Today’s Photo Of The Day is “The Endless Winter” by Charles Cormier. Location: Rye Beach, New Hampshire.
“Here in New England, when the air temperature drops rapidly, we have a phenomenon known as ‘sea smoke,’ explains Cormier. “The ocean appears to steam, which is enhanced by the rising sun. On this morning, as temperatures dipped, a lone surfer paddles out into the frigid Atlantic, hoping to catch the perfect wave.”
Want to get your images in the running for a Photo of the Day feature? Photo of the Day is chosen from various galleries, including Assignments, Galleries and Contests. Assignments have weekly winners that are featured on the website homepage, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get your photos in the running, all you have to do is submit them.
You’ve probably seen people using their DSLRs in place of webcams while streaming, and if you already have a DSLR, it could be an excellent option for you to do the same.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to stream with a DSLR. After reading this, you’ll be more than ready to start off your streaming career.
In general, streaming with a DSLR involves using the proper equipment such as a quality USB and HDMI cable, setting up your broadcasting software, customizing your stream, picking the right focus type for your environment, having a fully charged battery, and using a good quality microphone.Let’s get into the details.
There are numerous benefits to using a DSLR as your camera while streaming. The most obvious benefit would be the image quality, as a DSLR is made for capturing high-quality image content. This comes with another very useful option: the ability to control your image however you want. On DSLRs, you can change lenses depending on your filming environment, and customization is always a great option to have while streaming.
While streaming with a DSLR might require more space, it comes with various benefits, and once you learn how streaming with a DSLR is done, you will never go back.
Everything You Need To Know About How To Stream With A DSLR
Before delving down into what exactly you need to do when starting your stream, let’s see how you need to prepare in order to be able to stream with your DSLR as the camera of choice.
As you probably know, streaming requires special equipment, and sometimes a significant number of it. However, here we have the basics to make this setup work for you.
Use High-quality USB Cable
As using a DSLR for streaming purposes is nothing new, most of the leading manufacturers have modified their camera options to make it as smooth as possible. The main one is creating software of their own, so the transfer of the files could be made possible.
The main task on your side to make everything work is to find a good-quality USB cable that won’t break in crucial moments.
Each manufacturer has its software, and you will usually find the exact website you should go on in the instructions or the manufacturer’s official website.
But, when it comes to USB cables specifically, you should probably opt for either original ones from the manufacturers or those from well-known, high-quality brands. For casual, everyday use around the house, the cheap USB cables that cost only around a few dollars are an excellent choice; however, when it comes to your DSLR, it’s best not to mix things up too much and keep it more on the high-end.
It’s not only better for that probably expensive camera of yours, but it will also last longer, costing you less in the long run. And, the chances of it breaking in the worst moments, like during a significant stream, are minimal.
Get Good HDMI Connection
If this is not your first time connecting your DSLR to your computer, you may already have a capture card, and it would make sense if you wanted to use what you already have.
To transfer the video files from your camera to your computer while using a capture card, you must get yourself a suitable HDMI cable. Like with USB cables, going for more high-quality and even a tad more expensive options will be the better way to go with this one.
HDMI cables are usually very sturdy, so breaking or splitting isn’t something that you will need to worry about a lot, but still, it’s better to go for an option with guaranteed quality.
However, you still need a USB cable in the mix if this is how you choose to do things.
To connect your DSLR to your computer using a capture card, there are a few things that you’ll need to do. First, connect the DSLR to the capture card using the HDMI cable. Then, use a USB cable to connect the capture card to your computer. And that’s it!
You Need Trusty Software For Broadcasting
Streaming requires having a broadcasting software that will take the video and audio content you make and sends it out to your streaming platform of choice. One of the most popular and widely used ones is OBS which is free.
After connecting your camera using one of the two recommended methods, you will need to set up your broadcasting software of choice and set your DSLR as the source for the video content that’s going to be streamed.
Once you set everything up, it’s the broadcasting software that you will use to customize your video and the visuals of your stream. Through these programs, you can set up overlays and panels, your chat, and basically all the tiny details that make your stream special. This is also how you can edit and customize the video itself while you’re streaming, making your image and audio quality just right.
Setting your DSLR up for streaming is not a hard and complicated process, and after you’ve done it once, you will be able to repeat the process seamlessly. Besides the fact that the full process is very easy to go through, you won’t have to set everything from scratch all over again once you’ve set the basics up.
Just scroll down, and you will find out what are the exact steps you need to take to have a great streaming experience with your DSLR.
And just a little disclaimer before starting, this guide will be mainly focused on setting your DSLR up in OBS, as that is the most widely used software for broadcasting. It is also a favorite software for a reason, so it also comes as a recommendation to go for it if you still haven’t decided on which one you want to use. But, even if you choose a different software, the process is more or less the same.
Let’s set you up!
Connect The Hardware
The first thing you need to do is connect your DSLR to your computer. As I’ve already said, you can do this either by using a USB cable or a capture card and an HDMI cable. If you go for the first option, then all you need to do is plug the USB into the camera and into the computer, and you’ll be mostly set. If you decide to include the capture card into the mix, you will first need to connect the capture card to your computer using an HDMI cable and then connect the capture card to the computer using a USB cable.
Set Your Source In OBS
For OBS to be able to get your video content, you need to set your specific DSLR device as a source.
If you didn’t download the software yet, then this will be the first thing that you’ll need to do.
After that has been done, you will need to open the software. You will see a part of the window that’s named Sources, and there is going to be a plus “+” symbol. You should click on that and then click on Video Capture Device.
Another window will open, and you should see a section that says Device. Click on the dropping menu, and choose your DSLR model as your device source of choice.
After that, just click on the Ok button, and you will see the video content your camera is filming in your OBS.
If you don’t see it, check whether everything is connected appropriately. If it is, you might’ve forgotten to turn the DSLR on. Even though it sounds like a stupid mistake, you will be surprised how often it happens that people think that something huge is wrong with their devices while the solution was that simple. It happens, so make sure that that is all done before going into panic mode.
Customize Your Content
Now that everything is set up, you’ll be able to do the fun part of this and customize your stream and make it look the way you want it to.
To achieve the look you want, you should use stream visuals, like overlays and panels. There are various websites where you can find this, either free or paid content, depending on where you stand with your interests and budget.
Besides that, you will be able to edit things like lighting, contrast, and shadows, which is great, especially if you work in conditions that don’t have the best lighting situation. Of course, having a DSLR in the first place will highly impact and improve the video quality.
If you want to look more in-depth into the ins and outs of streaming with a DSLR, and videos are your preferred type of content, then I recommend checking this one out:
Keeping Everything Running Properly
While the main issue you had to deal with is setting everything up the DSLR and connecting it to your computer, it’s equally as important to keep everything running while you’re streaming.
The main issue that you could run into while using a DSLR is the issues with your focus. Depending on what your content is like, you can choose whether you set your camera to autofocus or manual focus. If you don’t move a lot and tend to stay more or less physically passive during your streams, then the manual setting could be what you should stick to, as it will mostly stay perfect the way you set it up. But, if you do move a lot and change your positions frequently, and if you show different things during the streams, then it’s best to opt for autofocus, as it will adapt to whatever it’s happening on the stream.
Besides that, you will mostly just need to keep an eye on your OBS and make sure that the effects you put on are still working.
Obviously, you should make sure that your DSLR’s battery is full since an empty battery in the middle of the stream can cause a lot of issues for you. Disappearing in the middle of the stream and not being able to immediately come back could irritate your audience, especially if it happens more than once, so it really is important to be sure of this.
Don’t Forget The Audio
Most DSLR cameras have the ability to register sounds, as well as the visual part. For some beginners, it could be good enough to focus just on the audio you get from the camera, however, the moment you collect enough money to invest in a good separate microphone, you should absolutely go for it.
The microphones that are in the cameras are usually not that good at picking up your voice, or any other sounds, with a lot of detail. Also, the quality of the sound can usually be very questionable.
And if there’s one thing that you should know about streaming, it’s that for the majority of the audience, your audio is more important than your visual appearance. The reason behind this is that streams are a place where you interact with your audience and talk in real-time, therefore being able to hear you clearly is a crucial factor in how popular your streams will be.
Also, streams usually go on for multiple hours, and people often aren’t able to have their full attention to watch it, but having a stream play in the background as a podcast while they do something else is a common thing to do, so keep that in mind if you want to keep your audience entertained and active during the stream.
Let’s Start Streaming
Now that your DSLR is set, you have only a few little things to worry about. To get the best stream possible, and have a very satisfied audience, make sure that your audio is as good as your video, if not even better.
This article was written with the assumption that you already have your trusty DSLR, and want to start using it in a new way. However, if that’s not the case, or you are in need of an update to your equipment, then you should make sure that you choose something that works for you, and here’s where you can find the best DSLR for streaming currently available.
Wedding photography is possibly one of the most difficult and demanding areas of the industry. Things are happening all around you and it’s your job to ensure that you capture the moment perfectly, or risk ruining someone’s big day. Your photographs are going to be the memories that the couple, their families, and their friends hold on to.
Getting the settings on your camera right is critical—especially the shutter speed. Let’s discuss the best shutter speed for weddings.
Generally for weddings you should stay above 1/100 for shutter speed due to the one chance to shoot nature of wedding photography, but many professional wedding photographers choose 1/60 for posed photos for better depth of field, and slow shutter speeds may be used when getting creative for slight motion blur. Let’s explain.
You want to ensure that the image is exactly what you intended so that you can edit it to perfection when you get to postproduction. There’s nothing worse than a soft photograph when you want something sharp. There’s just no way to recover the detail in the image. This is where choosing the right shutter speed for your images comes into play.
Essentially, shutter speed is responsible for how much light gets let into the camera, as well as how long the shutter stays open. The faster the speed, the less light that gets in and the less time it takes for the photograph to get captured. The slower the speed, the more light that can get in and the longer it takes to capture the image.
What is Shutter Speed and Why is it so Important?
Shutter speed is how fast the shutter opens and closes each time you take a photograph. The shutter of the camera is the covering that sits behind the lens but over the sensor in a digital camera or the film in a traditional camera. The shutter can be plastic, metal or even cloth depending on what kind of camera you have. When you press the button on the camera to take a picture, the shutter opens to let light onto the sensor or film and then closes again. This is also referred to as exposure time.
The reason that shutter speed is so important is because it dictates a large part of the exposure of your image.
Light is a key ingredient in photography, after all.
A longer exposure—or a slower shutter speed—means more light and therefore, a brighter image. Although there are other elements such as ISO and F stop that impact exposure, shutter speed is usually the first element that gets set.
The reason you go to shutter speed settings first is that as well as dictating how much light is let into the shot, shutter speed dictates how much motion blur is captured. If your subject is moving and the shutter speed is slow, you’re going to see a motion trail. This can be a great effect when done intentionally. However, this can also lead to images that are just a little blurry and don’t look so good.
This is why getting the right shutter speed for your wedding photography is so important. You are very unlikely to get an opportunity to capture a photograph a second time, meaning you need to get it right each time you press the shutter button.
1/100 or Faster for a Wedding?
Shutter speed is measured in seconds or fractions of a second. 1/100 means that the shutter is open for one one hundredth of a second. This is considered a fast shutter speed, and wedding photographers all over the world use it to capture in-the-moment photographs on the big day. The reason this is a good shutter speed is that it lets in a fair amount of light, but it’s still fast enough to freeze the action.
With a shutter speed of 1/100 or faster, you can capture details like confetti falling around the couple as they exit the church, the moment the bride tosses the bouquet, and the joy in the couple’s faces as they take their first dance. These are moments that the couple will want to remember in photographs. But you won’t be able to ask them to stop and pose or to do the action again if your image is blurry.
It’s also important to remember that wedding photography is also usually done on the move—aside from the official portraits, of course. You’re going to be roaming the ceremony and the reception, looking for the perfect moments to capture. This means that your camera won’t be on a tripod and you’ll need a shutter speed that can account for any movements in your hands. Again, 1/100 or faster will work perfectly for handheld photography.
Shutter Speed with Flash – What to Keep in Mind
When working with a fast shutter speed, you need to have plenty of light on your subject. If you don’t, you’ll have to use a wider aperture (F stop) and a high ISO value. This means your image could end up grainy or not have the depth of field you want. One way to get around this is to incorporate a flash into your wedding photography gear.
Every camera will have a flash built into the body, and that flash is often enough to give you that snap of light you need. However, an external flash can give you a lot more flexibility, especially if it’s one that’s controlled wirelessly. You could set it up closer to your subject or on a side of the room with less light to fill in your subject from a different angle.
Having a flash with you is a great idea as weddings are very often going to be lowlight situations, especially if the ceremony is indoors and the reception is at night. It’s important, however, to use your flash sparingly because the sudden light can disrupt the scene and the mood of the couple and the guests. You probably want to keep the flash on hand, but use it as a last resort when you can’t get a decent balance for exposure and keep your shutter speed fast enough.
Why 1/60th for Weddings?
A shutter speed of 1/60 is a great one to use for the staged photographs you take during a wedding. This is most likely when you have just the couple, the families, and the bridal party, and you’re using your tripod for extra stability. Going with this shutter speed gives you more room to play around with your F stop and your depth of field.
Experienced wedding photographers will often go for 1/60 if they are struggling to get enough light on their photographs. However, this is only if they know their equipment well and trust themselves to take steady shots. Image stabilizers are a big help in these situations. Many Canon and Nikon lenses come with stabilizing technology in them, making these brands a good choice.
Just remember, if you go any slower than 1/60, you’re going to see some motion blur if anyone moves at all while the photograph is being taken. You could even get motion blur from you pressing the shutter button. This is when an external shutter button and a tripod come in handy.
Using Slow Shutter Speeds at Weddings
There’s always room for getting creative with shutter speed at a wedding. Yes, it’s important to make sure you capture the important moments with crystal clear sharpness. No couple wants only creative shots with blurred movements and bokeh light trails. They’ll most likely want a balance of the two, especially when it comes to the bride showing off her wedding dress.
There are several great ways you can implement a slow-motion blur that will enhance some of your photographs and give the couple a special memento. One way to do it is with a slow sync on your flash. You’ll need to put your camera onto Shutter Priority (or TV mode for a Canon) and slow your shutter speed to 1/30 to start with. It’s possible to slow your shutter speed even further as you experiment. You can use either the on-camera flash or an external flash. An external flash is more powerful so you can be further away from your subject.
With this setup, the center of your image will stay sharp and everything around it will have a slight motion blur to it. You can try this as the bride comes down the aisle or as the couple does their first dance together.
If you’d like to know more about this technique, check out this video:
Other Settings to Consider
Wedding photography isn’t just about your shutter speed. There are plenty of other settings that you need to consider on your camera too:
Aperture – This is your F stop and the wider it is, the more light gets let in with each shot you take. However, the aperture also controls the depth of field in your photograph, which dictates how much of the background is in focus. The wider the aperture, the blurrier the background will be and vice versa.
White Balance – Due to the fact that you’re likely to be moving to different locations and lighting situations throughout the day, it might be a lot easier to set your camera to auto white balance. You can do color corrections in post production if the dress isn’t looking white enough or skin tones aren’t quite right. If you get the chance, however, you could go to the different locations and do a quick test of the lighting and dial in some white balance numbers that you can then switch between when you’re capturing the events.
Focal Length – You should either have a zoom lens that allows you to change your focal length, or have at least three different set lenses in your kit. The lengths you want are 35mm for the group shots or the wider shots, 85mm for portraits, and 100m for macro shots of details.
ISO – It’s important to keep this as low as possible because as soon as you go over 800, you will likely get some noise or grain in your photographs. Remember, these pictures will likely get printed out and blown up, so any grain will show up immediately in a large print.
Focus – Autofocus can be your best friend when shooting a wedding. You might not always have time to adjust your camera’s focus manually as the action is happening. If your camera has an AI focus function or a focus tracking function, this is the option you want to use.
Drive Mode – This is the setting that determines how many photographs get taken when you press the shutter button. A continuous drive mode is best for action shots – the couple walking down the aisle, people dancing at the reception, etc. You can then pick the best shot from the group.
Image Format – You always want to shoot in RAW because this gives you a file that you can do a lot more with in post production. With a RAW file, you can correct exposure, white balance and even remove most of the grain. If you shoot in JPEG, there is very little editing that you can do before you start destroying the quality of the image.
Give Your Clients the Most Out of Their Wedding Photos
Photographing a wedding is all about capturing the moment. It’s important to be both creative and logical about how you go about capturing those moments. You want to have clean shots that show the couple, the guests, and the venue in all their glory. At the same time, you want to tell the story of the wedding and the couple’s love through your artistic eye. When you get this right, you’ll have happy clients and a new set of photos to add to your portfolio.
The key is to know your equipment well, take the time to visit the venue(s) beforehand, understand the impact of different lighting conditions, and shoot with confidence.
If you’d like to know more about working as a wedding photographer and shooting under variable light conditions, check out this article on natural light.
Did you know animal/pet pictures have been one of the most popular internet searches of all time? And it seems like the public’s love for some cute pet photos isn’t going to die out soon.
You’re reading this article so that means you’re about to set up a photography studio for pets or you’re looking for tips to improve one. Fret not! We got you covered.
Generally, to set up a pet photo studio, choose a quiet, animal friendly neighborhood that is at reasonable distance from your home unless you’re opting for a home photography studio. The space should be enough for the equipment, model and movement. A modern camera with decent lenses and lighting that isnt harsh on little animals with interesting and washable backdrops are the things that you need.
The term “pet photography” refers to the practice of photographing domestic animals. Pet photography is the most popular type of photography right now. It documents the pet’s personality, habits, and some of their special moments. Pet photography is difficult because pets do not pose in the same way that humans do.
Location
The location of your pet photography studio is determined by your comfort and ease as well as the neighborhood. It’s a good idea to do some research on potential studio sites and find out what the current rent costs are. Make sure to account for transportation and scaling-up costs as well. You should calculate the amount of money you might make with a professional studio.
Distance from your home
So the first question you should ask yourself is whether or not this location is at a reasonable distance from your home? Is it comfortable for your teammates to get to the location? Because you don’t want your studio to be 50 miles away from your home.
So, once you’ve found a location that’s convenient for you and your teammates, the next question to consider is:
Is the neighborhood animal friendly?
If you decide to open a studio in a neighborhood where people aren’t fond of pets or aren’t friendly to dogs or pets in general, your studio’s entire purpose will be defeated because not only will you not get many clients, but even clients from other communities will be hesitant to bring their pets here.
So consider the neighborhood before you set up your studio.
But what if you’re setting up a home pet photography studio?
After making sure that the neighborhood is animal friendly, consider the sorts of portraits you’d like to take and how you’d like them to look. Do you like to work in natural light? Then you’ll need a home studio with plenty of natural light. Preferably a house with big windows.
Or if you’re a photographer who uses flash then, for studio photography portraits, an empty wine cellar or basement is ideal.
Space required
When deciding on a size for a photography studio, there are numerous factors to consider, including the amount of studio equipment required, as well as the types of photoshoots the studio specializes in. The studio will be cramped and unpleasant to potential clients if there isn’t enough room for different kinds of equipment as well as guests. So, what is the ideal size for a photography studio?
While a photography studio should be at least 625 square feet (58.06 square meters), this is not the ideal size. The larger the studio, the better it is, as long as it fits within your budget.
Factors that you need to consider while selecting the size of your pet photography studio:
Space for the model
Space for the studio equipment
Space for movement
Space for the model
Unlike portrait photography, pet photography is a little trickier. Shooting a playful pet or a hyperactive dog who isn’t interested in staying still or posing well for you isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be quite challenging. That is why even for a tiny pet you’ll need space.
On the internet, photos that show pets in action are far more popular than the ones where they are still. Clients often ask for such photos and for that you need space despite the pet itself not taking too much space.
Space for the studio equipment
You must also consider the photography equipment you will need in your photo studio when determining the size of your space. You’ll need to assess and measure how much area your setup will take, as well as plan how you’ll set up the equipment in regard to your shooting. If you don’t have much experience with photography studio equipment and how much room it may take, you’ll need to leave enough space in advance.
Space for movement
You also need to consider the space in the pet photo studio in which you as well as the pets or pets can move. You don’t want to be squeezed into a photo studio together with the model and a slew of photography gear which would include flashes, stands, and reflectors. A cramped pet photo studio is also highly unappealing to clients as well.
Lighting
In the studio, lighting a pet differs from lighting people. With only one light, you can often illuminate a person and get a decent shot, but that’s not true for pets. When it comes to pets, it’s best to use a key and fill light in almost equal proportions to one another, with a relatively small difference in intensity between the two lights.
Why is having a good lighting setup essentially important in pet photography?
The reason is very simple: pets do not stay in one place for long periods of time, requiring the use of high shutter speeds while photographing them. And that’s only possible if the lighting is favorable.
Lighting Setup:
For a decent lighting setup, you’ll need at least three midsize softboxes. Generally, the softbox should be around the same size as the subject.
A key light at 45 degrees on one side
A main light at again 45 degrees on the other side
A hair light coming from above and behind the pet
The pet will be lit evenly from all sides with this setup and you will be able to capture some amazing shots.
Precautions:
You’ll need to find out if the animal is sensitive to flashes before you start using strobes. While strobe lights are the brightest lights available, their brightness can be a problem if the animals are sensitive to them and dislike them, or if they are easily startled.
Manually firing the strobe while setting up is the quickest approach to check if they react badly to the strobes.
Camera
Most of the digital cameras of today’s technology will do the job just fine. A pet photography studio or any photography studio would need multiple cameras with various lenses to capture the perfect shot.
However, there are a few aspects that you need to consider while choosing a camera:
Autofocus:
It should have a continuous autofocus feature to focus quickly because the model won’t wait for the camera to adjust. Animal Eye AF is a feature included in many current cameras that helps you capture high resolution pictures even when your pet moves across the frame.
Fast frame rates:
If you’re trying to capture a hyperactive pet in action, then you need to be careful about the frame rates. To get a good range of motion, you’ll need at least 12 frames per second, but some cameras can go even faster, which is fantastic news. This is especially useful when you want to photograph them doing something they enjoy, like chasing a ball.
Adjustable screen:
When photographing your pets, one of the best tips I can give you is to get down to their level for the most natural shots. It’s a lot easier if you have an adjustable angle LCD screen because you won’t have to scramble around on the floor to compose your photos.
Look for models which offer more than just a fixed screen for the best captures.
Lenses
The selection of lens actually depends on the model. For example, if the pet you’re photographing is shy around strangers, then a long lens is preferable since it allows you to shoot from a comfortable distance. A different lens will be required for pet portraits than for action shots.
Here is a list that I have compiled that will help you in choosing the perfect lens:
Standard Lenses: 35-70mm
Generally, 35-70mm lenses that are also known as standard lenses are an ideal choice for a pet photography studio as they are
Lightweight
Compact
Inexpensive
Have fast shutter speed
Produce sharp images
Standard lenses create an image that is the most similar to what the human eye sees. To the viewer, the image appears natural.
Wide Angle Lenses: 16-35mm
Wide-angle lenses, 16-35mm, as their name suggests, provide a far wider field of view than standard lenses. These lenses allow creativity with angles and perspective changes.
On the other hand, these lenses can be more difficult to operate due to the degree of distortion. The wide perspective is captured by curved or rounded glass so it creates an unnatural look when the pet is not at the perfect angle.
Telephoto Lenses: 70-300mm
Because telephoto lenses have a long focal length, shooting the pets from a distance is easy. For pet photographers, these have become a must-have!
While taking shots with a lens 70-300mm, the photographer can sit far back and not bother the pet. Telephoto lenses are also very useful for photographing pets in action.
What are the most used lenses by pet photographers?
My personal favorites and two of the most used lenses for pet photography are:
Pet portraits and pictures of them in action are great, but the secret behind capturing the best and most entertaining photos is the use of props. Every studio photographer keeps a collection of props as these items help add a lot of interest to a photo.
Some of my personal favorite prop ideas are as below:
Chairs:
Chairs are an excellent way to add scale to your pet photos. To begin with, we all have chairs on hand. Second, chairs are available in a variety of styles, allowing you to easily adjust the look and feel of a pet portrait. Finally, and maybe most importantly, placing a pet safely on a chair can lower their wiggle pace, giving you a better chance of getting a great snap.
Their favorite toy:
Almost every pet has a favorite toy and their love for these items stays the same until even when they reach adulthood. These toys prove to be excellent props as the pets will have fun playing with it and there will be no awkward posing.
Blanket:
You can wrap the pet in a blanket like a taco or you can wait for them to go and snuggle in. Either way blankets are a great way for scaling and to capture cozy pictures.
If you think about it, everything can be used as a prop. Be inventive and experiment with everything you come across!
Backdrops
Choose backdrops that aren’t too distracting, such as neutral, solid-colored backdrops, so that your subject is the focal point of your images. Fabric is fine, but seamless paper backgrounds are preferable because they are less expensive and can be simply discarded after each session (in case of any potty-related mishaps).
However, if you perform studio shoots frequently, using paper can be both wasteful and costly. A vinyl backdrop can be the greatest option if you want something that is both robust and recyclable. It’s wrinkle-free, non-reflective, and easy to clean.
Use bright or fun colors that will help in bringing out a pet’s unique personality.
Composition
Composition is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of photography. Because if there’s no interest, no balance, and no outstanding composition, the shot could just as well be a single shade of grey. At its best, composition can cement a photo and sell it on its own.
Control the background
Pay attention to what’s going on in the background. As you shoot, keep in mind that you do have control over the positioning of the camera and, in some cases, the location of your pet. In the studio, I personally prefer black as my first background’s color choice.
Keep an eye on the color
One of the most common photo composition recommendations is to plan your colors. Colors should generally match; however this is a personal preference. The trick is to recognize that colors play a significant role in every shot you take.
The eyes should be the main focus
The eyes are the soul’s windows. It’s the same as photographing people. Above all things, your subject’s eyes are the key component of the shot.
Make sure you concentrate on the eyes to ensure that they are razor-sharp. Nothing is more unpleasant than a portrait of a pet or a human with out-of-focus eyes.
Bonus: 5 tips and tricks for a perfect pet photo
To capture motion, use the burst mode on your camera
Continuous photography (burst) mode is ideal for capturing spectacular and amusing pet pictures. You won’t be able to “create” a specific shot throughout your session because active pets are unpredictable.
Burst mode is a useful function that allows you to capture a large number of photos in a short amount of time. You’ll be able to record a variety of angles and expressions when your pet is running or playing.
For sharp portraits, use manual focus
Autofocus isn’t always the best option for photographing pets. When your pet is sleeping or walking calmly, you can utilize manual focus.
This will help you to get exceptionally sharp portraits by focusing on the right areas of the face while being able to control the depth of field, which can make any photo that much more pleasing.
Use natural light to create eye-catching pet portraits
As a photographer, natural light is the most accessible and useful tool you’ll ever have. You may use it to create a variety of attractive pet photographs because of its ever-changing nature.
Stay away from intense, direct light as much as possible. The midday sun casts unattractive shadows and makes you squint!
For creative pet photos, use the panning technique
Panning is a common method for emphasizing movement and creating textures. This unique approach to pet photography will appeal to those who appreciate abstract photography.
You must have a rough concept of where the pet will run in order for this to work. Move your camera in the direction your pet is running and push the shutter when you’re ready.
Photograph the pet from various perspectives
You can obtain excellent high angle shots by photographing pets from eye level downward. You can capture pretty good photographs without distortion if you get down to their eye level. You are looking at the world through the eyes of the animal, since you are at their height.
Here is a useful video on pet posing tips:
Final thoughts
Keep the above tips in mind and you’ll be able to master the art of pet photography in no time. When it comes to the struggle, lighting setup, and other equipment used, this sort of photography is no different from any other. The only catch is that when it comes to pet photography, you must be receptive to the behavior and gestures of the animal that you are about to photograph.
If you know you have the required talents, your photography is good enough, and you like your cuddly clients, you’re already on the right track. Wishing you the best of luck as you begin your pet photography studio!
