If your pet has a handsome face you know any pet store would be dying to feature on their main page, you’ve probably thought about putting his photos up on stock websites such as iPhoto to try and make some money.
There’s no reason not to share the love of your furry, feathered, or scaley friends, and if they can pay for their own treats at the same time so much the better. If you’re ready to take a great photo of your pet, here’s what you need to consider.
Show off your pets personality
It’s unlikely you’re going to get much interest in a classic portrait with your pet just sitting there. Instead, think about the personality of your dog and do your best to help bring it out. Is your dog crazy about fetch? An action shot of him tackling a ball is much more appropriate. Is your pet lazy? A photo of him sleeping in a ridiculous position is sure to get some laughs.
A great photo isn’t just sharp, it’s also engaging. Don’t be afraid to use props or action photos to help show your pet off.
More is better
Pets wiggle, lick their noses, flop their ears over their head, and do other funny things. The best way to guarantee a good shot (not to mention capture those cute ear flops) is to take a lot of photos, even after you think you got a good one. Some camera let you take a spray of photos in a short period of time, and this can be really useful for pet photography.
Go outside
Natural lighting will help you get a good quality photo, but it’s not the only reason why an outdoor photo might be your best chance at a good shot. Most dogs love going outside, and they tend to perk up and show the most personality when in an outdoor setting.
Use portrait mode
If you’re taking the photo on your iPhone, switching to portrait mode will blur the background and help disguise background clutter while keeping the focus on the dog. If you have a good quality camera with DSLR, you can achieve this effect by lowering the f-stop in your settings.
Find an impressive background
On the flip side, instead of blurring or minimizing the background, you can also take your pet to a very impressive background for photos. Your dog playing in scenic flower fields, in front of looming mountains, or crunching through fall leaves can really add something to your photos.
Ready to monetize?
Great photos have a better chance of selling than poor photos. Once you’ve gotten some great shots of your pet, you can sell them by making an account on Shutterstock, or other photography websites and offering them up.
It might be worth browsing through images first, and seeing what’s popular. Shutterstock often offers a shot list with most requested photos, and you can often use these to get an idea of what’s available.
If you’ve got an amazing pet and want to share him with the world, letting businesses use his photo (and getting paid for them!) can be an awesome side hustle. You never know until you try, so get out there and start shooting.
