After years of professional pet photography, Mike Fish and Tee Taylor of OH MY DOG! Photography know the tips, tricks and treats it takes to get beautiful pet portraits. Our ability to capture each pet’s unique characteristics doesn’t happen by accident. “We have photographed thousands of dogs and no two pets are the same. You have to use the techniques appropriate for each individual animal. We spend time getting to know each client and his or her pet. This helps us approach the shoot successfully,” says Tee Taylor. In this exclusive, ongoing series, Tee and Mike will share the techniques that add up to big beautiful prints of dogs, cats and many more unusual pets at their busy San Diego studio.



1. Take Your Time

At our studio we devote at least an hour to each portrait session. We all snap phone photos when we see that especially cute moment, but these are rarely suitable for framing. With some planning however, you can get adorable, artistic images. We suggest you set aside some time for a picture hour. Find a shady place outdoors or a spot near the window with some soft natural light. Lots of love and praise helps your pet look happy in the pictures too. When you don’t feel rushed your pet will be more likely to relax and give you the expression that captures your pet’s personality. All types of animals react better to this slower pace. Be prepared with your camera. Test the settings with a stand-in, a similar color stuffed animal is ideal. Make sure you have plenty of room on your digital card and fresh back up batteries. Start with love, praise and a few treats. I find better results come from a calm environment. If you are at home turn off the TV or other distractions. If you are going outdoors find a quiet place. It can be helpful to have an assistant to place and reward your pet. Don’t forget to take breaks. Focusing on following directions and sitting still takes a lot of mental energy. You and your model will both need a break to stretch. You will find that with pet portraits slow and steady wins the race. Enjoy the occasional, scheduled portrait session as a chance to spend quality time with your pet.

Remember:

• Set aside enough time
• Test your settings first
• Have fresh batteries
• Bring out the good treats
• Find a calm place
• Give lots of rewards
• Take breaks
• Have fun with it

For more information and photo examples, please visit Oh My Dog’s online gallery.