Assignment #18, Pet Portraits

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 8:11 pm

Pet Portraits. That is FORMAL Pet Portraits.

No images of your dog laying on his back waiting to have his tummy rubbed.

No images of your cat sticking his head into a shopping bag.

No images of your pet dressed in kids clothes.

Brush your dog (or cat).

Find a suitable posing spot. For a bird, use a perch.

For a cat or dog this is really a 2 person job.

Place your cat on a very small table--to keep him from moving about too much. This works for small dogs too.

Remember that if you shoot from a higher position the dog or cat will appear to be sweet and cute.

If you shoot from eye level they will appear less cute and more animal like (not bad).

If you shoot from below the eye level they will look intimidating even if it is a Chihuahua.

Animal fur absorbs a lot of light--1 to 2 stops more than you might expect.

Horses look really nice when rimmed with back light.

Pay attention to the eyes. They offer the most expression.

If you are using a studio lighting I find that a 2 light set up is nice. I have a light above and behind the animal rimming the outline; and a fill light from the camera position or slightly higher.

If you are shooting your bird you might want to consider using lighting to isolate the critter as in assignment #14: http://www.phototakers.com/forum/ftopic50700.html

DON'T USE FLASH ON CAMERA AT NIGHT. You won't get red eye; you will get Orphan Annie eye (greenish-silver).

If you shoot a picture of your pet snake, leave out the apple--it's been done (by me and others).

If you have a pet tarantula I think it would be very sexy on a naked woman's body--a true animal portrait and I am hoping to see several of this type.

Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 309

ha packard i'm touched that you referred to my cat in the bag shot ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v113/weaselnoze/kitty/016.jpg

Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 209

miss post.

Premium Member Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 704 Location: WV

My Lou.

Don't worry, I have since retouched the wrinkles out of the backdrop a little better. This was the only version of this photo that I had in my Photobucket, though. :)