All-American Pet Photo Day

July 11th is All American Pet Photo Day, a day dedicated to showing off our beautiful pets on social media and beyond. How can you celebrate? Simple.

Ultimately this holiday is all about celebrating our pets through photos. So, snap a photo of your pet and upload it to social media or share it with your family and friends. Since you’ll want to share a photo (or two) of your pet looking his or her very best, we thought we’d share some easy tips for holding a successful photoshoot with your pet.

How to Capture Adorable Photos of Your Pet

More often than not, pet photography requires a great deal of patience and creativity. The following are some tips for a successful photo session with your furry pal:

Use treats

If you’ve tried to photograph your pet in the past you may have found that it’s tough to get him or her to look directly at the camera. Some pets are even a little camera shy and may feel intimidated by having a strange object pointed at them. 

Treats can help redirect your pet’s attention away from the camera so that you can capture a great shot. Position the treat so your pet will look in the direction of the camera, and then snap the photo before he or she loses focus.

If your pet is fixated on the yummy morsel you are holding he or she will probably have a very intrigued, focused expression on his face. This is much better than the look of worry or confusion that he might have if he or she was focused on the camera alone or while moving away from the camera to attempt to get some space.

Take Candid Shots

Like humans, some pets just don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera. They may be intimidated by the camera, or they may struggle to hold still long enough for you to snap a photo. 

If this is the case with your pet, candid shots are the way to go. You will probably need to take a lot of candid shots in order to get a truly great one, so prepare to spend a few minutes on this project.

Engage your pet in an activity that he truly loves and then covertly snap as many photos as you can. The activity can be anything your pet finds fun or relaxing. This could be a game of fetch, a walk, or a snuggle session. Whatever you do, don’t worry about the poses. Instead, focus on capturing as many shots as possible. Doing this will allow you to have many options to pick from so you can cherish your pet’s pictures in their natural element.

Use your Zoom & Move with your Pet

If your pet becomes a little timid anytime the camera comes out, make use of your zoom function. By taking shots from farther away you’ll be able to capture beautiful photos of your pet without making him or her anxious by sticking the camera in their face.

Zoom also comes in handy for keeping your equipment clean if you have a curious pet who likes to lick the lens! 

As your pet moves about, you can also keep your distance and move around the room with your pet – giving your pet space while still capturing some cute pictures of them playing and moving around.

Experiment with Angles

To take photos that really stand out, try experimenting with angles.

Instead of capturing photos from your perspective or sightline, try to put yourself in your pet’s shoes. Get down low and snap photos of him from his sightline. Or, go lower and capture shots looking up at him! 

Action shots are especially great when captured down low as the perspective draws the viewer right into the photo. 

Remain Patient

Photographing your pet can be frustrating at times. Whether your pet moves constantly, makes strange expressions, or crowds the lens, it can be hard to capture a good image. Always practice patience and keep photo sessions brief. Plan to take as many photos as possible so you can have various options to pick through when looking for one (or two) you want to share and cherish of your furry pal. 

As long as you keep your cool and snap photos of your pet regularly you’re sure to come out with some excellent shots that truly capture your pet’s essence and will have to share and treasure for years to come.