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You have to be a dog owner to understand - part 3 of 1 2 3

by Stuart Walker Published 01/10/2011

More lights can be added to provide separation from the background, such as in image three, which uses a snooted speedlite with coloured gel (note that the gel colour is matched to the dog's eyes) and another with grid as a rim light. In image four, the purpose of the image was for printing on white paper so a couple of speedlites were used to provide even illumination for a high-key backdrop. Bear in mind that there are certain technical aspects that differ between human and pet portraiture. With humans, it is desirable to shoot from a sufficient distance to avoid perspective distortion. Few people want their noses to look bigger, whereas animals and their owners are unlikely to complain! As can be seen in image five, getting close-up and wide-angle can also be used creatively.

The flip side to some dogs having already long snouts is that the distance between the closest (eg nose) and furthest (eg ears) points of interest can be greater than the depth of field available. An aperture of f16 would give a depth of field of just 4 inches at 85mm when 3 feet from the subject. Although in theory it would be best to focus on the 2/3rds point from the eyes to the tip of the nose in order to make best use of the available depth of field this is usually impractical, so focus on the eyes or the nearest area of contrast that will provide fast focussing. Other than for deliberate creative reasons, such as photographing a fly on the end of the dog's nose, the eyes should always be in focus.

After the photo session and image processing, consider how your clients are going to view their images. While it is tempting in our digital age to make use of on-line galleries to achieve this quickly and efficiently, a face-to-face viewing allows for more interaction with the client and a greater opportunity for sales.

Dog owners are generally very keen to socialise together, using Facebook, internet forums and social events to share the highs and lows of their canine world, so consider the potential from tapping into this source of new clientèle to develop your pet portfolio and increase your income.

I will be presenting a masterclass on 13 and 14 January 2012 at the Societies' Convention which will delve deeper into the ins and outs of growing a pet photography business, including marketing, dog behaviour, posing, lighting and sales - so "you don't have to be a dog owner to understand."

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1st Published 01/10/2011
last update 09/12/2022 14:53:25

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