Photo Tips

Prepare for your photo shoot

• Clean your lenses with a soft cloth to remove smudges that will give your photos a soft focus you weren't intending.
• Grab some treats.It's not cheating to use cheese or hot dogs or whatever your pet's favorite treat is to get them to look at the camera.  
• Photos with natural light are best because you avoid the issues with demonic flash eyes. Open the blinds, turn on more lights or head outside.
• Avoid midday sun which can be harsh and blow out all the beautiful contours of your pet's coat.  A bright shady spot can be relaxing and beautiful.  If possible, put the sun behind you so that it can create those happy little glints in your pets' eyes.
  
  

Take the shot

• Vary the orientation of your photo - take some in landscape (sideways) and portrait (up and down). 
• Get down to their level. Taking a photo from eye level of your pet is much more interesting and often will capture more of the awesomeness that is your pet than standing over them and taking the photo downwards.
• If using treats or toys or squeakers to get their attention - wave the treat or toy slowly around to catch their attention and get their eyes following it.  Settle it right above the viewfinder a second before you take the shot.  The pet's eyes will appear to be looking right into the lens.  Make sure to give them the cheese or a treat right after so that you can use the trick over and over.  PS Cats like treats too - they're just more picky about what...
• Move in or zoom in as close as you can without scaring or distracting your pet to really showcase how adorable he/she is.  You don't need to capture their entire body in the photo for people to know that it's a dog or a cat.  Note that most smart phones have pretty good telephoto.  Try going in to 3 or even 5x zoom.
• Focus on their eyes.  Most camera phones allow you to tap on the screen where you want the focus to be.  Tap on your pet's face.
• Try shooting from different angles. You can eliminate background distractions by moving even a foot to one side or the other. 
• Pay attention to what is behind your pet. We've all seen those photos where Uncle Harold appears to have a plant growing out of his head. Look at the preview as you move around your pet until what is behind them is mostly a solid or blurred, non-distracting, background.
• Pay attention to what is on the floor near your pet. If you're looking through the viewfinder and see a dirty sock by Fluffy's paw, kick the sock out of the way before taking your shot.
• Have fun! If you or your pet are getting frustrated with the session, the photos will show it.  Take it easy. Take breaks. Talk to your pet in a happy high voice.  Distribute treats liberally.  
  
  

Things to avoid:

• Choke, shock or pinch collars and muzzles
• Blurry subjects
• Busy photos, where there is so much going on in the background that it distracts from your pet.
• Situations where your pet is only a minor addition to the photo. This is a pet photo contest so, while the Grand Canyon is impressive, it likely will distract from adorable little Muffin, who accompanied you on your vacation.
• Overly processed photos.  While apps and filters are fun, they are not for this contest where we want to see your pet's true natural personality.
• Photos where your pet doesn't appear to be having fun.
• More tips and tricks here:
• https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/how-to-photograph-pets/ 
• https://digital-photography-school.com/top-10-pet-photography-tips-techniques/ 
• https://shotkit.com/dog-photography-tips/