Pet Photography & Graphic Arts - A Guide on Pet Photography and Creating Great Artistic Pictures

1. Introduction:If you have just picked up a cameraIdeally you want the best lighting, optimum flexibility
for the first time, or have been taking pictures forwith positioning the camera. Lastly if you are going to
years, the information contained in this guide willremove the background from the final print, the
ensure that you do not overlook anything as youcleanest background for editing is desirable. This
frame and shoot that picture. Taking yoursection will help you take advantage of any flexibility
photographs to the next level, by using a fewand optimize your shoot given the environment4.1.
computer tools, and free clip art, we will walk youPick The Right LightingGiven that we are focusing on
through the steps to create a picture like the one oncolor photography, proper lighting is essential. In fact
the cover of this book as easy as 1-2-3.At petproper lighting actually means LOTS OF LIGHT, and
shows, and especially dog shows, enthusiasts likethe correct type of light. Without proper lighting it is
yourself pay close attention to every detail down tonearly impossible to have an award-winning
making sure that every hair is in place, the bows inphotograph, even one that has been touched up with
the top knot are perfect, down to the shin on thethe best photo editing tools. When it comes to
glistening coats. The end quality of your picture islighting you want to have an even distribution of light
dependent upon your attention to details. Wheneverover the entire surface of the pet, including the
we take a photograph for a client and create theirunderside areas. This light illuminates all areas, is not
unique art we do exactly the same. Starting with theharsh or glaring and does not cause shadowing. Light
right photograph is key and we will provide somethat is at a low-angle such as parallel to 30 degrees
often overlooked aspects of pet photography.above the ground, or when outside, sun rise or sun
Remember that you must start with the rightset is often the best. This low-angle light covers the
photograph in order to obtain good and even greatside surfaces of the pets' body with light. Light that is
results.2. Digital Photography Basics For PetsThere arehigh in the air, such as overhead lights, or when
two assumptions made here. The first is, that yououtside sun light that is high in the sky such as that
are interested in color photography and the second ismid-day harsh sun should be avoided. This harsh light
that you have read your camera owners manual andresults in the top surfaces being washed out, and the
understand the features and capabilities at least at alower areas being dark with excessive shadowing.
basic level. With that said the intent of this guide is toThe ultimate goal is low angle, soft, evenly distributed
help you get started with taking photographs andlight that illuminates the entire pet. Also remember
getting the best possible results. Before we continue,when to keep the light source or the sun behind you
there is one thing often overlooked until it is too lateand watch out for your own shadow!4.5. Picking The
that will ruin a great photograph. Shut off the dateLocationYou need to determine if the photo session
and time stamp feature. You can be sure that it willwill be indoors or outdoors, and once that is decided
always take away from the picture or be in theyou need to optimize the environment as much as
wrong place where no amount of editing can accountpossible to make the pet at ease. Before the pet is
for it.2.1. Picture QualityThe focus here is to startthere, take a good look all around and make sure
with the best of everything possible and use yourthat the area is clean, organized, and there are
camera to the fullest. This does not mean that youminimal distractions. Distractions can be toys, a left
need to spend $2000 on a camera and special lenses,over newspaper lying around, and even a tree
but it does mean taking advantage of the bestbranch. You will be in competition with all of these
capabilities your camera provides. Even a $100distractions for the pets' attention. Unless you have a
camera can create good small prints. After yousleeping dog you are photographing, you will always
understand your cameras feature menu and how tobe in competition with the environment. Now the dog
navigate it, go back and re-read the picture qualitymay be well trained and stay where you put them,
section again. Once you understand that section setbut their attention may still be elsewhere. You also
your camera to the BEST modes possible.Manywant to remove any items that could complicate the
cameras have resolution settings similar to Normal,photo editing later on.The intent for many of the
Better, Fine, and quality settings of Good, Better,photographs used in fantasy scenes is to remove the
Best. Select the Fine and Best modes or what everbackground and have the pet stand alone. It is
your camera calls the highest quality and highestimportant that nothing sticks up in front of any part
resolution modes. You can always reduce theof the pet that can cause an obstruction. Unless your
resolution and quality later if needed, but you canfinal print will be of your pet in a grassy field, do not
never improve it. Starting off with the best qualitytake your pictures of your dog laying on a lawn or
photograph gives you the best possible chance ofgrassy field. The blades of grass will hide the bottom
having a great photograph and piece of art. Thisof the paws or any part of the dog that is in close
becomes even more important when making largerto the round4.9. What Photographs Should You Take
prints or even posters. As you increase picture- Getting inside your pets headIt is recommended to
quality, your memory card will fill quicker and be ableinitially start by letting your pet act naturally in the
to store fewer images. Be sure that you have aenvironment and study how it acts and responds to
large enough memory card or multiple cards.whatever stimulus is there. This will allow you the
Remember, you do not want to run out of storageopportunity to get inside of your pets head and over
when your pet is doing something that will look greattime possibly predict how they will act. Remember
on that next Christmas card, so be sure to have thatthat many pets will see the camera equipment
extra 512M or 1G card handy2.6. Lens Filters andaround and sense the extra attention making them
ShadesIf you must take photographs in bright sun,want to get even more attention. Over time they will
such as at an outside farm and pet show, use a lensforget that you are there and start to focus on the
shade and force flash to overcome the harsh sun.elements in the environment, including even laying
One alternative to use especially if your flash is notdown on that special pillow. The idea is to have your
powerful enough, is a polarizing filter instead of thepet at ease and capture that natural moment. This
flash. The polarizing filter is one of the most usefulwill require you to be patient and continue to snap
filters for outdoor photography and is a requirementthe shutter hoping to capture that special moment.
for any serious photographer, especially for thoseEven in as little as 10 minutes you will understand the
that use a digital camera. A polarizing filter will reducepets' personality and be able to now stage that
the glare and make colors stand out more in harshspecific photo.5. Basic Adobe Photoshop and
sun conditions. These filters can significantly reduceIllustrator IntroductionFor most photography work
white-outs or wash-outs (surfaces with the primaryand picture manipulation you will be using Adobe
color all washed out) due to bright reflections. AnPhotoshop or other similar photo editing tool. If you
example of this would be your golden lab having awill be creating large prints greater than 11x17 with
whitish back, and dark murky looking legs lacking intext, you should use an illustration tool that provides
detail. Some photograph flaws can be edited out andgood text and layout capabilities such as Adobe
touched up, however, these flaws are nearlyIllustrator. With these two types of tools you can
impossible to eliminate after the fact and make thecreate fantastic and artistic pictures, and then include
editing look natural.A second important tool to have inthem in professional looking layouts. The intent of this
your camera bag is a lens shade. A lens shade issection is to provide some starting guidelines to
inexpensive and is attached on the end of your lenscreate some of the basic pictures that are displayed
to keep excess light from directly entering the lens.on Keep in mind that the guidelines and steps
It basically provides a tunnel that shields the opticsprovided here have been generalized, however, they
(lens), and due to its black color absorbs anywill point you in the right direction to create a great
bouncing light. This helps the camera to better detectpicture. The references in this section are referring to
the light levels of the subject.3. Express your PetsPhotoshop, so if you are using a different photo
Personality Through Creative ArtPeople find manyediting tool, you will need to find the equivalent
ways to express their personality, whether it isfeatures.Note that to better demonstrate the
through sports, music, art, or another outlet. In anytechniques, the photographs used are not the best
case, the creative nature that we have comes toand did not follow all of the rules in the previous
the surface once we have the tools and havesections. For example, there are poor lighting and lack
developed ability to accomplish this. One area thatof detail to emphasize the use of the tools and
has continued to grow as a result of technologicaltechniques.So to get started, take what you have
advancement is with computer enhanced graphics.learned here, get out that camera and have fun.The
Faster home computers coupled with programs suchselections of text are excerpts from the Ebook titled
as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator have taken thePet Photography and Graphic Arts by Anthony
high end graphics work once limited to corporationsPalmieri at Palmieri founded Palmieri Concepts after 20
to smaller businesses. The most basic photoyears of creating custom artwork for his own
manipulation is to correct flaws in the picture, whichpleasure and enjoyment. This business grew out of a
can be expanded to the more advanced creation oflove for motor vehicles and was started to share
fantasy scenes, such as overlaying multiple imageswith others what began as a hobby. After taking his
and the addition of special effects.4. The Photoown pride and joys (yes this really started with
Shoot - The Tricks of Understanding Your PetNowfamily pictures and not cars) and combining them
that you have a general understanding of how to usewith creativity, it became obvious that many others
your camera, lets focus on where, when, and how towould like to showcase their loves as he has done.In
get the optimum environment. There are some thingsaddition to the custom artwork, he has also written
in our control, and others that are not, and at anynumerous articles on automotive art and car shows
one time they can change. It is important that wecovering topics from custom show boards, to
discuss each element so you can decide what to doautomotive theme garages. Links to some of these
given your situation. These elements are lighting, thearticles can be found on web page. His goal was to
location, and the position of the pet. If you arecreate a business where each and every one of his
restricted to a specific time of day outside, then youworks of art are custom done just for you with the
many not have any control over the lighting, or dointention that it would be something that he would
you? If you are photographing the pet at a showdisplay on his own walls. Many of the custom pictures
such as walking around the judging stage, you arethat he has created can be seen displayed at his
probably limited to the camera position and location.house.