Based on materials from blog.htc.com
Who can argue that a cute pet is the best subject for a great shot? Unless those who like to take pictures of their kids. But the little tips shared by the company's employees HTC, illustrating them with photos of their favorites, are for those who want to capture their little brothers most effectively. And let even the most severe spectators' hearts tremble!
More, more frames!
The advantage of your smartphone is that it is everywhere with you – there are many opportunities to try to catch the right moment. And the more practice, the better the photos will be. In the case of animals, the underestimated benefits of a large number of shots are obvious, because when you shoot a lot, catching the right moments becomes easier and easier. After some practice with the same subjects, you will finally get a gorgeous shot with a cat tormenting your favorite toy, or a dog jumping for a frisbee.
Play!
The most spectacular and dynamic shots are those on which animals play. Therefore, if you notice a playful mood in your pet, make sure that the phone is at hand. Just don't turn the game into a photo shoot and leave your friend alone when he gets bored – you will have plenty of opportunities to continue.
Use a treat
As in the training process, the treat can be of great service to the photographer. Use it to make the animal, for example, look into the lens. Not enough hands to wave a treat and shoot at the same time? Well, involve a friend, relative, or someone else in the process. Or even tie a sugar pit to your phone. The main thing is that when you made the shots, do not forget to encourage the animal, otherwise your cooperation will very quickly decline. And if your pet associates the shooting process with an award, you will always have a joyful and photogenic model next to you.
On the same level
If you take a position level with your animal for shooting, you will be surprised how much detail you have available. At the same time, this way you will increase the level of comfort for your pet and reduce anxiety, and photos will be able to show the viewer a piece of his world as it is.
Focus on your eyes
Don't be afraid to use manual focus to bring focus to the animal's eyes. We always look at them first, and the eyes of animals are incredibly expressive. But do not let the camera focus as it pleases – in automatic mode it will focus on the nearest object – most likely it will be a nose or a paw. This can be very cute too – but not when your target is the eyes.
Try to shoot in natural light
Use natural light whenever possible. This is especially true for animals with dark fur. If the lighting is insufficient, you will end up with a very cute blob with eyes and a mustache. Try to let the light fall on such a pet, and do not be afraid to overexpose the photo, so you will get more nuances in the transfer of dark wool.
If you are shooting an animal indoors and there is not enough natural light, you might want to use a flash … just don't do it as usual! You do not need to directly illuminate your pet with a flash – it will get scared, and you will have poor quality footage. It is better to direct the additional light source at the ceiling to illuminate the room and the animal equally.
Follow the background
If you want to make great shots, take care of the background. In the room, clean up and take the trouble to place color accents – blankets or pet toys, so the pictures will be more textured and interesting. Well, on the street, nature itself will tell you, it's hard to make a mistake.
And don't forget that the further the subject is from the background, the more blurry the background will be. This can help you create a beautiful bokeh effect that will focus on what is essential – your pet.
Shooting on the move – use fast shutter speed and continuous shooting mode
It is best to catch an animal at the moment of a jump using a high shutter speed and continuous shooting mode, in which a large number of frames are taken in a short period of time. Not all smartphones have cameras that allow you to manually set the shutter speed, but, for example, many newer phones HTC have a RAW shooting function (in Pro mode), in which you can change settings such as shutter speed and ISO. The faster the shutter is released, the sharper the shot of running or jumping will be. And in continuous shooting mode, you will take many frames from which you can then select the one you want – this is more likely to get the desired result.
Patience!
What kind of pet will do whatever they want from it, simply because the beloved owner took the phone, pointed the lens at it and keeps his finger on the button! But have patience. Frightening and upsetting your pet is not an option, so if you feel anxious, it is better to stop a small photo session and wait for a better moment.
The earlier the better
It is best to start shooting your pet early, in the 'childhood' age, so it will be easier to teach him to take pictures. Have a puppy or a kitten? Start shooting! And even if at first you are not very successful, do not be discouraged. Could there be too many pictures of puppies or kittens?
And you, dear readers, who love taking pictures of pets, can you share your secrets and thoughts on the topic? Surely many will be grateful to you, and the network will have a little less hazy photos in the style of 'my sneakers and half a cat'.