How To Take Great Pet Photos With Your Phone {Guest Post by Abi Pennavaria}

April 16, 2020 Heather Nelms

Want to share great photos of your pet, but a professional photo session is out of the question due to social distancing? You can certainly still get some pretty good shots just by using your phone! Here are some tips that can help you get the best phone pic possible:

Lighting

Making sure you have good lighting is important. The better the lighting, the clearer the picture! In low light, the shutter on a camera has to be open longer to capture enough light to make the picture visible. This causes it to record everything that happens while the shutter is open, which makes pictures blurry. Better lighting allows the shutter to operate faster preventing blurring from any movement of your pet as well as any handshake. Using the flash is not a good substitute; the shutter will still move slowly, and the flash will wash the picture out.

Get Low

When positioning yourself to take pictures of your pet, get down low. By getting down eye level or even slightly lower, you get the best angle of your pet, and gives you the chance to get a great background if you are outside.

Practice Sitting Still

Getting your pet to sit still may not always be the easiest thing to do. Training your dog in a solid “stay” or “place” command will really come in handy when it comes to getting the perfect shot. When you practice this command, it can open up the opportunity for some great posed shots. Practicing these commands prior to your photoshoot can help ease any frustration when trying to get your pet to hold still for pictures.

Bribe Your Pet

To get your pet’s most expressive face, get his favorite treat or favorite toy and get him excited with it. This is also where a good “stay” and “leave it” command may come in handy. If you want him to look directly at the camera, tap or wave the treat or toy right above the lens on your phone.

Framing

Framing is simply how you set up your photograph. For example, when taking photos from a distance, remember the rule of thirds. Instead of putting the subject of your photo (your pet) in the center, divide the photos into thirds. Then position your pet in one of the side thirds of the picture. Something about the way the human brain is wired makes this set-up more aesthetically pleasing.

Backgrounds

You can take a picture anywhere, but if you want to really get a good photo, try for an outside backdrop. Whether it be warm or snowy, take advantage of the beauty of nature. Not to mention, natural light is the best lighting.

Action Shots

Does your pet love to jump into a pile of leaves, climb trees, or jump into the pool? Whatever it may be, stand at the ready and get some action shots! Not all phones have the capability to do this, but if your phone has the option for burst photos, this will be your best bet to get the perfect picture!

Candid Photos

While posed photos are great, candid photos can also come out looking pretty fantastic. You may even end up catching a silly face. Taking photos while your pet is yawning or trying to catch a ball or treat can result in some pretty entertaining shots. Capturing a genuine candid moment can really help depict the true personality of your pet.

Even if you only have a phone to take your pictures, don’t let that discourage you from getting the best photo you can. All it takes is a little practice and a cute pet… yours!

Abi Pennavaria is a dog mom, avid veterinary volunteer, and co-author of the Saved By The Bark dog blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for volunteers and animal lovers through thoughtfully researched blog posts and vet games.

Thanks Abi for all your great tips and insight!

Mandy

Do you want a professional capturing your pet(s) and their people?

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

The Hartmann Family {Nashville Dog Photographer}

March 30, 2020 Heather Nelms

Whew, time has flown by since my last post, hasn’t it? My posts have been few and far between for the 17 months because I have been busy tending to the newest member of my pack, Liam! It seems the human babies need a bit more care than the furry types, and I am loving every minute of it!

But it is time for me to get back to it…as you all are well aware, we are are in the midst of a pandemic. Because social media has inundated us with lots of COVID-19 information, I knew I needed to provide something joyful and fun…sure to make you smile and just maybe say out loud, “awwwww”. There is nothing like our adorable pets that can help us smile even just for a moment. I know it helps me, so I am hopeful it will help you too!

Without further ado…I was so fortunate to photograph these cute, cute, cute corgis and their people back in December. Meet Norman, a male Corgi, age 14 and Gracie, a female Corgi, age 7. Their people are Shelby and Thomas. When I asked Shelby and Thomas about their names, they told me that Norman is named after a German cyclist. Gracie was named because she was a clumsy pup! (She has since grown out of her clumsiness)

Norman and Gracie LOVE FOOD. All. Of. It! They also like playing fetch. I was told Gracie HATES having her picture taken, so when she kept wondering off and then running back towards me, I took the opportunities to get some great action shots! Norman is generally just a happy guy, but he doesn’t really like the water or to have his ears or feet touched.

Norman and Gracie love and really protect each other. Corgis have a natural herding instinct, so if their people are in different parts of the house, they will find a spot in the middle of wherever their people are!

Enjoy some of my faves from the Hartmann family session!

-Mandy

Have pets you adore? Bring them to a photo session!

Tips for Getting Your Dog to Sit & Stay for Photos! {Guest Post by Abi Pennavaria}

August 22, 2019 mandy whitley

Getting Your Dog to Sit & Stay For Photos

There is almost nothing more heartwarming than a dog posing for a picture. Which is why doggie photos are such a viral phenomenon. But when most dog owners look at these pictures the first thing that comes to mind, after the preliminary admiration, is how on earth did they get that dog to sit still long enough to capture this moment? It’s a valid question; and it's the one we are prepared to help answer. You just need a little patience and maybe a hand full of treats.

Train, Train, Train

The easiest way to fail in a DIY doggie photoshoot is to not prepare. There aren’t enough treats in the world to get your pup to pose perfectly on the first attempt. So if you are planning to photograph your pup plan ahead and start training in the weeks and even months beforehand.

Training for a photo isn’t exactly training for a photo. You won’t be telling your pet to “smile”, or “go stand in front of that sunset”. You will be training your pup to sit still and be patient. Use treats or other incentives and train your pet to sit and wait. Both are essential commands to know if you want them to be camera ready.

If you have already done this training with you pup you likely won’t need much time to prepare just perhaps take them outside and try the same patience training to get them used to responding to the commands in different locations.

Start Small

If you have never done any training with your pet, or if your pet is a puppy, it is good to keep your expectations in check. You won’t likely be able to get them to do advanced poses or cooperate for extended periods of time. Instead start with a simple “sit” command and master that.

As time goes by and you continue to practice with your dog they will be able to sit longer, focus better and anticipate what you need them to do more. Nobody is perfect at anything when they are just beginning. This is no exception.

Pick your Backdrop Wisely

When planning to take a photo of your dog consider the location. If you are going to be venturing into new surroundings it is important to think about what it will be like for your pet. Dogs can be easily distracted or frightened by loud noises or other animals. If your dog is new to recall it is not a great idea to try and take a posed photo at a busy park. Start instead in your quiet backyard or an unpopular walking trail.

Of course, sometimes the perfect photo isn’t planned you just walk into a beautiful opportunity. If this is the case go for it; but don’t set your expectations too high or push it if it isn’t working.

Helpful noise

What works for babies and kids can sometimes work for pups as well. If your dog is sitting fine but is distracted try calling out, snapping your fingers or jingling your keys to pull their focus. You will want to avoid anything too jarring as to not upset your pet but a little noise may be all the incentive they need to look at the camera.

Remember to Have Fun

Social media can put a lot of pressure on us to be perfect. You may really want your dog to sit and “smile” in front of a lake at sunset but they may be too tired, too playful or uninterested in humoring you. It’s important to keep perspective.

It is fine to train and prepare and hope for good shots and many times that is all it takes to make it happen. But other times you will get a silly photo of them turning their head with their mouth wide, tongue out and drool flying. Sometimes those candid, off-script photos end up being your favorite shots.

Abi Pennavaria is a dog mom, avid vet volunteer, and co-author of Saved By The Bark blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for dog owners of all breeds.