Photograph Your Pet

Cats and Dogs are smart - really smart!

Your cat or dog will happily pose for photos when its tiny - because everything is a game then.The best time to photograph a new puppy or kitten is when you first introduce them to your garden or home - that way EVERYTHING is exciting and new and its a voyage of exploration for them.

So for the best photos of your pet start early - and ALWAYS have your camera to hand for the best photos.

Make sure you have a spare memory card too - you will take LOTS of photos!

When kittens and puppies are really tiny, its fun to take pictures as they explore the world about them - and they are still small enough to get inside wellingtons and big shoes . I do not quite suggest dressing your pet up (that is a bit 1950s) but dogs particularly like a red bandana round their collar. Play with your puppy/kitten - use balls of wool on a string, fluffy toys,or just a plain old red ball (but not a tennis ball - they can quickly tear those apart and choke on them ) Its a lot easier if there are two of you - one to hold things out of reach and to feed tit-bits while the other one photographs the pets. Some of the best pictures are to be had when the baby animal is still with its mother and siblings. Get yourself a training clicker from the pet shop and this will quickly grab their attention.Have a supply of small treats (NOT chocolate -its bad for animals) to keep them interested.

Play with the pet till it is really tired and a bit dopey and that is the moment to get the cutest shots of all.

If you can get three or four puppies/kittens together then with a little patience and a lot of following around, you can get some great shots. If you want to fill the frame with the pets head then use a close-up lens and you will get sharp pictures much closer.

Lighting is simple - a main light to the right of the photographer with a reflector to the left. and if you have another light you could use that for rim lighting from slightly above and behind.If using Flash try to bounce the flash and avoid red-eye this will also soften the lighting.Outdoors,use flash to fill in shadows but stop down to - half a stop if you can to retain shadow detail.

Technically you need to switch OFF auto focus if you can as you will certainly miss some of the best shots while your camera hunts for a sharp zone. Use ISO 200 and the fastest practicable shutter speed to catch the action.

Patience really is the name of the game - and a cute and interested pet.Try introducing animals together - puppies and kittens have interesting interactions. Study old postcards for ideas on setting up fun pictures to sell - humour always sells.

If you are photographing Hamsters or Pet Rats then buy a small pack of ready made custard - rodents will do ANYTHING for custard ! They can learn tricks too.
Be careful about putting young animals on a table-top - they are not as resilient as they appear to be.And they fall off remarkably easily. If you have kittens to photograph then take my tip and seal off your chimney with card and duct tape - I forgot and it took three hours to get the little blighters down.Their mother tried to go after them too !

If you are photographing a valuable dog please make sure they stay with you all the time. The dog gets worried in a new place without its owner - as I found out with a large dog that backed me into a corner of my studio for an hour till its owner returned…’ I don’t understand - he’s never done that before’ said the owner. Hmm

Always take full face and profile shots of your dogs - it’s a good record of their growth apart from having good shots of them.

Some of the best pictures I have taken were when we visited the breeder to choose our puppies - with the breeders permission I took lots of shots and puppies at 4 weeks old are really cute .

If you are photographing someone else’s dog or cat make sure your insurance policy covers you against claims for damage - it’s always wise to protect yourself.

Keith Jones is a Professional Stock Photographer in Western Ireland.

He’s illustrated several books on Cats,Dogs and Horses and has a Stock Photo Library.

To learn more about stock and Microstock Photography Please Visit: http://www.squidoo.com/microstockinfo/

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Hiring a Pet Sitter

Going on vacation without the dog? Need to leave your cat for the weekend? You might want to hire a pet sitter. If you have never done that before, this article can help you avoid mistakes. Knowing you have a competent, reliable person taking care of your pets will make your trip less stressful.

The best way to find a pet sitter is to ask your veterinarian or friends who have pets for recommendations. There may be people who do it occasionally, like I do, just not as a business. Some pet sitters will advertise in the yellow pages or newspapers. Most will leave flyers or business cards with veterinarians.

Many pet sitters belong to professional organizations, and some of these have websites you can visit. Some of them offer a search feature, but remember that only their members will be listed. Some smaller towns may not have local professional pet sitters.

Keep your expectations realistic. Normally, a pet sitter will feed the animals, let them out or walk them, change litter boxes and do whatever else is needed to care for the animal. They will spend an average of thirty minutes for each visit. They might even pick up your mail and water your plants.

There is usually an extra charge for additional visits during the day. Some sitters may be willing to spend the night - something you may desire if you have older or sick animals.

Make sure the pet sitter will come and meet the animals before you hire her. It is important that both the animal and the sitter be comfortable with each other.

Be sure to plan well in advance, as pet sitters are usually in heavy demand. You should ask for the pet sitter’s fees and policies in writing, so you know exactly what to expect. I would suggest getting references; a trustworthy businessperson will have these readily available.

Ask what other kinds of animal experience the person has. Someone with veterinary experience, such as a technician, is a good choice for special needs pets. A dog trainer, or someone who has trained a few animals will know how to handle dogs with behavioral issues. A pet groomer will have experience handling both dogs and cats in stressful situations.

Pet sitters are not required to have any special licensing, but those who have gone to the trouble of acquiring accreditation from one of the pet sitter organizations show a high degree of professionalism in my opinion. They will have been required to take a course that usually includes business management, animal care and animal health instruction. Accredited pet sitters will therefore likely have more diverse knowledge and experience than someone who has not been through the course. Once you have found the right sitter for you, be sure to give and get all the information you both will need.

You will want to leave phone numbers for where you can be reached, as well as a friend or neighbor who might be able to answer questions or help out in emergencies. Provide the sitter with the name, address and phone number of your veterinarian, and leave a signed letter giving permission for necessary medical procedures to be preformed. Additionally, make sure you have a way to reach the sitter at all times, in case something comes up.

Be sure to tell the pet sitter of any special behavioral problems or quirks. If your dog is afraid of people in hats, say, the sitter will not make the mistake of wearing her rain hat indoors! Point out where all the supplies are; food, dishes, toys, beds, etc. Tell the pet sitter your rules on treats, how much you feed, how often and when. If you can put everything the pet sitter may need in one central location, so much the better.

If your animals are on strict schedules for feeding or medication, ask if these can be accommodated, and work out an acceptable compromise if need be.

Be sure your pet sitter is bonded and insured. Don’t forget, she will have the keys to your home. Also, make arrangements for payment and the return of your keys.

It is a good idea to have a contingency plan in place in the event that your return is delayed. Plan to call the sitter on your return or ask her to call you at a specified time.

The pet sitter should also have a backup plan in case he or she is unable to attend to your pets for some reason. If not, you had better make a backup plan of your own.

Leaving the pets behind can add unnecessary stress to your trip. Knowing that you have hired an experienced pet sitter, and that you have provided her with everything she needs to do the job right can help ease that stress.

The author is an experienced pet owner, with knowledge of pet nutrition, feeding and training. She is past owner of a natural treat company. Elyse is also a herbalist, and uses herbs and holistic remedies for her animals. [http://www.pethealthresource.com/ ]http://www.pethealthresource.com

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