Tips on Photographing Animals

Taking pictures of animals is really hard. Even with a nice, expensive camera. So I wanted to dish out some pointers that I use and have found to be very helpful. (Added bonus: these tips come in handy when photographing people, too!)

Number One- Focus on the face. While this tip is not necessary 100% of the time, more often than not, it is very handy. When photographing people, it's okay to have a shot of your subject without much focus on the face. However, with animals, the face is very important.

For example, look at these self-portraits I did recently.

You can't see my face, but the pictures still look good. Now, compare these headless shots to this headless shot of Julio- one of the cats in the shelter.

This picture just looks goofy. So, let me repeat, focus on the face. (FYI: Tommy is the handsome kitty in the top picture, and Kate is the beautiful lady in the bottom picture).

Focusing on the face is especially important if you take not only artistic photos, but useful photos as well. I do some of the photography for my local Animal Control, so it is very important that the public be able to see what each cat looks like. While getting a good look at the body is valuable, it's not nearly as important as seeing the face.

If Domino were up for adoption, the picture of him lounging in front of a window would not be good because it's hard to tell what he looks like. So when I photograph cats specifically for the shelter, I make sure to focus on their face like I did in this photo of the gorgeous kitty named Luna!

 Little Side Note- As mentioned before, you don't always have to focus on the face. You can still get good shots of an animal without seeing their face; it's just a bit trickier to do.

Easter Cookies

Looking for an easy craft this spring? Well, instead of coloring eggs this Easter, why not color cookies? See how my sister and I made some super pretty Easter cookies, swirled with three different colors.

Best, Easiest Dessert Ever

Who loves dessert? I do! I'll show you how to make the easiest and tastiest dessert ever! And it doesn't even require any baking or hard work.

18

February 27, 2013- I turned 18!

Pasta and Potatoes

1. Cook pasta according to directions on box.
2. Boil chopped potatoes in water with salt until soft.
3. Heat spaghetti sauce.
4. Combine potatoes and sauce.
5. Toss pasta in a skillet with a small amount of olive oil.
6. Add potatoes and sauce to skillet.
7. Mix and serve.

What a Difference

You'd be surprised by the kind of difference you can make by simply editing your photos.

Shelter Cat Project

Recently, a totally awesome gal shared with me the link to her site [Peace Love Adopt] and the link to her outstanding photography of shelter cats.  Be sure to check out her site and how she is saving the world, one cat at a time!

After you've visited her site- or before, it really doesn't matter- you absolutely have to see her photos here.

Source

I mean, look at this gorgeousness.  She is really talented, and her photos are really inspiring.
She does an excellent job of capturing the cats in a very natural setting.  These cats don't even look like they are in a shelter, they look like they are in someone's home or perhaps in a professional photoshoot.  Either way, she is extremely skilled at getting the cats to look comfortable in front of the camera.  Being an amateur photographer myself, I must say that getting a cat to relax in front of a camera is ridiculously challenging.  Then, once they do relax, trying to get them to look into the camera is a big pain in the buns.
I don't even know how she manages to get the cats to look so perfect.  She is truly one amazing lady.

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I hope that my photography can be this beautiful someday.  Until then, I will keep practicing.
The unique thing about her photography is that it shows shelter cats in a different light.  Instead of trying to get a typical body pose of the cat to show for adoption, she achieves a much more interesting side of the cats.  She shows them as individual beings with fun personalities and distinctive characteristics rather than as mere animals in need of homes.
Her photography is artistic as opposed to the generic photography that is used by 99% of shelters around the world.
Her photos save lives by showing people that shelter cats are more than pitiful animals with sad lives and poor sob stories.  She shows people that shelter cats are beautiful and valuable.  And she does it all without even saying a word.
As they say, a picture says a thousand words.

Source

Nonetheless, her photos are so admirable.  I really hope that you take the time to look through her stunning set of photos in support of her life-saving efforts.

All photos - Copyright © Peace Love Adopt