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Question: Photographing dogs in a backyard!?
I took a job photographing some dogs in a backyard around dusk and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on working with animals!? Equipment, poses, etc!? I'm new at this and just need some pointers!. also, I'm doing this job, as well as a few other jobs, for free to gain some experience before I start charging anyone!. So I really don't need to hear any answers like "Learn photography before you claim to be a photographer, yada yada yada" This isn't my first time picking up a camera, and I guess I'm just nervous and l want the pictures to turn out really well!. So any tips or suggestions welcome!. Thanks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Eqpt: ability to shoot fast shutter speed to stop the action!. at least 1/125!. Unless you want to play on the speed with blurr!.!.!. Animals are surely the most uncooperative and at the same time more cooperative subjects!. However they are easier than human because they are always themselves!. They just can't hide or fake it like humans!. So get into their mind, get on their level (get low) have helpers with squeaky toys to get the attention!. Watch the back ground!. Often back yards have crap that can be distracting!. If you are able in photoshop this can be fixed!. But if its possible shoot against a contrasting color to thier coat color!. Have fun, Take your time!. Www@QuestionHome@Com
Main tip is to get down to the dogs eye line, pictures taken from above the subject tend to look dominant!.
The problem if you are using a compact is the shutter lag try to pre focus the camera by half pressing the shutter, pet photography is a lot about 'the moment' its very difficult with compacts!.
ChrisWww@QuestionHome@Com
Flashgun !?
Fast Shutter Speed!.
High ISO!.
Wide Aperture!.
because you dont want the dogs to be out of focus,
Or maybe you could get the owner to make the dog do a few tricks!?
- jumping up in the air to catch a tennis ball/bone/dog toy !?
and dont be nervous because if our nervous then that tention will be felt allround ! (:
Gd LuckWww@QuestionHome@Com
This is going to be tough because all dogs are different which im sure you kno! If you have the owners with them it will probably be easier because they will be more comfortable!. As for poses!.!. I like to use wide lenses and get really close to their faces as if they are REALLY close to the lens!.!.!. those are always cute!.
as long as u are an animal person you should be fine!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Dusk is the best time to photograph dogs in backyard, or kids in a park, or just about anything in the open!. It is also the hardest, because light conditions change every 5-10 minutes, and if you want to get really good shots, you want to use manual exposure and no flash, so it's going to be tough!. You can get away with automatic exposure if the dog in question is golden color or something close!. If they are all black or all white, the camera meter can get it wrong!.
In that case set it to manual, and spot metering, zoom in all the way and set exposure so that the black dog would show about -1!.5 to -2 stops, while white +1!.5 to +2 stops!. Check other things around to make sure non will be over/under exposed badly!. Grass should be about -0!.5, sky if in frame +2!.5, something neutral gray, like concrete at 0!. Remember, during dusk time light changes quickly!. Re-check and adjust every 5 minutes or so!.
Then start shooting!. First take test shots from all directions!. Then Have the dog sit or stand up and take some "portrait" shots at about 50mm focal length!. Try to do some activity, running, jumping, playing catch (a dog reaching up for a ball flying up to them is classic)!. And so on!.
Keep checking exposure!.
Good luck,
LEM!.Www@QuestionHome@Com