Chloe - American Cocker Spaniel
As I am working on a more in-depth architectural blog post next week, I will keep this weeks post short and sweet.
I traveled back to Lake George, New York for a few days in early July. On my trip back to visit family and friends, I meet the newest member of our family. Chloe is a American Cocker Spaniel that my parents welcomed to our family three months ago.
For the past three decades, my parents have always had a Cocker Spaniel in our home. Chloe is the newest addition. She is smart, quick, and gets great enjoyment from biting on my toes! Chloe is a great dog and I'm do happy to see my parents light up in excitement whenever she is around.
In honor of this occasion, I thought I would give everyone a few helpful hints on pet photography.
1. Use a high shutter speed
Using a high shutter speed will freeze the action and create a clean, crisp, image. This is especially helpful when shooting a pet playing with a toy or running in the yard.
2. Continuous autofocus
Continuous autofocus is extremely helpful when trying to capture the action of your pet running, playing with a toy, or meeting new friends.
3. Use a higher f/stop
Unless your pet is perfectly still, trying to focus and getting a clear shot of your pet is difficult at low f/stops. I generally try to avoid using f/stops lower then f/4.5 when shooting pets. The lower your f/stop, the less focusing plane you have to work with. Using a lower f/stop can lead to out of focus faces and bodies.
4. Focus on the eyes
Many of the same techniques you would use in portrait or candid photos also apply to pet photography. Focusing on the eyes especially. When people look at your photos, they naturally look at the eyes first. By focusing on the eyes, you will also keep the rest of the face in proportion and in focus.
I promise you if you use these techniques, you will get some great pet photos.
Next Week, my blog post will be coving architectural photography in Dallas and a luxury building I recently photographed for a client.
-MK