Create more variety for your clients with these three camera bag essentials for pet photography
If you’ve recently started photographing pets, especially coming from another genre, you might be missing one or two things in your camera bag that can make a huge difference in obtaining variety for your clients.
Here are the top three non-camera items in my bag that improved my pet photography shots (and sales):
Squeakers
If you’re good at creating all sorts of weird noises to gain the dogs attention- that is awesome.. Unfortunately, I am not! Many photographers have all sorts of noise makers in their kit, but I stick to just a simple squeaker to avoid overstimulation.
Squeakers works best for the first few posed shots (eg. the “headshot”, the head tilt, the “classic family portrait” etc) like this one, where you want the dog looking at the camera, but not completely over-excited like they might be for a ball or a treat.
Because I keep moving throughout my shoots, the squeaker only has to get their attention a couple of times in a row before it’s put away for a bit. If it fails, I’ll use an animal sound app on my phone, or, I switch to treats.
2. Both medium and high value treats
Treats are great when you’re shooting close (at say 35mm) and want to capture some personality or tricks (like in this image!). Understanding different value treats and when to use them is a game changer in being able to direct the dogs!
With a range of treats, start with the least intense (in my bag that’s these tiny natural peanut butter bites) and work your way up to the highest value (from my options this is dried beef liver) only once they’re bored of the first. Keep in mind that some dogs (labradors for example!) might become overstimulated with something super tasty so you can just stick with the first level for them!
I choose to take treats with me to each shoot and instruct the client to leave theirs in the car (as a back up). I do this because the dog will be more likely to focus on me since I am the only treat keeper, plus it’s more likely that my treats are exciting to the dog as they’re new.
If you’re going to do the same, only take 100% natural, colour and preservative free treats and ALWAYS check if the dog has allergies before using them.
3. A long, thin leash
Not all dogs can safely be let off lead in public spaces (and some spaces don’t allow it), so a super long lead is your answer to obtain action shots. Most of your clients won’t have one of these, so I carry one like this in my camera bag. You want it to be relatively thin and black or army green to make Photoshop removal easy!
Important note: Do NOT use a retractable lead. These are incredibly dangerous because they jam. Most pet-parents who have worked with a trainer will be anti-retractable lead. By showing up with one is not just dangerous, but makes you look unprofessional.
What about you? What addition to your camera bag has had the biggest impact on your photoshoots?
Members continue the discussion in the Mastermind Facebook Group, otherwise shoot me an email: kirstie@thepetphotographersclub.com
Author
Kirstie McConnell |
Founder
The Pet Photographers Club
When Kirstie launched her pet photography business in Australia in 2012, the genre was barely a thing. She spent the next years at the forefront of this niche, marketing not just her own business, but the concept of pet photography. Each year she photographed around 100 dogs, cats and horses per year to create wall art and albums for pet-parents.
Now based in Italy, she continues to offer pet photography to her clients back in Australia on return trips, but otherwise spends her energy helping other pet photographers build a business which will allow them to follow their dreams.
Internationally recognized as a leader in the industry, she hosts the podcast, workshops, courses and business events for The Pet Photographers Club which she co-founded.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Looking for more tips to create variety for your clients (and sell more images!)?
Grab our free reference guide to poses that sell!
Pin to Pinterest!
