Photography: Pets

by Heather on April 2, 2011

in Lessons, Photography

After Mike and I adopted Rigby, our friends made fun of us because we took sooooo many pictures of her. What, we were proud parents! And a little crazy, yes. Pets are part of the family, and it’s important to get photos memories of them, too.

Rigby was a Valentine’s Day present from Mike, so it’s only appropriate that this is one of her first photos:

Rigby Valentine

Pictures that show your pet doing what they love to do are the best way to tell the story. Rigby’s favorite things to do are:

Rigby and the leaves
“hunt”

Best Friends
snuggle..

petting her puppy
be pampered…

IMG_9438
and sleep.

Just like with humans, zooming in for closeups of our pets is key. I love getting detail shots of Rigby. The black details of her nose, eyes, and paws are so striking against her white fur:

paws
paws

puppy nose and tongue
nose and tongue

IMG_9437
sleeping face

And, lest you think my dog is a total sloth, I do get the occasional action photo:

shaking herself off

Did you know that pets can get red eye? Except it isn’t red, it’s usually yellow or green.

chair

You can avoid this by either using natural light, or pointing your camera/flash so it isn’t hitting your pet’s eyes straight-on.

Do you have awesome pictures of your pets (except cats (just kidding!))? Upload them to the TSAM Photo Fun Flickr group so we can compliment and learn from each other (If you don’t have a flickr account, just link to your photos in the comments).

Want more tips on pet photography? You can find them here thanks to HP, my awesome photo partners.

Next week, family photo traditions (pay attention, dads).

Be Sociable, Share!

Previous post:

Next post:

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Neeroc April 2, 2011 at 10:49 am

She is so adorable! If I ever received a dog that tiny I’d carry her around everywhere. I’d be a purse dog lady.

Good call on the 2 pics a day limit too, I’m a bit snap-happy with my pets too all 5 of them *g*. Back in the good ol’days I’d be the people with the slideshows.
Neeroc´s last [type] ..This video makes my ovaries ache

Reply

2 Tina April 2, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Ooooh love pets!!
I’ve got three: Beau, a Blue Siamese, Merlin, a Red Tabby we rescued from the jaws of a stray dog (seriously) and Pandora, a Black Labrador Retriever who is John’s (former preemie) assistance/service dog..

Here is Merlin:
http://smilepleasephotography.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-post.html

You can see Beau here: (scroll down)
http://smilepleasephotography.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html

And here is Pandora:
http://smilepleasephotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-post.html

Reply

3 Rebecca April 2, 2011 at 12:51 pm

Your pooch is so stinking cute and shiny white. I wish my hair was as shiny as your dogs fur. And yes, I realize that is sad. Be sad for me and my hair.
Rebecca´s last [type] ..A Picture Says

Reply

4 Glenda April 2, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Rigby is so cute. I always take pictures of my shihtzu MIA. She is our baby and is oh so spoiled :)

Reply

5 Carrie April 2, 2011 at 6:19 pm

My goodness, that is a cute dog!!!
Carrie´s last [type] ..I went

Reply

6 Jenn April 2, 2011 at 8:16 pm

OOhhh Maddie….how loved and missed you are baby girl!!! Great pictures Heather. I’m glad you have so many to cherish!
Take Care my friend.

Reply

7 Mommy April 2, 2011 at 10:46 pm

Our puppy was our first baby too, so I totally understand!! These pics are great!!

Also, I love you even more now that I know you hate cats!! LOL!!!
Mommy´s last [type] ..The Happiest Place on Earth

Reply

8 Rachel April 3, 2011 at 5:22 pm

True fact…I have more pictures of my fur baby on my camera than anyone else.
You aren’t alone in being a proud “pet parent”…my fiance and I don’t have any babies of the human variety and love to spoil our fur girls.

Reply

9 mandy April 4, 2011 at 12:20 am

Great pics but one serious question…how do you keep her eyes so clean? I have a Maltese also and no matter how I clean her face, she still has the ‘dirty’ marks under her eyes & it drives me crazy! Help!

Reply

10 Rachel April 4, 2011 at 6:09 am

I have a Maltese too and mines never been as clean as Rigby! But for the tear stains I swear by Angel Eyes. It doesn’t remove existing stains but defineatly prevents new ones. I just used it for about a month or two and had the groomer trim off the old yucky around the eyes. Random, sorry!

Reply

11 monica April 4, 2011 at 6:25 am

LOL! I’m right there with ya. I take pics of my dog all the time and I’ve had her for 10 years! Just said to my hubby the other day, every time I look at her cute little face (she’s a Lhasa apso) I melt! I hold her and cuddle her like a baby and she sleeps with me every night.

Reply

12 Elizabeth April 4, 2011 at 7:41 am

My dog HATES taking pictures. She will literally get up and walk away or turn her head when I try and snap a pic!

Reply

13 James Anderson April 5, 2011 at 3:20 am

The nose and tongue photo is my favoutite of the dog and the paws one is also good. My two little cats Pilchard and Scoop are not camera shy and I will add a pic.
James Anderson´s last [type] ..baby walker

Reply

14 Juan Perros April 7, 2011 at 1:58 am

Good job!! Really lovely! ;)
Juan Perros´s last [type] ..Baguira – Nombres Para Perros

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge