Introduction

You love your pets. You want the world to see that love. And you want said photos to be absolutely perfect. But if you’re struggling with pet photography, don’t worry! We’ve all been there. Here are a few common mistakes we see in the field and how you can avoid them when taking photos of your beloved animals:

1. Not being in the right mindset

When taking photographs of your pet, you need to be patient and not rush. Your pet won’t cooperate with you if they sense that you’re in a rush or stressed out.

Don’t get frustrated if your pet doesn’t want to cooperate with you. If this happens, ask for help from someone else who knows how to handle the animal better than you do—maybe even a professional!

2. Waiting for them to sit or stay

• Waiting for them to sit or stay

This one is a little trickier, because not all pets take time out of their day to sit still and pose, but it’s worth trying anyway. The first step is to ask your pet to sit or stay (but don’t expect them to do either). The next steps include: 1) waiting patiently until the moment when they look natural and content; 2) taking their photo; 3) quickly moving on before they start playing with something else.If this method doesn’t work for you, don’t give up! You can always use editing software later on if you’re too impatient and want a quick fix. Just be careful not to overdo it—you’ll end up with something that doesn’t look like your dog anymore!

3. Ignoring the lighting and time of day

When it comes to lighting and time of day, you need to take into account the natural light conditions. Are there bright sun rays streaming through a window? Is it cloudy outside? You might be tempted to just take your photos indoors without realizing that this could result in some unflattering shadows or even worse – an over-exposed image where everything looks washed out and dull.

So how do we avoid these pitfalls? By checking what’s going on outside before shooting our pet photos! If it’s sunny, open one of those windows; if it’s cloudy, don’t bother opening any doors or windows because you won’t get enough brightness for good photographs. Consider using artificial light sources for additional illumination as well (especially if your pets have dark fur).

4. Rushing through it

If you’re doing a lot of activities with your pet, then chances are they will be tired and ready for a nap. But even if they aren’t tired and looking at you with their big eyes, it’s important to take your time getting the perfect shot. Pets have short attention spans so it’s recommended that you try to get a variety of photos before rushing through it all. Try different angles and perspectives for each photo as well! If your pet seems distracted or bored, try again later when they are more alert!

5. Overdoing it with the props

Props are fun. You can use them to add complexity and interest to a photo, or they can be the only thing that gives it meaning. But they’re easy to overdo, especially if you don’t take your pet’s personality into account.

If all photos of your dog involve him wearing sunglasses and a hat, or if all of your cat’s pictures look like they were taken at the circus with her balancing on top of a ball from the Ringling Brothers Circus—it might be time for some new ideas! While props can be helpful in creating dynamic shots, it’s important not too get carried away with them. There is such thing as “too much” when it comes to props; after all, this is supposed to be about your pet!

Props can also distract from your pets’ personalities and cuteness by making them seem more “human.” Some animals are naturally shy or scared of certain things (like loud noises or unfamiliar people), but giving those things human characteristics by dressing them up in silly costumes will only frustrate them more. This makes taking photos even harder and may mean that you aren’t getting good quality images anyway because there isn’t enough focus on whatever part should matter most: your furry friend!

6. Using a flash

• Using a flash

A flash can be used to highlight your pet’s face from above, but it can also cause red-eye and unwanted shadows. In a dark room or at night, using a flash can give your photo some extra light but at the cost of unnatural shadows on your pet’s body and face.

7. Bribing your pet

• Bribing your pet

It’s not a good idea to bribe your pet with food when trying to take photos of them, because they might associate the camera with food, and then become aggressive or fearful whenever they see it in their future.

By doing so, you’re reinforcing this negative behavior and creating a vicious cycle that will be hard to break.

8. Staying indoors

It is important to remember that the indoors is not the only option for pet photography. As mentioned above, outdoor photos can be more interesting and get better results because of the lighting options available. Indoor photos can be great but you need to consider what type of light will work best for your photo. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of natural light for these images and also make sure that any artificial lighting does not overpower the natural light from outside or inside your home.

Never give up on your journey to perfect pet photos! These tips will help you capture beautiful photos that you’ll treasure forever!

It’s important to keep in mind that some of these tips might not be possible for you and your pet. The best time of day might not work for them, you might not be able to bribe them, or they may simply be too impatient for a photo shoot. Don’t give up! Keep trying different things until you find something that works for both of you!

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our list of pet photo sins! If you’re struggling with any of these issues, don’t worry—we know just how much it sucks to have a bad photo shoot. But don’t give up on your journey to perfect pet photos! Try some of the tips we’ve outlined here and you’ll be on your way to taking amazing shots in no time.