Last updated: 19 Nov, 2019
Published on: 5 Oct, 2015
Help black pets put their best paw forward with fab photos
While evidence shows that black dog and cat 'syndrome' is more fiction than fact, there’s no denying that black pets are notoriously tricky to photograph.
And we know that a great photo is probably THE most important thing when it comes to wooing a prospective new owner and getting them to fall in love online.
So we asked superstar photographer Kate from K9Kate Pet Photography for the lowdown. Here’s some tips to help even the most amateur snapper achieve great results with those hard-to-photograph black pets!
Kate’s pro tips for taking tip-top pics:
- If shooting outdoors, make sure you find an area that is in the shade as direct sunlight will be too harsh.
- When photographing inside, always make sure the light is behind you so that your subject will be nicely lit and their eyes will have those little “catch lights” in them. A large window works well for this. Avoid direct sunlight and go for areas or rooms where there is a lot of light but it’s evenly dispersed or diffused.
- Don’t use a camera flash as this will cast shadows around the subject. You also often lose all the lovely detail and colour in their fur and it can create the animal equivalent of “red eye” in the photos.
- Look for interesting or colourful backgrounds to go behind your subject and create a more dynamic image.
- And finally, adding a pop of colour such as a bright and cheerful bandanna, bow or ribbon can help make black pets stand out (and it’s just pretty adorable).
Examples
Dog
Rabbit
Cat
If you need further assistance with happy snaps, get in touch with us and we will put you in touch with a volunteer photographer in your area.