Springtime Is Primetime for Pet Portraits by Alice Miller

It’s mid-March. Winter has been ferocious in many locations, while sparing other regions. . . thus far. With pastel bunnies and chicks populating supermarket shelves, and Daylight Savings Time in force, Spring’s arrival can’t be far behind.

The milder weather and new blooms bring picture-perfect photo opportunities for capturing your pets running around in the park or back yard, or with potted plants indoors or out. Color-soaked gardens also create appealing backdrops for pet and people portraits.

Kids and puppies are a great combination to photograph, especially in late afternoon on a beautiful spring day. Use a high shutter speed—between 1/250 and 1/2000 second—to increase the number of sharp photos. © Andrew Darlow

Rain or Shine
Of course, sprinkled in with the milder days are numerous rainy days. If you’re used to shelving your camera when the rain falls, here’s something to think about. According to Andrew Darlow (www.imagingbuffet.com), photographer, digital imaging expert, and author of the new book 301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers, “Taking photos while it's raining, or in the moments just after it rains, offers a kaleidoscope of options. Rain also presents an opportunity to accessorize with umbrellas, raincoats, and the like.” Rain also brings reflections, which “can create a dramatic look in your pictures,” says Andrew. “Consider shooting at night with a flash and keeping your camera dry with a plastic bag. Just cut a hole for the lens or use a special product like waterproof housing.”

I shot this image of a chihuahua in his rain jacket just after the rain stopped. Pet clothing can help protect your pet and make a fashion statement at the same time. I used an off-camera flash to light the image. © Andrew Darlow

Flower Power
Blooming flowers and pets are a winning combo. “A tip that works all year round, especially in springtime, is to get down on your pet's level and take pictures with flowers in the foreground or background,” says Andrew. They also make attractive framing elements in your images.

I photographed this poodle at a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. The flowers were in full bloom. By standing your pet on a bench, you can use it as a prop. © Andrew Darlow

Bunny Fun
You can add a touch of fun to your springtime photos by placing a set of bunny ears on your cat of dog—if he or she is willing. “It helps to have someone just outside the frame put the ears on—and help keep them on. You’ll need some time, as well as a motor drive set to a fast shutter speed (such as F/4), and a relatively high ISO (400-1000),” says Andrew.

I shot this photo with a single off-camera flash. It might take a while to get the photo you want, so have multiple memory cards with a lot of available space. © Andrew Darlow

Natural Look
Taking creative, endearing, or humorous pictures of your pets is a year-round activity. Shooting inside or out, you can enhance your results with a few easy tips. For example, “Keeping your camera at the animal's eye level gives your pet a more natural look,” suggests Christopher Appoldt (www.christopherappoldt.com), commercial pet and people portrait photographer. “Shooting at this angle provides an environmental view, instead of the bird's eye top-down view.”

A tricky shot, since the dog is black and your camera meter will lie to you. Open up the f-stop about 1/2 stop wider than suggested to properly expose the light-absorbent fur. The sun lit most of the dog and a Nikon Speedlight in a small softbox filled in on the left. © Christopher Appoldt

Prevent Red Eye
With pets, as with people, you want to prevent the red eye effect. But what’s the best way? “If you don’t have an off-camera flash or strobe, try to shoot in natural light, outdoors, or near a large window. Early-morning or late-afternoon ‘sweet light’ is always best, with the pet facing into the sun,” says Chris. “Cloudy days or shade work well for soft, even lighting. Keep the flash turned off. A tripod may come in handy. A separate flash unit you can angle up or sideways onto a white wall or ceiling is another option.”

I used two Nikon Speedlights; one in a small softbox, one below and behind the cat, with a red gel over its lens. The trick with cats is to make sure their eyes are fully illuminated by the light source. © Christopher Appoldt

Capturing Contrasts
Do you have trouble photographing black dogs, white cats, or any photos in the snow? It’s because you're trying to capture extreme ends of the tonal spectrum—an exposure nightmare. What’s the solution? “Adjust the exposure manually to either let in more or less light to adjust for what your camera tells you is the optimum exposure,” suggests Chris.

With images like this one, have the low, bright sun directly behind your back so you can use the widest f-stop on your lens to freeze the action. Check your exposure when there's a lot of white in the fur. © Christopher Appoldt

Less Is More
Resist the temptation to clutter your shot with props such as furniture, yard items, and foliage. Keep it simple. “A few deliberately placed props can add mood or a sense of season, but don't overdo it. A busy photo scatters the viewer's attention rather than focusing it,” says Chris. “Instead, fill the viewfinder with your subject and follow general composition rules for placement of the head, eyes, and so on.”

This pup was lit with a 5' Photoflex Octobox, with the light soft and enveloping. A white reflector positioned to the right kept the shadow side of the dog well lit. © Christopher Appoldt

Stock up on batteries and media cards and get ready to capture some of your favorite seasonal memories.

Alice B. Miller, the former editor of Studio Photography magazine, is a writer and editor based on Long Island, New York. The editor of award-winning corporate and association publications for over 25 years, Alice has a clientele that includes photoimaging industry manufacturers, publications, websites, and associations. She is a member of the International Photographic Council’s board of directors and has served as a juror for the Black & White Spider Awards and for the Center for Fine Art Photography. She may be reached at alice@photogrator.com.