KNOW YOUR GEAR
The right kit is important, but don’t forget the props and treats
When photographing pets, you want to capture their uniqueness, but you also want to do that in your own photographic style. To balance both aspects, the choice of lens, kit and accessories must be carefully considered. When it comes to lenses, you should generally work with a fast lens. These offer the advantage of a small f-number, which produces a concentrated depth of field that brings your main subject visually into focus. Pay attention to image stabilisation modes, as you’re most likely to be shooting pets handheld.
One of the most important questions to consider is whether using flash is safe for the animal, as it can have an effect on them. In most cases, dogs tend to ignore flash, but for more sensitive characters, it’s advisable to bounce the flash off a wall or ceiling to avoid direct eye contact. Many professionals also use powerful LED continuous light in their work. Whether you’re working in the studio or outdoors, a flexible reflector is always a reliable and simple tool that should be part of your equipment. Five-in-one reflectors offer you a wide range of options to optimise the light quality. This way, light can be directed onto the animal in a more controlled way to bring out their specific characteristics.
When working with animals, however, you have to pay attention to much more than the technical equipment. Pets are usually curious, and will not stay still in front of the lens. This makes it all the more important to have a cleaning kit with you, so that ou can quickly remove any traces of curious nose or paw prints. It’s also useful to equip your lens with an additional filter, such as a UV filter, that you can remove for easy cleaning.
Besides treats and toys, it’s a good idea to have creative props with you. Using these, you can interact with the subject to encourage behaviour that’s individual and exciting to photograph. Props don’t have to be expensive – simple accessories, such as soap bubbles or the integration of artificial flowers, can enrich the overall picture enormously.