INTRODUCTION

Millions of pet pictures are taken every year. The results are proudly
shown off not only in frames next to the rest of the family pictures
but also on websites and blogs dedicated to the best pictures of animal
companions, and in books like The Ultimate Dog Lover, The Ultimate Cat Lover, and The Ultimate Horse Lover.

How do you get that perfect picture you’ll be proud to keep and
to share? We asked Troy Snow, a top professional photographer with
years of experience taking pictures for the Best Friends Animal
Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, for advice on how to get the best possible
pictures of your animal companions. Below is his response.

You can view some of Troy Snow’s animal photography at his Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/troysnow/. More information about The Ultimate Dog Lover — and other books featuring the photography of Troy Snow — follows the article. Good luck with those snapshots!

Digital photography has changed everything for the casual
photographer. Instead of wasting roll after roll of film — or not
bothering to take pictures at all because of the trouble and expense of
getting them developed — it’s now possible to take hundreds of
pictures of your pet, happy in the knowledge that if there are just one
or two good ones out of every few dozen taken, nothing has been wasted
except possibly your time.

Even better, photo-editing software has made it possible to salvage
a marginal image. With a few clicks of the mouse, the out-of-frame,
out-of-focus, or just "not right" images are jettisoned forever. A few
clicks more, and those images with potential are fixed up and made
suitable for framing — a crop here, a red eye changed to brown, the
elimination of items cluttering up the background.

But the best pictures aren’t made in a software program. They start
with the knowledge of how to get great pictures at the first shutter
click. Learn these basics and you’ll end up with the memories that will
last forever:

~ Get Outside ~

Taking pictures outside gives your pet a more natural, healthy look.
But animals won’t sit still like humans. Dogs romp, cats frolic, horses
trot. Learn to adjust your aperture and shutter speed to shoot objects
in motion, or use predefined program many cameras include. You’ll
capture the best of your pet’s athletic grace.

If your pet is a solid, dark color, use your flash to bring out the
detail in his or her face. If you do end up with a red eye, use
photo-editing software (basic programs come free with many new cameras
and computers) to fix the problem.

~ Get Close ~

If you want a good picture, you need to get on the same plane as
your pet. Shoot at eye level or just above the eye level to get the
best visual connection. Be careful not to get too low though. A long
snout shot from too low an angle can block the eyes, breaking the
connection you’re trying to get.

~ Watch the Background ~

Think neutral — a plain wall, not a cluttered cabinet, or a barn
door, not a tool shed. Think contrast, but not too much — a lighter
background for a dark animal, darker for a light pet. If your dog loves
to curl up on his paisley dog bed, consider throwing down a
solid-colored blanket before you shoot. Your cat might look better
against the solid green background of the lawn than in front of a busy
garden bed. You might be able to edit a distracting background later,
but it’s easier to avoid it in the first place.

~ Be Patient ~

If you pet does something cute and you miss it, don’t despair.
Chances are, if you’re patient and keep your camera ready, you’ll catch
an encore performance.

~ Get Help ~

Children make the best photographer’s assistants. Get a kid to help
get your pet’s attention with a toy or treat or by posing with your
horse, dog, cat, or other pet. Nothing is more adorable than kids and
pets together.

~ Be Creative ~

If you want to capture your dog kissing your child, do what the pros
do: put a little butter on your child’s cheek, and let the dog lick it
off. Food is good for more than kissing — it’s also great for getting
your animal’s attention for the shot. Squeaky toys and laser pointers
work well, too. If you can get your pet to stay still for a few
seconds, throw a toy (or even your car keys) in the direction you want
him or her to look.

~ Have Fun with the Software ~

The camera’s just the first step to a great picture. Basic
photo-editing software can do more than fix errors — it can turn your
images into art! Play with colors, contrast, sharpness, and more, or
use special effects such as "watercolorizing" to create something
unique.

~ Keep Taking Pictures ~

Just as with children, people tend to take pictures of new puppies
or kitties, then put the camera away. But your pet is always changing,
and the images you one day love the most might be of your companion as
a sweet senior.

So get out there with that new camera, whether it’s a pint-size
point-and-shoot or a sophisticated digital SLR. You’ll find that pets
are more patient subjects than people, especially if treats are
involved for good behavior.

Troy Snow is a professional freelance photographer whose work has been
widely appreciated and published. Along with a team from Best Friends,
he went to the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help
animals and people. The stories from that rescue effort are told in his
stunning picture book, Not Left Behind: Rescuing the Pets of New Orleans (Yorkville Press). Troy’s pictures can be found on the Best Friends website at http://www.bestfriends.org and on his own website, http://www.troysnowphoto.com

THE ULTIMATE DOG LOVER:
The Best Experts’ Advice for a Happy, Healthy Dog
with Stories and Photos of Incredible Canines
Written by Dr. Marty Becker, America’s Favorite Vet,
with Gina Spadafori, Carol Kline, and Mikkel Becker
Published by Health Communications, Inc.
(ISBN 978-0757307508, 328 pages, paperback, $14.95)

THE ULTIMATE CAT LOVER:
The Best Experts’ Advice for a Happy, Healthy Cat
with Stories and Photos of Fabulous Felines
Written by Dr. Marty Becker, America’s Favorite Vet,
with Gina Spadafori, Carol Kline, and Mikkel Becker
Published by Health Communications, Inc.
(ISBN 978-0757307515, 328 pages, paperback, $14.95)

THE ULTIMATE HORSE LOVER:
The Best Experts’ Advice for a Happy, Healthy Horse
with Stories and Photos of Awe-Inspiring Equines
Written by Dr. Marty Becker, America’s Favorite Vet,
with Gina Spadafori, Audrey Pavia and Mikkel Becker
Published by Health Communications, Inc.
(ISBN 978-0757307522, 328 pages, paperback, $14.95)

http://www.petconnection.com