If you just acquired a new pet or your dog just delivered newborn puppies, you are probably excited about recording these moments.
Taking pictures of puppies will pose a challenge even when you are a professional pets photographer. This is because newborn puppies are yet to understand instructions unlike the trained pets.
This also means that it’s a highly rewarding skill if you understand how to photograph newborn puppies at home.
For that reason, Tech Vaile has organized a cheat sheet for the best tips for newborn puppies photography at home.
Pro Tips For Newborn Puppies Photography At Home
The following approaches will make newborn puppies photography much easier for you;
Schedule Time For The Shoot
Capturing great pet photos starts with proper planning. Understand the activity patterns of your newborn pets.
It is always better to start when the puppies are least active as it will be more challenging to shoot when they are out playing.
Sleeping puppies will offer you adorable relaxed pictures while playful pets will give you more dynamic shots.
Lower The Camera To Puppy’s Eye Level
Pictures look better when taken on the same level with the subject. For you to achieve this while doing puppy photography, chances are high that you will lie on the grass.
This will break the top-down perspective that every pet owner can see. Lying down to puppy’s level will also give you a deeper depth of field.
Use a Zoom Lens
Puppy photography will require you to be further away from them, especially if you are taking action pictures. This is because you don’t want the pets all over you when trying to take a picture.
If you are using an interchangeable lens, it will be ideal to use a zoom lens.
A zoom lens is used to create focused images over a wide range of distances. Therefore, a zoom will not only work for you when capturing action pet pictures but also portraits.
Use Natural Light
Using a flash will cause distraction during puppy photography sessions. Not scaring the puppy this is not the only advantage that comes with using natural light.
Lighting flashes during pets photography may cause green eye, which is seen on humans as red eye.
If you are taking puppies pictures in a closed room, make sure it is well lit and it is quite spacious. Otherwise you will be having another challenge to keep the pet fixed in one location where you have fixed the lighting.
Use Manual Camera Settings
Most DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras will come with a pet mode but this will only capture standard puppy pictures.
Open up the aperture for a small depth of field and use high shutter speed to freeze the action of the puppy. You can also use the burst mode for continuous shots by the press of a shutter button.
Review Every Picture
You may find yourself overwhelmed by all the action that is happening around you and forget to check what you are recording.
Take a moment to review the pictures you have taken, read the histogram and if necessary make the right adjustments.
This will help you avoid cases of blurred action shots or underexposed pictures at the end of the session.
Let The Puppy Show Their Character
In real life photography, the best pictures are shot unawares. The same principle can be applied when taking photographs on newborn puppies at home.
If your puppy likes to sleep in a certain style at a certain corner of your couch, that is the memory you are looking for!
Randomly Grab Puppy’s Attention
As the photoshoot continues, the puppy may lose focus and end up getting bored. Since you don’t want it to get to these, come prepared with some toys for the pet to play with.
Making sounds may also be used for shorter spans of attention.
If possible, tag along a human to pet the puppy while shooting continues.
This will avoid cases of the puppy running to you especially when you lie down to take the pictures.
Lower Expectations and Be Patient
Remember you are taking pictures of an untrained puppy so in many instances you will get disappointed.
Stay calm and once in a while welcome the pets for a moment of cuddling before releasing them back to play.
Continue taking photos and be creative along the session and eventually you will get the desirable puppy photographs.
Conclusion On The Pro Tips For Newborn Puppies Photography At Home
First time puppy photography session will neither be easy for you nor for the pet. It requires your patience and determination for a breakthrough.
Doing things such as rewarding your pet will guarantee you progress in this niche photography. You can also enroll the pet to basic training to lay a foundation for future dog photography.
Eventually the pet becomes photogenic and you can finally count yourself as having a trained model who is easier to work with.
When this happens, remember to print these pictures and mount them on the wall.
