The Perfect Breeder Listing Photo

Breedershost · Site Admin Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 16

If you have not read "The Perfect Photo - READ FIRST" please do so.
http://breedershost.top-site-list.com/breedershost-thread15.html

Taking a good photo isnt rocket science. There are ways to get that "Profesional" look without paying someone to do it. This guide is written with the understanding that you have already read the overview posted above. I will break this down into catagories. When you put them all together, you will have amazing photos.

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Camera
You must have a digital camera capable of creating depth in the photo. Object up close very clear, background in the distance blurry.

Animal
Here is your animal checklist.
1- Clean and groomed
2- Relaxed calm state of mind (Not asleep though)
Not very long is it, kinda easy.

Light
NEVER TAKE YOUR PHOTOS IN DOORS UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROFESIONAL STUDIO IN YOUR HOUSE! Lighting is the MOST IMPORTANT factor in a good photo. If you dont have the money to create "good light" in your house....use the sun. You will pay THOUSANDS to create the kind of light the sun gives you for free.

Depending on the breed and color of animal, what time of day you take the photos is very important. Generally, just before sunset in the late afternoon is very good light.

Face your animal into the sun with your back to the sun. If your animal can barely see because of the sun, adjust the angle slightly until the eyes are bright and alert.

Help
The best photos are taken when you have help, especially if you are posing the animal in a stance. It is up to you to decide who should do what in the process.

Time
Plan an entire day or weekend for this. This is important.

Attention
Associated with "Help". If you ever watched the photographer at the dog show you will see how he/she uses some type of object to get the animals attention for a brief moment to capture the animal in a state of "alert".

Ears
It does not matter if it is a dog, cat, or horse. It does not matter what type of ears the animal has, they ALL can have an ear postion of "alert". This is when the ears are moved forward in the front most position to hear what is directly in front of the head. EVERY animal looks better in a photo when the ears are in this position.

Environment
The best place to take photos is somewhere where there is allot of green. Either a green forest background, or just a huge very green grassy field or lawn. Parks, sport areas (football, soccer, baseball), maybe your own property. The object is to make the animal in the photo the focus and the background to be blurry. I vibrant green blurry backdrop is perfect for this. Try to keep the angle of the photo such that you never see the horizon in the photo background, just green. High quality show photos are very good as well.

Practice
Take ALLOT of pictures before you attempt this. Get used to the camera. The great thing about a digital camera is the ability to delete photos as you take them. You can shoot 150 photos of one dog and delete 145. If you get 5 very nice photos you just about paid for the camera. I think you know how many rolls you can go through to get the perfect photo. The camera will most likely pay for itself 5 times over the very first day you use it.
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The Breeder Listing Photo Should be your very BEST photo. The photo that best represents your overall program. It can be a puppy if thats the best photo. Only you can decide what is the very best photo for you. More information about my view on photos pertaining to Breeder Listings can be found here.
http://breedershost.top-site-list.com/breedershost-thread8.html

Dont's of Taking Photos
-Don't use photos with red eye.
-Don't use photos with bad light.
-Don't take photos of unclean, ungroomed animals.
-Don't tie your animal to a fence or post to take a picture.
-Don't have a human in the photo, unless its an exceptional photo of the animal. Generally people dont want to see you.
-Don't stress your animal to take a photo, it will always turn out bad for the animal, and the photo.
-Don't have objects from your home in your photos, unless its an exceptional photo. Generally people dont want to see how rich you are, or how much garbage you have in your backyard.
-Don't alter the color of the photos to decieve your buyers.
-Don't stretch your photos to make your animals look like they have a bigger head, etc. Its obvious and rediculous.
-Most importantly, DONT STEAL ANOTHER PERSONS PHOTOS, IT BETTER BE YOUR ANIMAL, OR ONE YOU USED TO OWN OR HAVE PERMISSION TO USE.

I hope this information helps.

Thank You,
Breedershost