{"id":915,"date":"2018-07-11T17:25:29","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T17:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petworks.com\/?p=915"},"modified":"2021-02-01T17:14:25","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T17:14:25","slug":"better-photos-of-your-pet-tips-from-nina-parker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.petworks.com\/articles\/better-photos-of-your-pet-tips-from-nina-parker\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Photos of your Pet: Tips from Nina Parker"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Nina Parker, Professional Pet Photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a saying about photography: \u201cThe best camera for the shot is the one you have with you.\u201d You may own a classic 35mm, an edgy mirrorless camera, or a tricked out point-and-shoot model, but where is it? If the answer is in a drawer somewhere, then it can\u2019t be producing great pictures. For many people, the camera they have with them nearly all the time is\u2026a smart phone.\u00a0 The abilities of the mobile devices we have access to in 2018 have come a LONG way from even the best offerings a few years ago.<\/p>\n

However a tool, even an amazing tool, is still just a tool. It\u2019s the mind, hand and eye of the person holding that tool that has the power to take a shot that\u2019s immediately deleted or one that will be cherished, perhaps forever.<\/p>\n

Each genre of photography has its own unique qualities, but pet photography certainly has some singular challenges. The most common subject of this type of photography is, of course, a pet. A pet is not a trained show or working dog, which means personality, temperament and obedience run the gamut. Have you every wondered why people love to photograph sunsets? They\u2018re lovely, of course, but they also don\u2019t shed, bark, hide from the camera, pull away, demand treats or move suddenly when you\u2019ve set up the perfect shot! So what\u2019s a doting pet owner to do? Is it possible to capture great images of your pet on any camera, including a smart phone? Yes, of course!<\/p>\n

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your efforts:<\/p>\n

1. Get Closer<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"What\u2019s wrong with this photo?\u00a0 Well, there\u2019s a table and chairs featuring prominently in the shot, food and dishes on the table, plus some shrubs and part of a building.\u00a0 The dog is lost in the composition.\u00a0 And of course the picture-taker is reflected in the glass door, creating another distracting element.<\/p>\n

2. Avoid the Clutter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Become aware of what is in the background of your photos and around the subject. Ideally, you want the image to be about the dog, not all the stuff around them. Try to keep the head in a \u2018clean\u2019 spot without lines (buildings, horizons, objects) intersecting. Most of the time it\u2019s a simple adjustment of moving slightly to create a more pleasing look. For example, here are two shots of my neighbor\u2019s dog. In the first, the electrical box is prominent in the background. Once I shifted slightly the metal box was out of frame and now all you see is Tucker!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

3. Go Lower<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most portraits are taken at eye level. Unless your dog can be ridden with a saddle that\u2019s probably below eye level for you. The simplest solution is getting down on the dog\u2019s level. That also tends to make a dog more comfortable, as you aren\u2019t towering over them. Here\u2019s another example, of my neighbor\u2019s new puppy Sophie. In the first shot I was standing and looking down at her. In the second shot I took a knee so that I was on her level.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. Watch the Light<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mother Nature knew what she was doing: natural light can be the most flattering light there is for portraits. When taking pictures outdoors, look for shade or an overhang like a porch or open garage door. Indoors, try to get close to a window, maybe even with a sheer curtain to soften the sunlight. Also try to make sure some light is getting into the eyes of your pet. Backlight, where the source is behind them, tends to make the face and eyes shadowed and dark. Here are two shots of Tucker standing in the exact same location. On the left he\u2019s facing into the walkway of the building. On the right he\u2019s just inside the walkway under the edge of the roof so the light is falling toward him.<\/p>\n

\"\"I hope these tips are helpful! Don\u2019t be afraid to practice and take lots of photos to get that perfect portrait. Of course, I also encourage you to schedule a professional photo session with your pet, not only so you will have quality, heirloom photos of them but also so you can be photographed together and capture your special bond!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

About the Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/div>\n
\n

I\u2019m Nina – animal lover, doting aunt to three cool nephews, coffee drinker, Crossfitter, and glass half-full person. I\u2019m an Atlanta based photographer who loves photographing dogs. Of course, I photograph people too. When it comes to people I specialize in Headshots and Beauty Portraits, and have been known to combine glamour with pets and photograph dogs in tutus and flower crowns). But you don\u2019t have to put a tutu on your dog if you don\u2019t want to! My main goal is to capture their personality and create photographic art you will treasure for years to come. Unfortunately, our furry friends have shorter life spans than we do, so their journey often ends sooner than we expect.\u00a0 Over the years I\u2019ve heard from so many people that they \u2018meant to\u2019 have pictures made but never got around to it, so there are no portraits of a beloved pet. Pets give us so much unconditional love and are essential members of the family.\u00a0 For that reason, I believe they deserve to be photographed beautifully and artistically.\u00a0 Whether your taste runs to studio style lighting, arty black and white processing, or reportage style outdoors, we can tailor a shoot to suit you and your dog and create photographic art for your life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Additional Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nina Parker Photography <\/a><\/div>\n
Nina Parker Photography on Petmasters <\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Nina Parker, Professional Pet Photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia\u00a0 There\u2019s a saying about photography: \u201cThe best camera for the shot is the one you have with you.\u201d You may own a classic 35mm, an edgy mirrorless camera, or a tricked out point-and-shoot model, but where is it? If the answer is in a drawer … <\/p>\n

Read More “Better Photos of your Pet: Tips from Nina Parker”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":995,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63,45],"tags":[56,68,67],"yoast_head":"\nBetter Photos of your Pet: Tips from Nina Parker - Petworks - Advice From Industry Pet Care Pros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.petworks.com\/articles\/better-photos-of-your-pet-tips-from-nina-parker\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Better Photos of your Pet: Tips from Nina Parker - Petworks - Advice From Industry Pet Care Pros\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"by Nina Parker, Professional Pet Photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia\u00a0 There\u2019s a saying about photography: \u201cThe best camera for the shot is the one you have with you.\u201d You may own a classic 35mm, an edgy mirrorless camera, or a tricked out point-and-shoot model, but where is it? 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