Complete Pet Photography Guide: How to Take Great Pet Photos (2024)

Pet photography is a popular photographic niche these days. It can be photos of your furry friend for your Instagram feed. Or perhaps they are professional dog show pictures.

Knowing how to photograph pets is also a fantastic way to improve your photography skills in general. You don’t need a pet photography studio to take perfect images. Read on for all the information you’ll need.

What Is Pet Photography About?

Photographing your pets is about capturing personality, funny and sweet moments, and habits. It requires a certain set of skills and patience to tackle.

You might be taking photos of your pets with your family. Or maybe you have a pet photography business and snap pics of pets that belong to others.

Either way, pets are unpredictable and fast (unless you have a snail or a turtle). So, our complete pet photography guide provides you with all the candid tips you need to improve. But these opportunities will test your skills as a photographer.

Some photographers step away from this natural, candid photo-taking and opt for portraits. But people are much easier to direct than animals. Luckily, pets will do most things for a snack or treat!

Here are our best tips for pet photography, from shooting photos to buying gear. Our in-text links lead to more in-depth articles as needed.

How to Best Photograph Pets

Quick Tips to Improve Your Pet Photography

Pet photography is popular and profitable. But one of the main difficulties with photographing animals is our inability to communicate with them. And they also have unpredictable natures.

So, to capture good animal photographs, it is important to be prepared with the right tools. This includes the right camera, lenses, equipment, technique, and lighting:

1. Cameras used for pet photography should have good low-light abilities for indoor studio sessions. They should also have higher ISOs for darker images shot with higher shutter speeds.
2. The most common lenses for animal photography are the 50mm, 85mm, and 70-200mm lenses. A 24-70mm is perfect for close-ups and wide captures.
3. A protective camera filter on your lens protects the glass from animal interference or curiosity.
4. We recommend knee pads for taking low-angle shots.
5. High shutter speeds, burst mode, and continuous focus work best for pet photography. They help to capture the right moment.
6. Use panning to capture scampering pets. This is moving the camera horizontally with the subject’s movement. It takes practice to get good shots.
7. Continuous lighting is better than flashes or strobes for animal photography. It is less distressing, softer, lets the animals’ eyes adjust, and is silent.
8. Rectangular or octagonal softboxes are good to add to continuous lights. They’re used often in pet photography.

Pet Photography Camera Settings

Exposure is the amount of light that enters your camera and hits your sensor. The correct exposure settings for pet photography depend on several factors.

Lighting conditions, the weather, and the photos you like to take during a pet session all matter. It works just like when you photograph humans.

If you prefer a shallow depth of field, always keep your aperture wide open and adjust the other settings. For more, read our article on the best aperture for pet photography.

Prepare in advance for sunny and cloudy days, too. Learn the settings to use during golden hour or uneven lighting. Knowing the differences between a photo session outdoors and in a studio is also helpful.

Pet Portrait Lighting

There are numerous lighting setups for pet portraits. Most photographers instantly run outdoors to photograph animals. But photographing your pet indoors has many benefits. Natural light is perfect for outdoor shoots, but you might need more indoors.

An off-camera flash or strobe is key to adding more light. Your light source can be a speedlight with a softbox or an LED strip, and you can use them in several ways.

Set up your small pet photography studio at home and experiment with different angles and settings. This lets you have perfectly lit photos of your pet, whether you have a cat, a dog, or another pet.

Pet Photography Perspective

There is a simple way to keep your pet images interesting and separate them from the crowd. Use perspective in pet photography.

Most people with a camera tend to photograph at their eye level. But that often doesn’t show a subject or scenario in an interesting light. This is because we all see the world from that same angle.

So get down on the ground and photograph that puppy at its eye level. Usethose knee pads! Or shoot from down below or up above. Experiment with different angles, compositions, and lenses. Your viewers rarely, if ever, see the world from these perspectives.

Get Creative With Pet Portraits

With these tips, even non-professional photographers can take wildly creative pet portraits. Invite your pet’s best friend! Interactions between dogs, cats, or other species can be cute in your photos.

You can also try costumes as long as they are comfortable for the pet. Try enhancing its personality, or you can even make it look like you or its owner.

Also, don’t be afraid to manipulate your images. Use Photoshop or other editing softwareif your idea requires it. Everyone loves creative photographs!

Working With Difficult Pets

Pets are like furry children. They won’t always do what you want. You must identify the problem if you find a pet difficult to work with. If you’re working with a client, find out how to best approach their pet.

Also, a tired dog is a good dog. They will sit still for longer and won’t feel the need to dash off at a moment’s notice. So, ask the owner to tire out their pet before the photo session.

A telephoto lens or trying a new perspective or composition can also greatly help anyone who has difficulty handling difficult pets. And having toys and treats around can also prevent many headaches!

Animal-Specific Pet Photography

Dog Photography Tips

To get the most from your dog photography, you must know when your dog is active throughout the day. A lot depends on their personality and habits. When they are calmer and more relaxed, this is a perfect time for portraits.

The action shots come when they have an abundance of energy. So schedule and plan around these times, depending on your desired shots.

There are many other ideas to consider. For example, you could capture the owner-pet relationship or find inspiration in natural poses. Read our article linked above for more tips.

We also have a more specific black dog (and dark pet) photography post. It covers the difficulties in getting proper light and exposure for the best details. We also have tips for puppy photoshoots.

Tips for Dog Action Shots

Taking action shots of your dog is challenging. Animals are unpredictable, fast, and sometimes clumsy. And they don’t think about their expressions or that you’re photographing them. But if you are prepared, you can capture exciting and funny memories.

Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the moment. And don’t be afraid to ask the dog’s owner to help make the dogs look more athletic in the pictures. They often know best how to get their dogs moving.

Pay attention to composition in your pictures and leave lots of negative space to create a sense of movement. You have lots of freedom with these shots. But always prioritize the dog’s safety during the pet photoshoot.

Improve Your Cat Photography

Cats are a little more difficult to photograph than dogs. They make waves in their unique way. But there are ways to improve your cat photography picture-taking skills.

If you find they are happy with their location, move around them. Capture them from different angles and perspectives to add that punch to your series.

Use a semi-automatic mode and try continuous shooting mode. Focus on details, like their eyes or paws.

Cats are very agile creatures with lots of personalities. So, your photography benefits from a multitude of angles and ideas.
Be patient and always be ready. Cats can be really funny. And you don’t want to miss their best moments!

You can also check out our tips for taking photos of kittens.

Beautiful Horse Photography

While cats and dogs are the most common pets, some have horses. So, we provide the best tips for taking pictures of horses.

Horses can be challenging to photograph as they are much bigger than the average dog. They also have different behaviors and need to be treated differently. First, getting comfortable with horses is best while always paying attention to safety.

Burst mode and continuous focus will make your job easier. But be wary of using flash. It’s best to avoid it, as you don’twant to scare the horses.

Finally, remember to take detailed shots, choose your background wisely, and capture action photos. This will make your photo session diverse, and horse owners will love that!

Pet Photography Inspiration

Adorable Pet Photography Ideas

We all need some adorable pet inspiration from time to time. It helps to see what other people have created. It might give you the perfect idea.

Pinterest is also an excellent place to look. Hundreds of thousands of cats are in all sorts of poses from all kinds of perspectives.
You shouldn’t necessarily copy them. Try to twist and form them to fit your style!

Unique Animal Photo Examples

Are you looking to capture unique pet images? Then you’re in the right place. Follow the link for 30 best examples of animals looking their best. You’re going to love them! Use them to get the most out of your pet photography.

You don’t necessarily have to look at pet photos for inspiration. Wild animals can behave and pose quite similarly to pets. So, pet photographers can use wildlife photography as a template for their photos. Also, check out the best wildlife photographers.

Pet Photography Camera Guides

Smartphone Pet Photography

Shooting pet photography with a smartphone camera can be the most convenient way to capture precious moments. It is the gadget you have with you most, if not all, of the time. Try different camera or photo editing apps to take advantage of natural light or deal with artificial light.

Like with any camera, you need to look for different perspectives. To make your pet comfortable, try taking photos from their eye level. This also helps to enhance the animal’s personality.

Use simple backgrounds to avoid unflattering photos. Always focus on the pet’s eyes. Never use your phone camera’s flash, as it can be distracting.

Always be patient during the pet photography photoshoot. Your furry friend needs that. You don’t have to get professional photographs from your smartphone. But you can still have fun while shooting!

Apple users can look into iPhone Photo Academy by iPhone Photography School for excellent smartphone tips.

Pet Photography Cheat Sheet

Our free pet photography cheat sheet provides quick, easy-to-follow hints for what you want to photograph. It lists a few important things you need to know about pet photography. And it covers different details you need for the best images.

For instance, if you photograph multiple pets, ensure they’re at the same level for the best focus. And you also benefit from having treats and a toy to minimize distractions.

Plus, we have more extensive photography cheat sheets, no matter what pet photography you want to create.

Pet Photography Camera Equipment

The Best Camera and Accessories

Pet photographers need the best camera and accessories to elevate their work. In our review, the Nikon Z5 takes the spotlight. It offers full-frame capabilities, eye-detection autofocus, and exceptional low-light performance.

We highlight other versatile, accessible cameras with top-notch image quality. Below are our top three recommended options. To find out why, read our full article, linked above.

But you also need essential accessories for pet photography. Prime lenses, telephoto primes, and zoom lenses are available. (More on this below.)

We recommend you ensure camera stability with the K&F Concept Lightweight Aluminum Tripod. You should also be prepared with extra SD cards, batteries, and portable chargers.

Non-pet-photography essentials involve everything from animal toys to cleaning products. You must be ready for unpredictable pet sessions.

Choose the Right Lens

Choosing a few different lenses gives your pet photography more flexibility. Lenses make your photo what it is. Differential focus comes from the aperture on your piece of glass. The wider the aperture, the less of the scene will be in focus.

The background becomes increasingly blurry because of the shallow depth of field. This adds interest to your image and cuts out distractions.

A wide-angle lens offers a broader perspectiveof the scene. While it can cause distortions, it also benefits pet portraits by capturing more of the scene.

A standard zoom or telephoto lens lets you shoot from a distance, which is less distracting for your pets. These lenses also cause less distortion than wide-angle lenses. You can try macro lenses to capture extremely sharp details in your photos!

Use a Telephoto Lens

A telephoto lens is an excellent way to capture pet scenes without being in the immediate area. It is easy to stay out of your pets’ zone to capture those candid shots. And it prevents your pet from being distracted by you, your camera, or your camera’s noises.

This is also a fantastic way to deal with shy or unruly dogs. It allows the pets to feel safe at a distance and act more naturally. Telephoto lenses also produce a natural perspective free of distortion and a shallow depth of field.

Reasons to Use a Prime Lens

A prime lens means that the focal length is fixed. You can’t zoom in or out with this type of lens. Instead, you must move yourself to tighten or broaden your framing.

A prime lens offers quality and a wide aperture. The wide aperture is perfect for low-light situations and focusing on a small area. Prime lenses are also smaller than zoom lenses, making it easy to move around. This is beneficial when, for example,hiking with your dog.

Pet Photography Business

Starting a Pet Photo Business

A pet photography business is an excellent idea if you like photographing animals. Photographic talent is always the number one rule to success. But you can’t survive on talent alone.

Sharing your images on your website is a start. Instagram, Facebook, and X are good first steps. Social media is the area that you need to own without going overboard.

Taking your business seriously is best because its success depends on how you build it up. Of course, you must follow the law, have a working business plan, and always improve yourself.

It’s also a good idea to always carry business cards on you. You might encounter other pet owners while you’re on a shoot, and they are potential clients if you do this for a living. Read our article linked above for more pet photo business tips!

Conclusion: The Ultimate Guide to Pet Photography

People love their pets and love showing them off. Instagram and other social media platforms are full of portraits of dogs, cats, or even less common animals, like rabbits. We all love looking at these images, as they can cheer anyone up.

Always focus on the personality of the animals. You can photograph them in natural light or a pet photography studio. And you can find different tricks and get creative. All our pet photography tips will help you down this road!

For more pet photography tips with your furry dog, check out our Perfect Pawtraits eBook!