Trying to get into pet portrait photography, but no luck? We got you! Pet lovers often look into techniques about how to capture good pet photos. But they often overlook what to avoid. In this article, we will address four of the most common mistakes in pet portrait photography. To make it easier to follow, we have discussed each with two separate parts: mistakes and solutions.

This article compiles suggestions from the professional pet photographers and pet portrait artists UK. In the end, there’s a bonus for you waiting… Let’s dive right in and find out what you need to avoid to capture the best pet portraits.

Why Proper Lighting Is Very Important in Pet Photos

Alright, you must focus on the lighting when it comes to pet portrait photography. Now, the question is why? 

Mistake: 

Sometimes, pet owners see harsh, midday sunlight and think to themselves, "What a great day for pet photos!" Warning! It’s not. Harshness, as it’s obvious from the word itself, is not something positive. Other times, pet lovers might consider a phone flash on the face a good source of lighting. Stop. Do not do that. Whether it’s your furry friend or a human, direct light on the face can be harmful. Good lighting can make your pet photo portraits shine, or it can ruin them.

Now that we know what to avoid, here’s how to get the lighting just right for your animal portrait.

Solution: 

Outdoor Photo Session:

• Soft and natural light is key. Look for lighting that gives you flattering results. An example of this is the light of early morning or late afternoon.

• If you’re able to catch the golden hours, DO NOT let it go to waste; utilize that time for your pet photos.

Indoor Photo Session:

• You do not need fancy equipment. Get your hands on a diffused artificial light and bring your animal portraits to life. 

• Use a small curtain or a softbox to soften shadows and bring out your pet’s natural beauty. When it comes to artificial lighting, this is something important.

• To create a custom pet portrait, you need to capture the natural features and texture of their fur.

• Experiment with natural haze or soft fake sunlight to create flawless, evenly lit shots of your pet.

The Importance of Shooting at Your Pet's Eye Level

The next factor is also a really common mistake pet owners make in pet pawtrait photography. It needs to be addressed as to why you need to stay at the pet’s eye level. First, let’s discuss the mistake people make and then explore the solution to it.

Mistake: 

Pet lovers often get excited about their furry friends and forget that it’s not a casual photo shoot. You need these pet photos for your custom pet portraits. The pet portrait artists emphasize the importance of capturing the snapshot from the right angle. It’s not appreciated if photos are captured from disconnected angles. Now, you must be wondering what disconnected angles in a pet pawtrait photography are exactly.

They are:

• Photographing from above, looking down, as it makes the pet look smaller

• Capturing from below, looking above, can distort your dog’s features.

• Photos taken from extreme side angles, where eye contact with the animal is lost, result in a less engaging cat portrait.

• Odd tilted angles, which feel awkward rather than emotional

Solution:

Ensure you are at eye level with your pet. If the photographer is at their level, the pet photo comes out emotional and natural. This helps capture the real expressions in the furry friend’s eyes, which makes the pet artwork stand out. Whether it is a dog or a cat portrait, shooting at the right level truly focuses on the right places.

Avoiding Distracting Backgrounds in Pet Portrait Photography

Number three on our list of the most common mistakes in pet portrait photography is distractions & cluttered backgrounds. Let’s quickly dive into it:

Mistake: 

Distractions like sounds and unusual sights can bother pets a lot. This is especially true if you want your pet to pay attention. Having cluttered backgrounds and unnecessary noises are perfect recipes for diverting your dog’s or cat’s attention. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve planned your photo shoot indoors or outdoors; distractions work similarly in both situations. Here’s what you need to do about it:

Solution:

• Declutter / Clear the background

• Avoid busy patterns and noisy spaces

• Choose what complements your pet’s personality and color best

Why Patience Is Crucial When Photographing Pets

Pay attention, this is important! As many professional pet photographers point out, patience isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for capturing the moments. As pet owners, people must understand that pets need gentler treatment than humans. They need to be treated calmly without any rush. It all comes down to your actions and how you treat them, as animals do not understand words.

What do people do wrong?

 Mistake: 

• Not picking up if the pet is comfortable or not, as this can never capture the natural and real expressions

• Rushing into photographing the animal leads you to missing the moments

• Pushing the pet beyond its limits and frustrating it may cause it to lose control or become stressed.

Solution:

• Take your time, and let the pet take its time to get comfortable 

• Pets do not understand instructions, so stay patient and offer them treats and toys to lift their mood and create candid moments.

• Short photo sessions are better than longer ones, as this way your furry friend can recharge and relax. 

Remember! The more relaxed the animal is, the easier it is for the pet photographer to work with it. This way, your pet will be able to give you the real expressions for their cat or dog portrait. It is a great way to capture the natural emotions and the spark behind their eyes. Just do what complements your pet best and see wonders in the animal portraits you capture.

Bonus Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes In Pet Portrait Photography

Here, we are done with all the important points you must take into consideration before you want to get into pet photography. We have some additional (bonus) tips you won't want to miss! These tips will take your personalised pet portraits to the next level. Also, for the record, they are only a few and so easy to follow too!

So, what are those? 

• Do not force it - Let your pet move naturally and wait for them to approach you and the camera. Judge this from their body language.

• Props - Use your dog’s toys, treats, or props to engage them for their dog portrait.

• Action shots - Photograph playful moments! Pets in action can bring out authentic expressions and flawless shots.

Important: The last two tips should not be followed if you want to submit your pet photo for a custom pet portrait. There are specific photo criteria that pet portrait artists in the UK must follow before starting work on your personalized portrait. They prefer a clear image of your pet’s face or body, with a simple, clean background. Capturing the expression of your cat or dog is key to creating the perfect portrait.

Camera Settings for a Perfect Pet Photoshoot

(only suitable for professional photography)

• Use a high shutter speed if your pet is active and constantly moving. This helps freeze motion and prevents motion blur.

• Select the right focus mode to capture clear and sharp images.

• A mirrorless camera can be ideal for pet photography due to its fast autofocus system.

• Shoot in RAW image format for capturing maximum detail.

• Enable burst mode to capture multiple frames in quick succession. It is perfect for hyper and active pets.

• Use focus spot to especially focus on your pet's eyes. This is the key to a captivating portrait.

Conclusion

It’s not hard to capture great pet photos. Avoid these common mistakes in pet portrait photography. Doing this will help you capture your pet's natural expressions in every photo. Whether it’s a funny dog portrait, an adorable cat portrait, or a family photo with a dog, stay calm, and you’ll rock. Once you have that perfect photo, just like we’ve mentioned, the next step is ours to take care of.

It doesn’t matter if you need a personalized dog art, a pet artwork, or a custom pet portrait canvas. We offer all of it. Send that photo to us at FurrandFamily.com and let our pet portrait artists capture the essence of your furry friend on canvas. Ready to transform your pet’s personality into a lasting memory? Order our custom pet portrait now!