Shooting Pets on Location

or how to get toothpaste back into a tube Shooting Pets on Location image 1

In his professional career, Paul Walker has photographed most animals often categorised as a 'pet' from horses, cats and dogs through to rabbits, guinea pigs and the occasional trouser-climbing 'polecat'. In this article he touches upon shooting pets on location and gives an insight into this potentially hazardous yet extremely rewarding area of photography, in which he has won a number of awards.

Introduction

Photographing pets on location has its merits and drawbacks. Paul Walker’s approach is to stay away from many of the conventional studio-style 'set-ups', preferring to opt for the vast array of possibilities that both homes and the great outdoors present. This approach is taken for a number of reasons. Primarily, the pets do not perceive the appearance of the studio as a veterinary surgery. Some commercial assignments may require high-key studio-style portraiture engaging dogs that are more than happy in such an environment. However, in the majority of shoots, the big studio lights are left firmly behind. Paul also believes that working in a natural environment helps to challenge and develop his photography vision far more than the studio ever could. To an extent, overcoming the unique challenges that a home or outdoor neighbourhood presents is half the fun. Plus, those familiar outdoor environments are rarely ever similar due to the ever-changing weather and seasonal variations in the foliage. Certain assignments definitely keep the calories burning, especially if the pet concerned decides to play at hide-and-seek during the photography session. It’s certainly a reason to save on the gym membership as the mad photographer goes in pursuit of those crazy pets!

Planning and Preparation

A significant part of any assignment goes into the planning and preparation. This is paramount to minimising any risks and maximising the potential opportunities for the photographer. For example, it’s no use wishing to take advantage of a great location often utilised by other dog walkers if the dog in question is extremely unsociable. Some pets too will have their own agenda and will exhibit the art of selective hearing to perfection, if there are greater distractions around other than the photographer and handler. This may of course be used to your advantage, say in the case of a pet halting and then choosing to fix its gaze in a particular direction, but in most cases such distractions simply slow down the photography. Pedigree dogs and cats do provide some advantages if you know a breed’s traits but there is no doubt that each individual will almost certainly have its own quirks and unique personality. This needs to be planned and accounted for both before and during any shoot. The strategy, pet characteristics and environment are all integral components to be considered even before the camera is introduced. Paul’s distraction strategies for keeping a pet entertained are numerous and involve a vast array of different Shooting Pets on Location image 3 sounds, sight triggers and on some occasions food treats. Food treats are often brought along by the handlers as pet bribes but on most occasions he would rather they were left in the pocket. Dogs can become far too fixated on treats and this is often not in the direction that is desired. A salivating dog is also not that attractive to the owners. Paul has been known to balance dog treats on the tops of lenses whilst lying down. In other words, rules should only be taken as guidelines; sometimes breaking your own rules may be the only option to nail the shot you are seeking! Those same lenses have on occasions also received a thorough licking from many an inquisitive pet, especially in an enclosure of puppies. Paul says, 'That’s the real reason I need a UV filter on the top of glass and not what the manufacturers tell you!'

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