I have to confess that I rarely use my mobile phone for pet photography.

Of course being a professional pet photographer serving the Toronto area, my preference will always be to use my camera. But I know that most people simply love snapping photos of their pets with the easiest thing - their phone!

So lets talk about the best ways to get great photos of your pets with your mobile phone.

1. Go Outside

Lighting is very important when it comes to pet photography. Go outside where the lighting is natural and bright. Your camera will be able to focus easier and your images are more likely to be sharp. Remember not to shoot into the sun; your phone camera may have a hard time focusing clearly. If it’s a sunny day, move your pet into the shade to get softer light without harsh shadows or squinty eyes.

This leads to the next important point:

2. Turn Off The Flash

When shooting inside you are more likely to need the flash. Do you have photos of your dog with yellow or red eyes?  Yellow or red eyes occur when your camera flash is aimed directly at your dog’s eyes.  So, turn off your flash and use natural lighting as much as possible. In addition, flash can startle or scare your pet, resulting in unnatural-looking photos. Instead, utilize natural light or adjust your phone's settings to increase brightness.

3. Get On Their Level

Get right down on the ground with your pet so you are at their level.

Look at most phone camera photos and you’ll notice that they are taken from your standing position looking down at the pet.

But to take a great pet photo, get down to their level. Your photos will be much more interesting as you show the world from your dog’s perspective. This helps to establish a connection and gives a more intimate feel to the image.

4. Get in Close

If you want to get a closer shot of your pet, walk up closer to the pet rather than zooming in with your camera lens. Your photo loses quality when you use the zoom setting resulting in an image that is more grainy, less sharp.   What happens is that the image is cropped as you zoom in, resulting in a loss in image quality.

5. Focus on the eyes

The eyes are often the most expressive part of a pet's face. Ensure the eyes are in sharp focus by tapping on your phone screen to set the focus point. This will help draw attention to their emotions and make the photo more captivating.

6. Take more than one shot of the same thing

Remember you can always delete poor images so don’t be shy about taking a lot of pictures of your pet at one time. You are more likely to get a “keeper” and have several great options to choose from. I took many images of the dog playing but ultimately chose the last one as my keeper. I liked the water splashing, his body position and the expression of sheer joy on his face.

Burst mode will help with this. Pets are constantly on the move, and using burst mode can increase your chances of capturing the perfect shot. Holding down the shutter button on your phone will take multiple shots in quick succession, allowing you to select the best one later.

7. Keep the background simple

A cluttered background can distract from your pet's main focus. Opt for a clean and uncluttered background that helps your pet stand out. This will enhance the overall visual impact of the photo.

8. Keep your camera lens clean.

If you are anything like me, your phone is in your pocket, on the floor, in your bag and is always covered in dust or fingerprints or even dog hair. A clean lens will give you much more pleasing images.

9. Use the Rule Of Thirds

Good composition is important for great photos. One of the most common rules of composition is the “rule of thirds” in which placing the subject off centre makes for a more interesting image.  Imagine a grid over your image using two horizontal lines and two vertical lines, as shown here. Then position the dog in line with one of the vertical lines or where the vertical and horizontal meet.  

On the photo to the left you can see the grid lines with the dog placed on a vertical line and the eye placed directly on the horizontal line clearly showing the rule of thirds.

If you’re looking for more in-depth information click on the links below where I’ve detailed some techniques used by professional pet photographers to capture the best pet photos.

• Keep it simple in pet photography

• Get down low

• Use leading lines

• Negative space in pet photography

Capturing great pet photos takes time, patience, and practice. Enjoy the process, have fun with your furry friend, and cherish the memories you create together!

But remember that the occasional photo session by a professional pet photographer will provide you with some amazing photos that will remain as forever memories in a keepsake album or as wall art in your home.

Furthermore you’ll be able to be in some of the pictures with your pet and those are the most important memories that showcase your bond and love for your pet!

I am a professional pet photographer based in the Toronto area and I’d love to help you plan a pet photography session. Simply get in touch to find out more