep the camera steady by using a flexible mini table-top tripod from Buydig.com since you will probably be lying on the ground for most shots.
Avoid using flash
There are various reasons why flash should be avoided when taking photographs of pets. Flash is bright and can be unnerving for a small animal. It can scare them or make them nervous causing them to hide. Additionally, flash is harsh so it’s best to use natural light. This won’t wash out colors like birds’ feathers, or pets with white fur. It can also cause red eye just like it can in humans. Finally, try to avoid using flash with animals that live in tanks, because glass will reflect the flash making an unsightly white hotspot.
Mix up your framing
Pets, like human subjects, look different from different angles and framing them in a variety of ways can bring out different perspectives. Take some tightly cropped facial shots, even focusing right in on single features like eyes, noses, ears, and whiskers, and take three quarter body shots as well as full body shots. This way you end up with a series of shots that give you a full perspective on who your pet is.
Paparazzi style
Posed shots can be fun and effective but photographing pets candidly, paparazzi style, will capture the pets in a more natural setting without your human distraction. Catch your dog as he plays in the back yard, buries a bone, or falls chasing a butterfly.
So remember these keys to getting great action shots of pets and you’ll create some pictures you love almost as much as you love your pet.
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