You have a pet for years. He has become your bundle of joy, and he’s the reason why you always look forward to going home from work every day. He would wait for you in the doorway and wag his tail happily whenever he sees you from a distance. And now, you’ve decided to post a picture of your pet at home – and you think you can only do this by taking great headshots of your pets. To achieve your goal, keep in mind the key tips on taking great headshots of your pets:

1. Learn how to relax: Pets are like sponges - how you feel when you’re with them can greatly affect their mood as well. This is the reason why you should be relaxed all the time while taking headshots of your pets. If you notice that your pet has flattened ears and concerned eyes, they might be stressed already, and this look will never look good in pictures. Remember to take a deep breath and have fun with your pet throughout the entire photoshoot!
   
   
2. Focus on the eyes: Just like human beings, the pet’s eyes are the most expressive part of their face. If you’re able to take a headshot focusing on their eyes, you can capture what their emotions are which can ultimately translate to great headshot photos. And as an owner, for sure, you have different ways of doing that. You can give them their favourite treats while using a timed camera or can have them look straight in the camera faster than you can say “woof.”
   
   
3. Get rid of clutter: Before you schedule the next photo session with your pet, get rid of clutter first. If you plan to have the headshot photo taken in your home, make sure the area is free from clutters and distraction – you don’t want your pet to lose focus during the shoot, right?
   
   
4. Shoot in their world: This tip is simple to do, but most pet owners neglect to do it. When you’re shooting with your pet, make sure you get down to their level and shoot in their world. For example, if you have a Great Dane at home, their world might be at the height of your hips so adjust accordingly. If you a have pet cat lounging on a cat tree, use a step stool to get to their level. Pets are usually comfortable when they’re doing their usual routines so have the time (and the patience) to capture all of that.
   
   
5. Pay the model: Every pet needs to have motivation so they’ll pay attention during the entire shoot. If they don’t have any, chances are, they can easily get distracted, and the shoot will end up in chaos. You can always prevent this from happening by determining what motivates them (aka your payment to them) and make sure that you have all of these handy during the shoot. If you have a pet dog, prepare some treats or toys whenever they follow your instruction. For cats, a tuna fish or catnip might do the trick.

If you think DIY isn’t the best for you, a professional photographer like 312elements.com may be the next best option.

In Conclusion

Regardless if you have a dog or cat as a pet, these furry friends can bring a lot of difference to people’s lives. With their crazy antics, everyone in the home will surely have fun playing with them! And if you think your pet deserves to have a picture in your home, go ahead and take a great headshot of them. Doing that can be difficult, but once you know what to do, everything will come off easily. Remember the things presented in this article and in no time, your pet’s headshot will be hanging in your home!

Michael Schacht

Michael Schacht is a portrait photographer and photography educator based in Chicago Illinois. As owner/operator of 312 Elements Headshot Photography located in Chicago's West Loop neighbourhood, Michael oversees the day to day operations and has had the opportunity to photograph thousands of corporate professionals over the last decade. Through his direction, attention to detail, and people skills, he's helped these clients to craft a narrative around their personal brand. It's his belief that the headshot is the modern dad business card and that a better headshot is essential for a better career. Michael, his wife Meghan and his two daughters reside in Tinley Park Illinois where he is a community leader and active participant in the local business sector. Michael studied business at Ball State University and photography with world renown headshot photographer, Peter Hurley. It was Hurley that trained Michael in the art of human expression. Michael is now a Headshot Crew certified Mentor and active member of the Headshot Crew community where he was named one of the top 20 headshot photographers in the world.