Pet Photographer Lara Blair Shares Her Tricks of the Trade
We all love our pets; they’re part of the family, and it’s only natural that we’d like to display portraits of them with our family photographs. I asked pet photographer Lara Blair for her top tips on how to take stunning photos of our beloved furry friends.
Get the Pose You Want
“Coco was intrigued by my mewing kitten sound. It is my favorite trick to get a dog to do a cute head tilt in an image. Her owner insisted that Coco wear her “clothes,” a brand new colorful collar fit for a princess.” 24-70mm f/2.8 lens at 45mm, ISO 200, f/11 for 1/125 sec.
Don’t use the built-in flash. Freeing yourself from your camera’s built-in flash is the best thing you can do to create better images of pets (and people too!). How, you ask, does a person capture their dog in a dark living room at night? My simple answer: do not take pictures of your dog in your living room at night. Wait for daylight and go outside where flash isn’t needed.
When you head outside, look for open shade. A great spot is under a tree or overhang with just a bit of reflected light coming in at an angle. Direct sunlight causes animals to squint, in addition to washing out their beautiful fur color. Early morning hours or sunset are great times for pet portraits out in the open.
The beach at dusk or your flower-filled yard in the early morning hours are perfect places for the magic to happen. If you have your heart set on taking your pet’s picture inside, choose a north-facing window. Window light is the best for capturing animals and people during daylight hours. Make sure your flash is off, have your pet sit as close to the window as possible (moving his or her bed there usually does the trick) and play the “treat game.” I think you’ll be pleased with the images you take with just the available light.
Play the “treat game.” If your pet is treat-motivated, picture-taking time is perfect for busting out Fido’s favorite snacks. It’s best to have a helper who can dangle the treat above your head right before you snap the shutter. This will ensure your pet is looking directly at the camera when the picture is being taken. A favorite squeaky toy can also be an effective tool for getting that “tilted head” look that is so sweet.
Action! Action! We want action! If you’re looking for action shots, a tennis ball is a terrific prop. Have an assistant throw the ball far, directly in front of your camera, then get ready, and get low. As your pet comes rushing toward you, snap the shutter, making sure your camera is on a high shutter speed to freeze the action. I like 1/1000 sec. for a shutter speed when capturing running dogs, especially when a very fast greyhound is bounding toward me with a wild look in his eyes.
Don’t forget to be captured with your beloved companion. Try handing your camera over to a friend and snuggling up in the grass with your pet. Some of these relationship images can be the most priceless for years to come.
Use People As Props - “Maddie was so in love with her owners, I thought it was perfect to place them as props behind her. I used a squeaky toy to get her attention and was thrilled with this nonchalant expression.” 24-70mm f/2.8 lens at 24mm, ISO 200, f/8 for 1/125 sec.
“This beautiful Sokoke cat, an extremely rare breed in the world, moved like a big cat on the Savannah. Freya was so cooperative and this image really showed her full beauty.” 24-70mm f/2.8 lens at 52mm, ISO 200, f/9 for 1/125 sec.
Set the Mood - “I’ve photographed Bix seven times in the studio, so decided it was time for an outdoor session. I captured him on the beach where he is happiest. My camera was right above him so I could fill up the frame with his adorable, wind-swept face.”