Smartphones of pet lovers all over the country are filled with hundreds of random, everyday photographs of their cats, dogs and other four-legged friends. Simply looking at random pictures of their pets makes people feel more energized and rejuvenated, especially in times of stress.
However, many pet lovers are no longer satisfied with just keeping casual photographs of their pets on their smartphones. Over the past few years, there has a steadily rising demand in India for professional quality photographs of pets, to include in the family album. This has opened up an excellent opportunity for young, budding photographers : Pet Photography!
Do keep in mind that this is a specialisation that may not work for everybody. Pets can sense when humans are not comfortable around them, and most importantly, so will the pet owners. So, if you are not pet-friendly, or an animal lover, pet photography may not be suitable for you. There are many more photography avenues to follow.
But, assuming you like animals and are comfortable enough around them, keep reading, to know more about the basics of Pet Photography, and how you can get started…
Build a good portfolio
Like with any other photography specialization, the starting point is to build up a strong portfolio, which you can show around to get new business. Start by photographing your own pet, or some friendly animals in your neighbourhood. Print high quality photographs for yourself and use them to market your skills.
Top Tip : Whatever you do, don’t show your portfolio to potential customers on digital devices. Create an album or a photobook which you can give your customers the real feel of an actual photograph, when they see your portfolio.
Give away free samples to build your potential customer base
If you know any pet owners in your area, do a photoshoot for their pets. Then, give the owners – your potential paying customers – a few good quality photo prints of their pets. With your contact details, of course! This may seem a little expensive initially but consider this as an initial investment – a small teaser – to capture the mind of those pet owners, who will keep thinking about you, when they do want professional photos done of their pets.
Understand some animal behaviour
For a great picture, the subject as well as the photographer need to be comfortable and at ease. If people are uncomfortable during a photoshoot, they will tell you. However, animals won’t be able to tell you if they are scared, uncomfortable or just plain excited! Your photo equipment, which is totally normal for humans, can be intimidating to animals. Learn how you can make animals as comfortable as possible, so they look their best in your photographs. It may help to have an assistant – an animal lover – to help you out. If you have a studio, make sure your studio is pet-friendly.
Select the right location for the photoshoot
If you have a photo studio, this won’t be too much of a problem. But, even if you don’t, don’t worry. With a few basic lights, you can take great photos even in your client’s homes. Try shooting next to an open window, which allows ample natural light to come in. Or even better, get some great photographs outdoors. Parks, beaches, building compounds… great photo opportunities can be available everywhere.
Choose the right type of pictures
Frame the subject well! Give the pets the same importance you would give a small child. Go down to their level, focus on the eyes, capture their natural expressions, focus on specific areas such as paws, eyes, fur, etc. Try different angles, lights, photographs with the owners and pets in different poses, to capture the unique bond between the pet parent and the pet. This will go a long way in making the final photographs truly memorable. A quick search on the internet can give you lots of ideas for great picture ideas with pets.
With PhotoSelect, say goodbye to sorting and selection worries
Don’t just take a few photographs, take as many as you can. In fact, go overboard when taking photographs, because you or the client can always discard the ones that you don’t like later. However, keep in mind that shortlisting from thousands of images has its own challenges. With a professional selection software like TechNova PhotoSelect, you can connect with your clients, share photos, allow them to choose their preferred photographs from the whole lot, and do a lot more, with absolute ease.
Deliver in style
So, you have clicked the best photos and your clients have chosen their favourite ones. What next? Of course, you will print 4×6 shots and give them to your customers. But don’t limit yourself to just that… Think big! Postcards, bookmarks, keychains with photographs printed on non-tear media, book labels, photo stickers, or even framed prints! For a truly awesome experience, hand over a high-quality photo book, printed on NovaLife non-tear media, which will preserve those amazing moments between the pet lovers and their pets forever. Learn to pitch this to your pet loving customers with conviction…!
We hope these tips have given you some idea on how you can expand another line of specialisation in your photography business. So, go ahead, create awareness for this new venture. Spread the word within your network, connect with local vets and animal shelters to give yourself some publicity. As the word-of-mouth publicity spreads, your bookings can only go up.
Wish you all the best!
