• [email protected]

MylilePet

  • SHOP
  • STORIES
Menu
  • SHOP
  • STORIES
Search
  • Health&Wellness
  • Maintenance
  • Breeds
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle

7 Tips & Tricks For Better Pet Photography At Home

  • April 15, 2024

Written by Disha Ramanan

Pet Photography Tips for Beginners

Lana Paws blog on pet photography India

Self-isolation due to COVID-19 has given us all the opportunity to spend even more time with our dogs and cats than usual. We’re getting to witness more of those oh-so-adorable moments with our pets, be it that adorable cock of the head or that mischievous doggie wink. And if you’re anything like us, staying at home the last few weeks has probably rendered your phone gallery full of shots of your fur babies! We thought this would be the perfect time to discuss some basic tips to get beautiful, clear photographs of your pets indoors. (And if we’ve missed any technique you use, don’t forget to leave a comment here or on our social media telling us all about it!)

1. Relax & Observe

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

Dogs are nothing short of emotional sponges. They mirror how you feel! So it’s important to relax and be calm, as opposed to feeling nervous, anxious or excited. This is more so when you’re planning to take pictures of your dog. In fact, some pets even feel nervous just seeing a camera being whipped out, so a better bet might be using your phone and make the pet get used to having a phone in front of them. Start slow and be steady!

Being at home all the time has also given us the opportunity to observe our pets’ unique moments and behaviours throughout the day. It could just be a subtle look here or a simple gesture there, but they could translate exceptionally well into a photo. How about that innocent, inquisitive look when your dog hears the doorbell in the middle of her nap? Or a cock of the ear when the phone rings?

2. Move quietly and shoot at eye-level

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

It’s not uncommon for a pet to be startled when you approach suddenly or excitably. Yes, your puppy or kitten is definitely the most adorable thing in the world, but to capture those precious moments, practice moving quietly and naturally, and definitely in a non-threatening way. Additionally, don’t be hesitant to get on the ground with them, at their level. Photos come out best when the camera is at their eye level. The picture feels like a natural, real glimpse into their world. Also, don’t feel squeamish about twisting, turning and getting into funny poses while capturing some impromptu moments – it’ll be worth it, we promise!

3. Pay the model

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

Yeah, just remember nobody works for free! If you’ve set aside time to capture planned portraits of your dog, make sure you have something to catch their attention. Most dogs don’t particularly like sitting pretty, doing nothing but waiting for you and giving you the perfect look for your photo! So to get their attention to the lens of the camera, you’re going to want to make it worth their while. Don’t hesitate to use a treat or favourite toy, or even an object of interest like a small bell, as close to the lens as possible (being careful not to obstruct the view of course!). The result? Great looking pictures with your dog looking right at you.

4. Lighting is everything!

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

When you’re shooting a photo of your pet, the best bet would be to get as much light into the shot as possible. This will prevent a lot of issues with indoor photographs – for example, the photo looking “noisy” or “grainy” and the animal looking blurred. If you’re planning on making your dog sit for a planned portrait shot, the ideal scenario would be to have a plain backdrop along with light coming in through a window or a door from the side (as opposed to light from the back or directly from the front). Also as we’re in the middle of harsh, sunny days, diffusing the light from a door or window is even better – think sheer curtain or a screen, if possible.

5. Shoot on Burst Mode (and Continuous Focus Mode on a Camera)

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

Figure out your smartphone or camera’s burst settings ahead of time. This hack is a great trick to getting at least one GREAT shot from a set. As animals move (and move quickly!) shooting on burst often captures that one perfect still frame amongst other shots that may have blurry elements. Another great side benefit? You can put the burst shots together to make adorable gifs of your pet too!

If you’re using a camera, the Continuous Focus setting needs to be on so that your pet will be in focus in every frame, irrespective of whether she’s still or moving.

6. Practice with your camera’s pro/manual settings

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

The best way to shoot moving animals is with the shutter speed as high as possible! You can get crystal clear shots of animals, even when they’re moving super-fast when you have the shutter speed turned up. Now, the flip side of this is when the shutter snaps fast (we’re talking a fraction of a second), it is not going to be able to capture a lot of light – so along with a high shutter speed, you’re going to want to allow maximum aperture (this means a lower “f-stop”, which is represented as f/3.5, f/8 etc) and if you don’t have enough light in the room, you may have to jack up your ISO number too (however, an ISO that is too high will also lead to a more grainy picture so it’s important to find a balance here). If all of these settings sound new, here is where experimenting and test shots are important. Make sure to try different settings on test shots. You can use a human family member and have them wave their arm while you photograph them to try out different combinations of settings.

7. Get Creative with Composition!

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

If you already have that shot of your cat wistfully looking out of the window or your dog adorably cocking her head to the side, it’s time to really get creative!

Think about composition – one of the best ways we’ve already discussed is to shoot from their eye level. Now think about other elements – what is the background like? Does it have clutter? If so, put away everything that isn’t going to add interest to the shot. For example, having stuff strewn about will likely steal focus away from your subject, but not if the subject you have is a happy, panting dog and what’s lying on the floor is a well-used tug toy!

Another great shot you can think about is having your dog’s favourite friend over (and while we’re all isolating, the favourite friend can be the favourite human family member too). You can get some cute, funny photos of your dog interacting with the human – your dog’s going to have a blast and feel comfortable on camera too.

Another way to add interest to the photo is by adding some beautiful, comfy accessories! We strongly advise against costumes for pets that leave them stressed and uncomfortable – so how about some adorable dog bowties and customized dog bandanas? For example, you can’t go wrong with this tuxedo dog bandana!

Bonus Point

When photographing a dog, try using food-based motivation such as small treats or noise-based motivation such as a squeaky toy to get their attention. While when you are photographing a cat, along with food-based motivation, you can also try movement-based motivation (string-toys, small playing balls, laser light toys) to click the most adorable pictures of your furbaby!

A final point to remember is that pets don’t enjoy flash, as it hurts their eyes (if you have an external flash, you can have it rigged to the side with a diffuser covering it, to add light to your shot – but nothing head on please!). 

A final final point to remember that is certain to help you become the best pet photographer – PATIENCE! You can never force an animal to behave or look a certain way because you need them to! Get down to their level, make them comfortable around your camera (phone or digital/DSLR) and most importantly, be patient.

We hope these tips help you in clicking the BEST photographs of your dogs and cats. If you have interesting photos you’ve clicked of your pet, we would love to see them! Just tag us on Instagram or Facebook!

Lana Paws blog oh pet photography tips

P.S. Use these skills and participate in our Mother’s Day special  #dogmom photo contest on Instagram to win Lana Paws Summer Dog Mat & Dog Mom Coffee Mug!! See contest entry details here. 

Share:

Trending Posts

Dog grooming pet cleaning hibiscrub

Hibiscrub: An Essential Product for Keeping Your Pets Healthy in 2023

A Guide to Optimal Pet Nutrition

A Guide to Optimal Pet Nutrition: Uncovering Nature’s Bounty

natures menu dog food pet organic meal

Natures Menu: The Benefits of Feeding Your Pet a Natural Diet 2023

boddy Dog Cooling Mat

7 Benefits of a Dog Cooling Mat: Keeping Your Pet Comfortable in Hot Weather

how to train your dog

How to Train Your Dog: A Beginner’s Guide for best dog training 2023

feline friend cat nutruition cat food

The Ultimate Guide to Cat Nutrition: What to Feed Your Feline Friend

10 Tips for Keeping Your Dog’s Coat Healthy and Shiny

Best lint roller

7 Best Lint Roller in 2023: An Essential Grooming Tool for Pet Owners

Most popular cute dog breeds in America

The Top 10 Most Popular Cute Dog Breeds in America

dog's behaviors understand dog body language

The N° 1 Comprehensive Guide to Dog’s behavior: Understanding Your Dog Body Language

The Making of a Therapy Dog: the Story of Phulki

Send Us A Message

PrevPrevious
NextNext
  • Breeds

Why Do Dogs Sleep More In Winter? Top Five Ways to Keep Your Dog Active!

Summer Care Tips For Dogs

Advantages and disadvantages of spaying and neutering your dog

Diabetes In Dogs: Is It Common?

A Beginner’s Guide To How To Clean Your Dog’s Teeth!

Australian Cattle Dogs

Australian Cattle Dogs: Brainiacs of the Outback – Unveiling the Secrets of this Intelligent Herding Breed

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5 Next »
  • Nutrition
A Guide to Optimal Pet Nutrition

A Guide to Optimal Pet Nutrition: Uncovering Nature’s Bounty

pup Healthy Treats

10 Safe and Healthy Treats for Your Dog: Delicious Snacks Your Pup Will Love

Grain-Free Dog Food

Grain-Free Dog Food: The Comprehensive Guide to Healthy Canine Diets

Merrick Dog Food review

Merrick Dog Food: Is it Worth the Bark? An Honest Assessment

Canidae Dog Food honnest review

Canidae Dog Food: Uncovering the Pros and Cons for Your Canine Companion

Royal Canin Dog Food review

Unveiling the Truth: A Comprehensive Review of Royal Canin Dog Food

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Next »
  • Health & Wellness
Dog Skin Infections my little pet

Dog Skin Infections: Understanding and Treating Common Dog Skin Disorder

Canine Distemper in dogs my little pet

Canine Distemper: What Every Dog Owner Should Know and How to Prevent It

Canine Influenza my little pet

Canine Influenza: Is Your Dog at Risk? Learn How to Recognize and Combat It

Lyme Disease in Dogs my little pet

Lyme Disease in Dogs: Ticks, Symptoms, and Strategies for Prevention

The Importance of Regular Pet Vet Visits

The Importance of Regular Pet Vet Visits: Best guide for Your Pet’s Health

boddy Dog Cooling Mat

7 Benefits of a Dog Cooling Mat: Keeping Your Pet Comfortable in Hot Weather

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Next »
  • Maintenance
Yorkshire terrier grooming my little pet

Grooming 101: Mastering the Basics for a Well-Groomed Dog

Shedding Light on Dog Grooming my little pet

Shedding Light on Dog Grooming: Managing Fur and Dander 2023

Best lint roller

7 Best Lint Roller in 2023: An Essential Grooming Tool for Pet Owners

Grooming hacks my little pet

Grooming Hacks for Busy Dog Owners 2023: Keeping Your Pup Fresh and Clean

Dog Grooming my little pet 2023

Grooming 2023: Transforming Your Dog’s Look-From Scruffy to Stunning

Dog grooming pet cleaning hibiscrub

Hibiscrub: An Essential Product for Keeping Your Pets Healthy in 2023

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Next »
  • Training

Train Like a Pro: Expert Tips for Successful Dog Training

Dog Training 101 my little pet

Dog Training 101: Problem Pup No More – Solving Behavior Issues through Effective

Pawsitive Reinforcement my little pet

Pawsitive Reinforcement: Building a Strong Bond through Reward-Based Dog Training 2023

Power of Effective Dog Training

Unleashing the Power of Effective Dog Training: From Ruff to Disciplined 101

the Art of Dog Training

Mastering the Art of Dog Training: Proven Techniques for Obedient Pups

The Science of Dog Training

The Science of Dog Training 2023: Understanding Canine Behavior for Effective Training

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Next »
  • Lifestyle
Psychology Behind Canine Behavior

The Intriguing Psychology Behind Canine Behavior: Understanding your Dog

Celebrity Pet Names: Get Inspired by the Stars for Naming Your Fur-babies

Unveiling 10 Astonishing Dog Facts

Unleashing the Wonders of Canines: Unveiling 10 Astonishing Dog Facts

Popular Dog Names: From Classics to Trendy Choices

Finding the Ideal Pet Name: Tips and Inspiration for Naming Your Beloved Companion

good toys for dogs

The Top 10 Best good toys for dogs: Keep Your Pup Entertained for Hours

« Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 Next »

Didn't find what you need? Use the search!

Advices and Tips for your lovely Furry Friends. Feel free to contact us.

INFORMATION

  • Know More About Us
  • Visit Store
  • Let’s Connect
  • Locate Stores
  • Know More About Us
  • Visit Store
  • Let’s Connect
  • Locate Stores

PRIVACY

  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Details
  • Offers Coupons
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Details
  • Offers Coupons
  • Terms & Conditions

CATEGORIES

  • SHOP
  • STORIES
  • SHOP
  • STORIES

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our mailing list. We send good offers and our newest products.

Payment Methods

  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • PayPal
  • Payoneer
  • American Express
  • American Express
  • American Express

My little Pet ©2023 All right Reserved

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Disclaimer