Photos of cute pets can raise your spirits and even melt cold, indifferent hearts in a couple of seconds. It's rare to find someone who is completely indifferent to an affectionate furry creature.
If you watched even a little bit of photo shoots with dogs or cats, you could understand how difficult it is to catch a good shot. No matter how adorable and laid-back the pets' shots may seem, they are the result of hard work by the photographer and proper processing. As for editing, if you want to find the best free photo editing app for Mac, read the articles on Skylum's blog.
So is it worth taking the time to do something as complicated as pet photography? Definitely yes, if you want to improve your skills as a photographer. Even if you devote most of your time to portrait photography, you will notice positive changes in your creative life after a few pet photo shoots. For example, you will become more patient, determined, and spontaneous.
Incredible patience
Obviously, in any genre of photography, it is not easy to take a good picture. However, here the task will be much more difficult because cats and dogs sometimes behave quite exuberantly and unpredictably. For example, if you are a portrait photographer, of course, you communicate with the models, clarify all points and keep the situation under control. It's nice when the subject interacts with you and helps you get better results.
You can't do that with pets, so it's an incredible opportunity to become more patient. Even if the cat or dog listens to your commands, you still have to adjust to certain pets' impulses and moods. The more you take these shots, the easier it will be for other genres, because it will be much easier for you to wait for the most opportune moment for a good shot. Most importantly, you will remain incredibly calm and determined in all situations.
More attention to details
When you're taking pet photos, you have to be more attentive to every detail. As a result, you'll find better photo opportunities no matter where you are. You will notice beauty even in the most ordinary everyday routine. For example, if you want to make an original photo of a cat on the kitchen table, you will pay attention to its playfulness, or how unusually sunlight highlights the gorgeous color of its fur, and you will focus on the look.
Similarly, you can find some beauty in any other situation, whether it is the small bright details in a room, a colorful umbrella passing by a girl on a gray rainy day, or an unusual movement of people in a busy place. Such observations will radically change your view of the world and allow you to take brighter, more original photos.
Only the best moments in pictures
No matter what happens, you'll always know when it's best to press the shutter. The thing is, pets are very photogenic and you want to take a picture literally every couple of seconds. Of course, among hundreds of pictures, it is quite difficult to choose the best shot and make the right decision. The more you photograph your cat or dog, the less tempted you become to impulsively take pictures. Gradually you will begin to focus on emotion, composition, and depth of field. As a result, you'll take exceptionally stylish, high-quality photos that capture your best moments.
Knowing when it's best to press the shutter will save you a lot of effort and energy in any other genre of photography. In portrait shots, for example, you'll be much more aware of your models and wait for the right moment to get the best shot. This will help to put you more in touch with your clients because you will work more gracefully. The right combination of patience, focus, and even spontaneity will produce incredible results.
Quick solutions to any problems
As a rule, pets show either extreme calm or incredible activity. This makes photography quite unpredictable. In practice, you quickly get used to such surprises, so nothing can surprise you anymore. The same situation occurs in other genres.
For example, in portrait photography in nature, when the weather suddenly changes and clouds appear quickly, it starts pouring rain or strong wind. You won't even think about giving up and trying another day but will challenge the weather, quickly change your camera settings and take incredible portraits.
There are often obstacles in a photographer's path, and pet photography will teach you to be ready for anything and navigate quickly, depending on the circumstances.
Attention to Light
A pet will not wait for you to take a photo, unlike nature or people. Cats and dogs move a lot and quite sharply, so you will not only have to quickly change the camera settings but also quickly find the right lighting. Most photographers have a rather difficult relationship with light, and practice with pets will only improve your skills.
If you keep an eye on your cat or dog and adjust to different lighting options, you'll notice the right angle much more quickly. You'll adapt quickly and find creative opportunities in any light.
Re-thinking the priority genre
Pet photo shoots are a mix of discipline, time, imagination, and patience, a fantastic opportunity to learn how to tackle many problems at once. When you realize how difficult it is to catch a good angle of a furry cutie, consider how easy it is to get back to your genre.
Dealing with unruly pets, lack of communication, and constant movement are quite challenging. You'll rethink all the problems you've faced before and realize that nothing was difficult. In addition, you will improve your editing skills, because there are no clients here who will want to make edits. Everything has to be done well the first time. To find the best free Mac image editor, see the article on the official website of Skylum.
