This video will melt your heart. Having a dog in the household and being a photographer invariably means thousands of cute dog photos. But unfortunately, not all of those photos turn out quite the way we want them to. These simple hacks from Phil Harris will take your pet photography skills to the next level:
1. Window light
Window light is the best light for producing cute dog photos. Especially, if you don’t have artificial lights.
2. Phone light
Use your phone’s flashlight as a fill light to produce beautiful photos.
3. Tin foil
A piece of foil, crumpled to taste, can be a great tool for shooting pet portraits. Here is a beautiful example of how you can create beautiful bokeh in the background.
4. Upside down reflection
Find a puddle or pond and take a picture of your pet’s reflection.
5. Mirror white space
A reflection in a mirror can be used to produce an interesting portrait that makes use of negative space.
6. Fairy lights
You can never go wrong with a few feet of fairy lights.
7. Plexiglass
Take a rectangular shaped piece of plexiglass and hold it close to your lens to create a mirror image of the subject in the frame. Sort of a kaleidoscopic effect.
8. Prism
Or, try holding a prism near your lens.
9. Phone flare
Hold your phone’s flashlight close to the camera lens to catch the light flare.
10. Change perspective
Get down low or up high to shoot from unusual angles. You’ll probably end up capturing shots that you’ve never envisioned.
One thing that Harris didn’t share is how he managed to keep his dog so steady throughout the shoot. What are your tips?
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I love this video. Love your compliant, cute little dog and great images which don’t require a huge outlay on lights! Thanks.
If only my dog Jazz would sit so calmly! Whenever I try to take a photograph she forgets to qkeep sitting. She gets up and comes closer to me. In the end have to wait and try for candid shots! How do you get your pet to remain in the”sit” or “stay” position?