Whether you want to snap your pet’s perfect portrait or dream of becoming a professional pet photographer, this is the guide for you.
Pet photography has become very popular as our furry friends have taken on a more meaningful role in our lives.
On social media, pets are one of the most shared subjects on personal and commercial accounts.
If you love photographing pets but want to up your game, this beginner’s guide will help you.
A Beginner’s Guide to Snapping the Perfect Pet Portrait
Pet portrait photography is about capturing the beauty and uniqueness of a domestic animal. There are different types of pet portraits, such as lifestyle or studio portraits.
Other types of pet photography, such as candid or action shots, are not always classified as portraits. However, some photographers consider any photograph where the pet is the primary subject to be a portrait.
As this is a beginner’s guide, I’ll take a broader approach and give you tips and techniques that can help you in most situations.
Moving forward, you’ll be able to decide for yourself what falls into the definition of portrait and what doesn’t.
If you want a more in-depth guide to the genre, please check this article. In it, you’ll find camera and lens suggestions, a guide to starting your own pet photography business, and more.
Gear
Credit: Petrebels
Ideally, you’ll want a DSLR or a mirrorless camera for pet photography. This way, you can choose the best focal length and use flashes if you need them.
Regarding the focal length, you can start with a nifty fifty. It’s one of the less expensive lenses you’ll find, but it will deliver high-quality pictures.
Almost all 50mm lenses have a wide aperture that’s perfect for blurring the background and letting in more light – plus, they won’t create distortions.
As you expand your gear, you’ll probably want a short or medium telephoto lens, such as a 105mm or a 135mm. Zoom lenses are also an option because they give you more flexibility. However, they’re usually more expensive, and the aperture won’t be as wide.
You can also use a smartphone to do pet portraits, but you’ll have less versatility. If you do this, make sure there’s enough light and turn on the Portrait mode.
Location
Credit: Goran Vrakela
You can do pet portrait photography anywhere – the choice depends on the type of photographs you want to take.
Some photographers shoot in the studio. These are usually commercial photoshoots focusing only on the animal on a solid or textured backdrop. Often, these photographs include props, and they’re done with artificial light.
Other photographers prefer to work outdoors. In this case, most photo shoots happen in natural environments like the beach or a park. Of course, you can also choose an urban setting if that’s your style.
Lastly, you can do lifestyle portraits. These sessions often happen at the owner’s house.
Lighting
Credit: Missi Kopf
Many think using flashes may startle pets, so you should always use natural light. This isn’t necessarily true for all pets, though.
Professional photographers use flashes both inside and outside. If you know or think that the pet won’t be able to handle a flash, you can also use continuous light.
Keep in mind that you can use artificial light even when shooting outdoors – it’s not restricted to studio photo shoots.
Natural light is a fantastic choice for pet photography, both indoors and outdoors, and it’s actually the most commonly used lighting method in this genre.
That said, it’s important to use natural light intentionally—as a creative decision—rather than defaulting to it because you think it’s your only option.
Once you know which type of lighting you’ll use, you need to consider the quality of light, which you can control with light modifiers. The directionality of the light is also important.
You can use different lighting setups to add variety to your pet portraits.
Camera Settings
Credit: Alvan Nee
Your camera settings will differ with each shoot, depending on the light conditions and what you want to achieve. However, here are some tips to help you out.
Shutter Speed: Don’t slow down your shutter speed too much or you’ll get blurry pictures. Even if you’re doing portraits and not action shots, the animals move even while panting or breathing. So, unless you’re using a flash, try to stay above 1/250.
Aperture: You’ll want an aperture that blurs the background but not one that leaves part of the subject blurry. This is tricky because achieving this doesn’t depend only on the aperture but also on the focal length and how far away you are from the pet. I’d suggest you start with an f/4 or f/5.6 and adjust as needed.
ISO: Set the ISO as low as possible to achieve the correct exposure without compromising the required shutter speed and aperture. If you’re using artificial light, this may mean ISO 100. However, natural or ambient light may require you to increase the ISO.
Focus: To keep the pet sharp in every picture, you can use the autofocus mode. Use the eye AF mode if your camera has it because the eyes should be the focal point of the portrait. Otherwise, choose the focus points that better match your composition. Experiment to find the best setting on your camera.
Background
Credit: Nikolett Emmert
Whether photographing in the studio or on location, you need to ensure the background isn’t distracting.
If you’re using a photographic backdrop, you’ll never go wrong with a solid color. You can choose classic neutrals or a fun, vibrant color, depending on the mood. Consider the pet’s fur color, as it might be tough to photograph black fur on a black backdrop, and the same goes for white.
You may also prefer to use textured backgrounds. These are very popular for pet portraits with a fine-art style. Texture helps you add depth to the picture without stealing attention from the subject.
If you’re on location, find a simple background – this may be the sky, a tree line, or a brick wall. Then, make sure it’s blurred so you create separation from the subject.
Capture emotions
Credit: Caline Sayuri Tagami
Like in human portraits, capturing emotions is one of the most important things. Pet portraits are mainly about capturing the animal’s personality and uniqueness.
If you’re the owner, this should come easily. However, pet photographers need to understand the pet, and for this, patience is key.
It can help if you also talk with the owner about habits, character, etc., to get to know your furry subject.
Keep it short
Credit: Scott Webb
Keep your sessions short and incorporate multiple breaks to ensure the pet stays comfortable and stress-free. Pay close attention to their behavior for signs of stress or discomfort.
Reward good behavior with treats, cuddles, or playtime. Discuss with the owner beforehand to determine the most effective and appropriate reward for their pet.
Get creative
Credit: Fabian Gieske
Now that you know all the basics, it’s time to get creative. Try building setups and using props, plus experiment with different angles and compositions.
If you want to become a professional photographer, it’s essential to develop your own style, so consider what that is and work toward creating a cohesive look in your images.
And most importantly of all, have fun.
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