Apr 5, 2014

Photographing pets can be delightful, and I treat any creature as if a human subject. This means working to make natural photographs that are intimate with emotional impact. It does not serve anyone’s interest to make pet photographs without any graphic quality or visual depth, that look more like social media snapshots, or are just “cute.” Cute does not equate quality.

: Franklin the turtle, owned by Jamie Hollandsworth, is surrounded by the red glow from a heat lamp in his Bel Air tank. By focusing on his barely visible eyes and snout, the picture becomes a little mysterious, the light adding mood and texture. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 2000, 1/50th at f/3.5 (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Jameson Kelly, an 8-year-old American short-hair cat Lee Kelly of Towson has owned since he was a kitten. She rescued the hefty cat, who is under veterinarian’s orders to lose weight. The cat was a little difficult, but I stayed back with longer lenses and watched him meander about. Nikon D800, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 900, 1/80th at f/1.8 (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Bear, a Shiba Inu owned by Gabrielle Gutman and Patrick O’Connor, was a whirlwind of activity and could not stand still. So we resorted to treats to get him more occupied and controllable. Nikon D700, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/800th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Pokey is an African pygmy hedgehog Jen Smith named after the horse in the Gumby animated shorts. Somewhere around 4-years old, Pokey was a rescue from the Hedgehog Welfare Society and is one of four she owns. She put down his favorite blanket on a table and used a micro lens to get close. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/125th at f/5.6. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Once owner Jen Smith put hedgehog Pokey on his back, I was able to capture his unique coat’s coarseness and his character. I made this photograph long before seeing a recent National Geographic cover. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/125th at f/5.6. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Pokeyl also has an interest in literature. The kitchen window backlit the critter and made his coarse coat stand out more. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/160th at f/5.6. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Patience is a necessity. After being uncovered and having her favorite blanket removed, Nikolai ‘Nikki’ Fettig, a Siberian cat owned by Christina Fettig of Odenton, did not take an immediate liking to being photographed and ran, first behind a couch then under the kitchen table. Nikon D700, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 2500, 1/40th at f/2.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Saying Tecate is shy of strangers is an understatement. She was terrified of the camera, which makes strange sounds as the focus gears move. We moved the couch to get this image, and I used a very fast lens at a slow shutter speed to get this image. The a domestic shorthair was a stray that went to living in Severn with Deborah Janssen and Doug Grove. Tecate is shy with strangers, but likes to spend time outside. Nikon D800, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 3200, 1/15th at f/1.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun) Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun

: Even birds can be shy, as it took quite a bit of cajoling to get Lolita “Lola” Vitale to move into position where she could be photographed. The 25-year old Yellow Naped Amazon Parrot was four-months old when Audrey Vitale bought the bird. The parrot imitates sounds and sayings, sings a variety of songs including ‘Lolipop’ with the pop (unless strangers with cameras are around.) Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 1/100th at f/2.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The sun had not risen when I photographed Rosie, a beautiful Plymouth Barred Rock chicken who shares a coop with Estelle and Helen behind Sally Davis’ Owings Mills home. My options were limited as the chicken moved around the coop, but putting the camera on the ground next to the fence made for some interesting images. Nikon D800, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 800, 1/80th at f/4.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The back of the coop was the garage, which made for a clean, out-of-focus background that eliminates distractions and makes Rosie pop from the frame. The soft, indirect light help make for an arresting portrait. Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 1250, 1/160th at f/2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Fluffy Sayan, a silkie hen, lives in Hunt Vally with several other chickens and three children, and pretty much clucked her way around the yard away from me. So I chased her around, from down on the ground, soaking my knees in the process, to walking along shooting through a fence. Nikon D800, 24-120mm f/4, ISO 900, 1/125th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Fluffy scooted along slowly to her coop, followed by the children as kneeled on the ground to make pictures. The low perspective made for an interesting juxtaposition with the young girl. and the trees and making the silkie appear large. Nikon D800, 24-120mm f/4, ISO 900, 1/200th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: As long as a pet is adopted or rescued we will photograph it if there is something interesting about it. Wyatt Burrows wanted a tarantula. The Abingdon 10-year old (right) and his brother Raymond, 12, watch Wyatt’s Chilean rose hair tarantula Fifi as it crawls around the tank in his room. Much of the time, when photographing a child’s pet, I try to include the owner. I was not very far from Fifi, and the boys were close to the tank, so I used a smaller aperture to get them more in focus but not completely sharp. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 2000, 1/30th at f/11. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Wyatt Burrows’ Chilean rose hair tarantula Fifi was a good subject but moved around a lot. To get really dramatic photos I had to get close by putting the camera into the tank. His mother helped wrangle Fifi by picking her up and moving her around, along with cleaning the tank before I arrived Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/200th at f/3.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Connie Maroon, a 4-year-old Greyhound, was adopted in 2010 by John and Carolyn Maroon of Ellicott City. The former racing dog was a good subject, but it was tough getting her to keep her ears up and not look too frightened. Noises and calls from behind the camera did the trick. Nikon D800, 50mm f/1.4, ISO 2000, 1/100th at f/2.2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: For a different look, and a challenge, I sometimes use an iPhone with the Hipstamatic app. Once I knew I had good images of Ashburn with the regular camera, I pulled out the cell phone. Ashburn was found in an abandoned home a few doors down from owner Peter Coolbaugh. The five-year-old Ashburn was dumped during an eviction and now lives with Coolbaugh, his fiance Renee Coshin and five other cats. iPhone 5, 4.1mm f/2.4, ISO 800, 1/15th at f/2.4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Not every pet, no matter how hard I try , works out really well, not do I get enough pictures to adequately satisfy me. Kitty, a 13-year-old tabby who did not take to me, and stayed as far away as possible. The best I could do was shoot through Danielle Bryan’s coffee table and frame kitty and capture her reflection as well. Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 3200, 1/125th at f/1.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: We made a conscious decision to focus on the pets for the Collared column, but that does not mean the occasional owner or child does not get included. Cabbit, from a Baltimore street by Carl Gutberlet of Bel Air, gets a kiss from his wife Laurie. Nikon D700, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 2000, 1/125th at f/4 (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Sometimes the featured subject is photographed at a nearby park or open space I try to minimize the leash in the photograph when this happens. Kylee Kim, 7, received Sasha the Superhero Pup as a birthday present, and the two even won a Halloween lookalike contest. Sasha and Kylee played at Robert E. Lee Park under the watchful eye of mother, Heather Kim of Towson. Nikon D3S, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 22mm, ISO 400, 1/1000th at f/7.1. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Hamsters are tiny, and after getting some candid images of Nutmeg in in a cage, I had Julia Hamilton hold her up. She wanted adopted Nutmeg from the Carroll County Humane Society. The Sykesville 11-year old had Nutmeg, age unknown, take part in her 5th-grade science experiment. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 1/100th at f/3.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: And at times, if the setting is right, I include the pet’s friends. Tootsie Lappe, a 1 1/2-year-old English Bulldog owned by Martha Lappe, and companion Chip, a three-year-old Golden Retriever. All three crammed onto a couch. I need the bulldog on the couch to get her into the sunlight coming into the room. Nikon D800, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/60th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: A well composed portrait, with all else cropped out, is often the strongest image. So with Meaty, teacup Bullmastiff owned by Mayli and Darren Mrkward, I looked for a clean background in their house. A treat held above the camera, and a very shallow depth of field, draws viewers into his eyes. Nikon D800, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 2000, 1/125th at f/2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Since high school, when I photographed my dog Alex at my father’s California home, I have enjoyed making pet portraits. Dakota, a nine-year-old Doberman-Labrador-Rottweiler mix, was adopted from BARCS by Barb Nelms and Charles Turesko of Ellicott City. Dakot was extremely shy, and I had to shoot in the corner of the living room as the dog sat in its bed. Nikon D3S, 50mm f/1.8, ISO 3200, 1/80th at f/2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: I volunteered to photograph the winners of a cutest pet contest, which included a dog, a cat and a rat. We had all three come into The Sun’s studio, at separate times, for photo sessions. Bud, a Siamese rat owned by Nicole and Joe Ostrowski of Owings Mills, was the easiest of the three. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/200th at f/11. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Of the three animals photographed for the cutest pet contest, the cat was the most difficult. Laci would not stay on the background, moving at the instant I composed the frame but before I could press the shutter button. Owner Debbie Farmer repeatedly chased the Bengal cat, as it seemed interested in everything but what we were there to do. In the end, after more than an hour, Laci finally wore out and sat still for a few minutes. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 125, 1/200th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: A charismatic pet makes the job easier, but if it is hyperactive and excited on set it can be very trying. Pickles, super cute, is a Pomeranian owned by Melanie McAuley and one of three winners in the cutest pet contest. We had to resort to treats to settle the pup down, but then he became super distracted as McAuley held them out of frame. I called and called, using every sound I could make, to make Pickles look my way. He’d finally look, for an instant, and I had to be ready. Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 98mm, ISO 100, 1/200th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Wide angle lens and a curious cat can make photographing a pet somewhat easier. Pepe Fabien, owned by Allison and Cinuz Fabien, surprised everyone with his ease in the spotlight. . Nikon D800, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 28mm, ISO 2500, 1/50th at f/3.2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Zipper zipped all around in the backyard of his owners. The winter sun does not shine long, so fighting motion blur is a challenge. But I like the way the legs, tail and ears of the adopted poodle seemed like a stuffed toy in motion. Gina Foringer, Laura Laing, and Zoe Foringer-Liang (two moms and a teenage daughter) adopted Zipper in Mexico via PetFinder. Nikon D800, 24-120mm f/4 at 120mm, ISO 1600, 1/60th at f/5.6. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: A happy dog makes for happy photographer, in my experience. And the owners of Bella the American pit bull terrier said a nearby park was her happy place. Bella had a rough start to life, spending 12 hours a day tied to a door. By the time Colleen Rose and Dave Hepner rescued her, she had Parvo and a severe case of separation anxiety. Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 200mm, ISO 200, 1/2500th at f/4.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Bella had a curly tail, like a pigs, that drew me in for a picture as she played with her owners Colleen Rose and Dave Hepner. “Bella is now extremely spoiled with no cares in the world,” says Rose. “She swims every day with her favorite orange bone, gets play dates with her dog friends of all shapes and sizes, and loves to do everything her mom and dad do, whether it’s sliding down the slide, hiking, or riding a wave in the Outer Banks.” Nikon D800, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/800th at f/5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Not all pets are cooperative and it takes a lot of effort to draw them out to get at least one interesting photo. Linus from under the bed. Lucy, and her brother Linus, would not come out from their hiding spots for a photograph together, so I tried to draw the calico from under Judy Stellman’s bed. Brother Linus was a little easier to photograph, once he was found in the basement while I used my ID strap to engage Lucy. In the end I resorted to lifting up the bedspread. Nikon D800, 50mm f/2, ISO 3200, 1/125th at f/2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Then there’s Sporty the ‘dogcat,’ the friendly feline that came running before I even got out the car at Fair Play Farms in White Hall. Ginny Class, the farm manager, says the cat acts much like a dog and greets everyone as they drive up to the barn, then jumps in their cars. He didn’t mind being followed around a bit, and jumped in the back window of my auto as I said my goodbyes and loaded up the camera gear. If only all animals were so photo friendly. Nikon D3s, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 200, 1/200th at f/9. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Environment can be an important part of a photographic composition/ Zoe is a Dwarf Black Martin who hangs with the residents in the assisted living wing of Roland Park Place in Baltimore. One of the more interesting things about Zoe is the walker dedicated to her needs and allows her to be wheeled around the facility. The walker was donated by a previous resident to Zoe’s predecessor. Nikon D800, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 31mm, ISO 3200, 1/125th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Zoe the rabbit just hands around with some of the residents of Roland Park Place in Baltimore. Dorothea Wilson, an activity assistant in the assisted living wing, got Zoe because she needed a bunny who could be friendly, fit in well and hand held. Nikon D800, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 24mm, ISO 3200, 1/125th at f/4.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The light, background, rug and Elvis Gamble’s white coat spoke to me as he posed in Laura Gamble’s home. His fur stands out in contrast to the dark wood of the furniture and diffuse window light. The eyes being closed adds to the serene vibe the setting gave off. The 3-year-old Siberian Husky was a the model pet. Nikon D700, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 1250, 1/100th at f/2.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The repetitive squares of the stones and the juxtaposition with the skyline view from Federal Hill made for a nice setting to photograph Radar, a Jack Russell/Basenji mix, owned by Paul Schapiro. He makes daily jaunts to the harbor and a nearby park, so it was a good chance to photograph a dog outside of the home environment. Nikon D700, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 24mm, ISO 400, 1/400th at f/7.1. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: As we walked from Federal Hill to a nearby park, Radar took interest in a squirrel that quickly skittered up a tree giving the opportunity for an action photo. Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 195mm, ISO 400, 1/640th at f/4.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Federal Hill as a long flight of stairs, so as stayed back and behind as Radar made his way down. The chance for different settings and compositions in which to place the pet is very important to successful pet photographs. Nikon D700, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 24mm, ISO 400, 1/640th at f/4.5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Puppies can be a challenge, as they are not as socialized older dogs and dart about quickly. Brandon, a six-month-old mix that lives with owners Debra Quinton and Kelly Sheridan, was all over until he found a stick to occupy his frenetic mind. The diffuse backlight, caused by light overcast passing the sun, made a halo around around Brandon so he stood out against the clean background made by line of hedges. A large aperture setting made for little depth of field, causing the out-of-focus hedge to blend together seamlessly Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 180mm, ISO 200, 1/1000th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Murphy hangs out at Hunt Valley Animal Hospital where his owner Meghan Johnston works as a vet. A very sweet dog when I got there, he became a little shy of the cameras. There were not many options for backgrounds that did not look institutional, so I tried to use the soft window light, my favorite for white dogs, to make him stand out. I underexposed a little bit to make the floor go even darker, knowing the white fur would make for good contrast. Nikon D800, 17-350mm f/2.8 at 35mm, ISO 1000, 1/200th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: A small dog with a lot of character makes for fun, and challenging, photographs. Lyla Underfoot is a 2-year-old Pug adopted by Charlotte Murray who spends her time in Murray’s Hampden shop greeting customers. The cutey was bouncing all around, too quickly for the limited space and low light, but finally pooped out on an antique couch. Nikon D700, 85mm f/1.8, ISO 3200, 1/160th at f/2.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Lyla Underfoot, a 2-year-old Pug adopted by Charlotte Murray, got the name for her penchant to be moving about all the time near customers’ feet. Nikon D800, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 32mm, ISO 3200, 1/50th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Fear of the camera is not new to me, most people run when I pull out the Nikons, but lately the animal subjects have shown more reticence when faced with the modern marvels. So when I went to photograph Oscar, Mel and Paulette Tansill’s four-month-old kitten, I came prepared. Using my Fujifilm X10, a small point-and-shoot with a zoom lens, I was able to be a little less obtrusive once we cornered the feline upstairs. Her compatriot, Mr. Socks, had not qualms with either camera. Fujifilm X10, 28-112mm (equivalent) f/2-2.8 at 28mm, ISO 2500, 1/28h at f/3.6. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Pomeranians are small and fast, a quantity I have no problems with unless said Pomeranian is moving about the living room faster than a whirling dervish. Miss Scarlett, a 4-year-old Pomeranian, lives with owner Susan Webster and did not sit still for a second during our time together. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 1/125th at f/3.2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: One of the sweetest dogs I have met is Libby, a 15-year-old Lab mix rescued by Liz and Lynn Holland. “This is like her nursing home,” Liz said of taking the dog into the home they share with two other dogs, 3 cats and Charlotte, the couple’s baby. We walked over to Patterson Park where I tried to make some interesting pictures, some of which included the Pagoda. I got on my stomach, shooting up toward both. Nikon D700, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 25mm, ISO 400, 1/160th at f/16. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Zeus is a powerhouse of a dog with an abundance of energy. On a snowy day James, 9, played around as i photographed. The big dog, a Great Dane/Lab mix, looked good against the white snow in Craig and Valerie McManus’ back yard. Nikon D800, 70-200mm f/2.8 at 145mm, ISO 400, 1/1000th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Snow creates a clean background no matter the situation. Put a dark dog like Zeus in front of it and exposure can be tricky. I erred toward overexposure, mot interested in the dog’s coat having detail than the snow. Nikon D700, 17-35mm f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/1250th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Kitty is not a cat, something I knew as I drove to the stable to meet the 15-year-old Canadian horse owned by Amy Perlow. A beautiful creature, the three of us went over to the corral where she ran around, me on the edge photographing. To keep the background interesting and somewhat clean, I stayed low and shot through the fence. Nikon D7000, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 28mm, ISO 400, 1/200th at f/8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Puppies are sometimes more challenging than the shy dogs, as they won’t stay still. But Dilly, a mutt rescued by Patricia Corona in Carney, stayed low long enough for me to get down into the grass with her. By staying low, I was able to eliminate nearly all the numerous houses in the neighborhood from the background. Nikon D700, 24mm f/2.8, ISO 400, 1/130th at f/5. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Another sweet dog I have photographed is Sissy Robbins, a 13-year-old (or so) Collie mix living with Holly Robbins of Fallston. She spends much of her time laying in the grass of the front yard, so in the suburban neighborhood I decided to get down with her and get the relaxed look of a contented dog. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 320, 1/1000th at f/6.3. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Debbie Brayek of Woodlawn loves Sir Crazy Ray, a small ferret notorious for stealing the insoles of shoes. With very little light, I got as much depth of field as I could to still hold the camera steady with a decent shutter speed, as any slower the movement of the critter would cause motion blur. I had Debbie hold him as I got in very close, almost nose to lens. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 1/250th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Near the end of our photo session, as Sir Crazy Ray started to get tired, I had owner Debbie Brayek of Woodlawn hold the ferret in her hand. A ceiling fan light was the only illumination. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 3200, 1/250th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: Cyrus Ballo received a corn snake for his seventh birthday, which he named Sneaky. Before I went I had no idea what color the snake might be, but was glad to see he was orange and very photogenic. Cyrus held Sneaky in front of his dark shirt, light coming through a window. I was extremely close to the small snake, so used a little smaller aperture to get more depth of field to keep the eyes sharp. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 800, 1/100th at f/6.3. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The subject was a natural, but all I needed was a good background. The search at Luna’s House in Edgewood ended with a couch covered in a yellow throw. Dan Dowell and Carrie Cornwell of Abingdon decided to adopt a black Pug mix that looked uncannily like a bat and most others never thought would get adopted. Thus the “devil dog” became Bruce Wayne. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 1600, 1/125th at f/3.2. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: A mural in the front of Luna’s House made for a more varied background than the clean yellow on the coach. Bruce Wayne sat comfortably on a chair posing. Nikon D800, 17-35mm f/2.8 at 35, ISO 1600, 1/100th at f/4. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: And then there is Max, a 6- or 7-year-old Rough Collie, waiting for his owner Sue Roberts to return from inside her Bel Air home. “He is so good with people, and loves everybody,” Sue said. “And he follows me everywhere.” this mean Max stares through the door, waiting patiently, as his owner slips briefly inside. Sometimes the different look makes it okay not to photograph the face, and to me anyone who has owned a pet can sense what is going on from this image. Debbie Brayek of Woodlawn loves Sir Crazy Ray, a small ferret notorious for stealing the insoles of shoes. With very little light, I got as much depth of field as I could to still hold the camera steady with a decent shutter speed, as any slower the movement of the critter would cause motion blur. I had Debbie hold him as I got in very close, almost nose to lens. Nikon D800, 60mm f/2.8, ISO 560, 1/400th at f/2.8. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

For more than a year I have been photographing reader’s pets for the Collared column and Unleashed blog. A proud pet owner myself (three West Highland Terriers, three cats and whatever vermin mistakenly ventures in for a short stay) I consider photographing pets a normal extension of my more serious work. This makes stalking a shy cat through the halls and behind the furniture of an owner’s home much easier.

The latest digital camera technology makes it possible to photograph pets in a natural style that would have been harder with film and almost impossible if limited by the number of exposures on a roll or poor low-light quality.

But a variety of challenges arise trying to get Fluffy or Jax to cooperate. As I crawl on carpet with canines or stalk skittish kitties around furniture, these are some of the aspects I keep in mind for successful pet photographs that have impact and capture an animal’s character.

Tips for Photographing pets:

1. Patience

It takes time for the subject to accept a new presence and the noisy cameras. Collared subjects are usually rescues or adopted, which means they tend to be skittish, so it takes time to get good photographs.
The best photographs that capture the animal’s character do not happen immediately. Most Collared photo sessions take 15 to 45 minutes, largely dependent upon the pet’s cooperation as I work into the animal’s circle of trust, simultaneously finding the right light and angle.
Shooting for more than one photograph which means trying to create variety by using different lenses and angles while capturing different poses and looks. This also takes time.

2. Get close

“Tight is Right” is a mantra to live by. Pets are usually smaller than humans requiring a proximity closer than the family snapshots.
The Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D is the lens I use the most for pet photographs. It is fast enough to use in most low-light situations and allows me to get insanely close, adding drama to the image and eliminating background distractions.

3. Get low

The general population does not see from a pet’s point of view; lower yourself, and the camera, to the level of the subject. The angle can surprise the viewer and create interesting juxtapositions.
Crawling on the floor or in the grass is accepted as part of getting low. Thus I try not to wear my nicest clothes for Collared sessions.

4. Clean backgrounds

Making effective photographs means considering the entire composition, including the background, which many amateur photographers do not “see” behind the subject. When said subject is small, furry and dark this becomes even more important to the success of the images.
Shallow depth-of-field settings draw the viewer to the subject, keeping the subject from getting lost in busy backgrounds and fighting visual distractions.

5. Use the light

A photographer has to pay attention to the light and how it reacts with the subject. Do not be afraid of backlight situations, as this makes for an interesting halo around the subject in the right situation.
Moving quickly and being able to react instantly are priorities, and additive lighting makes that difficult.
Additive lighting can inhibit movement, slow down the process and make the situation more difficult. Turn on lamps, overhead lights and open window shades to let in the light.

6. Treats and toys

Save treats or toys as a last resort if all else fails to get the pet to cooperate.
Treats can be a helpful tools if the pet is either uncooperative or in hiding. But the animal can get too distracted by, or preoccupied with, treats and the natural photographs are lost.

By looking beyond the obvious, and trying to see your pet in a different way, you too can make great, natural photographs that make anyone proud. Equipment helps, but more importantly it is the effort and creativity brought by the photographer to the subject that makes photographs successful.

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Latest Rottweiler Tips News – Rottweiler
Apr 07, 2014 @ 13:00:31

[…] Tips for taking better pet pictures Dakota, a nine-year-old Doberman-Labrador-Rottweiler mix, was adopted from BARCS by Barb Nelms and Charles Turesko of Ellicott City. Dakot was extremely shy, and I had to shoot in the corner of the living room as the dog sat in its bed. Nikon D3S, 50mm … Read more on Baltimore Sun […]

Tips for taking better pet pictures

Tips for Photographing pets:

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