A friend told me her cousin in another state took her pet to a “Santa Paws” event and got the cutest picture to frame, and even to post on Facebook. My friend wants to do the same, but wasn’t sure where to go. I suggested she check with local animal groups and pet supply stores, who often do something like that for the holidays.
At Christmas, a lot of us will be taking pictures of family and friends, including the four-footed ones. If you can’t have a professional picture made, here are some suggestions to help you get better shots of your best friend.
If you are using your phone, make sure to use the zoom feature so you can get a close-up without being right in the animal’s face. A toy or a treat might get your pet’s attention so it will face the camera just as you take the picture.
Some of the best photos make you feel as though the animal is looking right at you. The photographer probably took the photo at the pet’s eye-level – either by getting down on the ground or having the animal sit on something to raise it up higher. Looking down on a pet, or up, can give a distorted image of the animal.
Before snapping the picture, look at what’s behind your pet – is the background nice and simple, or is it too busy? It also helps to have some contrast – for example, a dark-coated pet may not show up well against a dark background. And usually the less background and more pet that’s in the picture, the better the picture will be.
Check to see if someone in your area is offering pictures of pets with Santa. Or, ask a friend to help and try taking some holiday photos yourself. Just remember the four P’s of photographing pets – patience, planning, practice, and plenty of pictures.
I may call my friend and offer to help take a good Christmas picture of her with her furry companion. I sure would be sorry if she missed out on capturing a Christmas memory, when I’m speaking of pets.
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