Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • Cameras
  • More
    • Home
    • News
    • Best
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Cyber Monday deals
  • Samsung Galaxy S24
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max review
  • iPhone 15 review
  • Wordle hints
  • Best VPN

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Cameras
  2. Photography

How to take perfect pictures of your pet

How-to
By N-Photo
published 6 June 2016

Capture your furry friend's best side

How to take pet shots with personality

How to take pet shots with personality

Holding the camera at eye level to take a picture is such a natural posture that you start to take it for granted. But if you take a shot of your pet from a normal standing position, the result is a boring, unimaginative picture where your pet just looks small and insignificant. Instead, you need to get right down to your pet's level, even if that means lying down with your camera on the ground.

This simple step makes a huge difference. Now you're shooting your pet from its own eye level and seeing the world from the animal's perspective, rather than a human's. If you have to shoot through long grass or flowers then all the better, because if you choose your position carefully and use a wide lens aperture to defocus the foreground and background, then it can create a rather nice framing effect.

You should experiment with focal length as well. A wide-angle lens used close up can produce a striking 'dog's-eye' view of the world, while a telephoto lens produces a more pleasing perspective and helps you eliminate unwanted backgrounds and isolate your subject more effectively.

Most of all, look for a good setting. It's all too easy to concentrate so much on your subject that you overlook the surroundings, but these are a vital part of the picture. Don't just follow your pet around trying to get your shots – choose where you want to take the picture and then entice your pet to pose in the location you have chosen. It can be useful to have a willing helper for this part!

Finally, all the techniques that work well for human portraits – lighting, focal length, focusing on the eyes, the direction of the gaze – can be applied to pet photography. As far as the principles of photography are concerned, animals are people too!

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
1. Get on level terms

1. Get on level terms

You need to get down to your pet's eye level, even if that means lying on the ground. This produces a much more interesting shot and the side effect is that you engage much more with your pet. It's something unusual from their point of view, so you're sure to get their attention.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
2. Eye-level portraits

2. Eye-level portraits

It's amazing that something so simple should make so much difference. Now your pet is shown at its proper size in its surroundings and you see it at eye level, rather than from above. Using your kit zoom at its widest focal length can produce an interesting perspective too.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
3. Get a longer view

3. Get a longer view

Shallow depth of field effects, where the foreground and background are blurred, can work well, especially if you have a telephoto lens or a superzoom such as the Nikon 18-200mm. First, set the camera to A mode, then set the lens to its maximum zoom and widest lens aperture.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
4. Location, location, location

4. Location, location, location

Take the time to scout around for a good setting. The long grass in this example is ideal because there's no background clutter, and the wide lens aperture throws both the background and foreground out of focus. These simple tips can yield a timeless portrait of your pet.

  • The best camera settings for outdoor portrait photography
Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
5. How low can you go?

5. How low can you go?

For a more unusual effect, look for a location where you can shoot from an even lower viewpoint, so the sky becomes the background. You can use a blue sky for a colourful, summery feel, or a stormy sky for a more dramatic backdrop. Use your Nikon's pop-up flash – set to Slow Sync mode – to provide fill-in light, so your pet isn't submerged in shadow.

  • Wildlife photography tips
Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
N-Photo
Social Links Navigation
More about photography
Two images of elephants, one is real one is AI generated

Real or AI? We asked and you responded

Interface grab showing Fujifilm Film Simulations being applied in Adobe Lightroom

How to add Fujifilm Film Simulations in Adobe Lightroom

Latest
WhatsApp Secret Codes

WhatsApp now lets you use secret codes to lock your private chats

See more latest ►
Most Popular
How to watch Faraway Downs: stream the Baz Luhrmann miniseries now

By Daniel PatemanNovember 26, 2023

Chiefs vs Raiders live stream: how to watch NFL game from anywhere today – team news

By Aatif SulleymanNovember 25, 2023

How to watch the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials – The Star Beast available now

By Tom WardleyNovember 25, 2023

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 live stream – watch WarGames now, PPV, TV channel

By Andrew PollardNovember 25, 2023

Orlando City vs Columbus Crew live stream: how to watch MLS Eastern Conference semi-final today, team news

By Andy MurrayNovember 25, 2023

How to watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 3 online from anywhere

By Adam MarshallNovember 24, 2023

Newcastle vs Chelsea live stream: how to watch Premier League online and on TV from anywhere – team news

By Aatif SulleymanNovember 24, 2023

Nottingham Forest vs Brighton live stream: how to watch Premier League online and on TV from anywhere – team news

By Aatif SulleymanNovember 24, 2023

How to use Storm Flip in Fortnite

By Jake GreenNovember 23, 2023

How to update an Apple HomePod

By James HollandNovember 23, 2023

How to watch Thanksgiving football: live stream a day of sports from anywhere

By Aatif SulleymanNovember 23, 2023

  1. Harry Bosch stars off into the distance in Prime Video's Bosch TV series
    1
    Prime Video's Bosch is getting another TV spin-off starring a character we haven't met yet
  2. 2
    Roku’s free update that makes it easier to find new shows and movies is coming to more countries
  3. 3
    I thought Cyber Monday laptop deals were done, but these eight are actually even cheaper now
  4. 4
    Last chance! Amazon's record-low Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra deal ends soon
  5. 5
    YouTube Premium gets new AI features to lure you into subscribing
  1. A collage of gifts from Walmart
    1
    11 great gift ideas for everyone in the family
  2. 2
    The Mandalorian season 4: everything we know about the hit Star Wars show's possible return
  3. 3
    Apple AirPods 4: everything we know so far and what we want to see
  4. 4
    Windows 11’s new features won’t be for everyone – but they’re seriously cool for those who’ll use them
  5. 5
    How to use Split View on a Mac

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.