When it comes to making memories with our furry family members, photos are always a special reminder of the trips we share. Here are our best tips for getting the perfect holiday photo of your pet.
What you’ll need
Just your pet, a camera or smartphone, and a lot of treats! A DSLR, tripod and lighting are great if you have them, but you can take wonderful photos on a smartphone alone.
Background
The right background makes all the difference. Avoid busy backgrounds where your pet gets lost in the crowd — centre your pet in the frame and focus on their eyes.
Lighting
Lighting can make or break a photo. The best time is golden hour — early morning or early evening when the sun is low — for a natural, bright, happy look. Avoid pointing the camera into direct sunlight (it darkens your subject), unless you want a deliberate silhouette. Bright indirect sunlight is ideal. On hazy days or for evening shots, use flash or your phone’s portrait mode, and tweak brightness afterwards if needed.
Angle
Get down to your pet’s level for a better-quality, more engaging image than shooting from above. Zoom in for detail or out for the wider scene, and experiment with different sides and angles.
Capturing movement
For action shots — running on the beach or through the woods — use sports mode or a fast shutter speed if your camera allows. On a smartphone, keep the camera ready and hold the shutter for a burst of shots in seconds.
Capturing personality
Photograph your pet with their favourite toy, in their favourite resting position, or in their favourite place to capture their essence and make the memory more special.
Keeping your pet still
The biggest challenge! The trick: set everything up first and position your pet last, so they don’t have to hold still for long. Have treats ready, call their name, and have an assistant hold a treat just out of shot to direct their gaze. Speed is everything. If your pet gets bored or unhappy, give them a rest and a treat and try again later — never force it, especially with cats.
How to take the best selfie with your pet
- Treats and toys: keep talking to your pet to hold their attention while you both look at the camera.
- Focus: set autofocus, and keep your pet in the same depth of field as you (phones don’t always recognise pet faces). Getting to their level or lifting them up helps.
- Capture the moment: once you’ve got their attention, snap quickly — use burst mode for several shots to choose from.
- Background and lighting: bright, natural, indirect light and a plain or scenic (not busy) background. Centre yourselves with the landmark behind you.
Conclusion
Taking great holiday photos of your pet can be tricky, but it’s great fun — and with these tips you’re ready to capture amazing memories to last forever.
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