Photographing and Editing Pets and Kids: Getting the Shot and Polishing It

Kids and pets are wonderful subjects and terrible at posing. They move fast, ignore instructions and are usually happiest doing something else. The trick is to work with their energy rather than against it.

Getting the shot

• Get down to their level. Shooting at eye level creates connection; shooting from above makes subjects look small.
• Use natural light. Sit near a window or shoot outdoors. Avoid flash, which can startle animals and cause red or glowing eyes.
• Use burst mode. Holding the shutter takes many shots, and one is likely to catch the right expression.
• Be patient. Let them settle, play or explore, then capture the moment.
• Use toys and treats to grab attention and get eyes looking your way.
• Focus on the eyes. Tap the eyes on your phone's screen so they're sharp.

Choosing the best shot

Look for sharp eyes, natural expressions and clean backgrounds. A slightly imperfect photo with real emotion often beats a perfect photo with a blank look.

Editing steps

1. Crop to remove distractions and improve balance. Leave space in the direction of their gaze.
2. Adjust brightness. Dark fur or hair often needs a lift in shadows so detail shows.
3. Correct colour. Indoor lighting often gives a yellow cast.
4. Add a touch of contrast for depth.
5. Sharpen gently. Fur, hair and eyelashes benefit from a little sharpening, but avoid halos.

Black and white

Candid photos of children and pets often look beautiful in black and white, because it draws attention to expression and texture.

Tricky cases

• Black pets lose detail in shadows. Lift shadows gradually, and watch for noise.
• White pets can blow out. Reduce highlights slightly.
• Motion blur from active subjects can't be fully fixed. Take more photos in brighter light next time.
• Glowing eyes in pets caused by flash can be reduced by editing, but avoiding flash is easier.

Photo projects

• A monthly growth photo of a baby in the same spot.
• A "year of the dog" collage with one photo per month.
• A slideshow from puppy to grown dog.

Privacy and children

Think before posting pictures of children online. Consider who can see them, whether the background reveals the school or home, and whether older children would be happy with the photo being shared. Where in doubt, share with family privately rather than publicly.

Common mistakes

• Photographing from above.
• Using flash on pets.
• Over-sharpening until fur looks crunchy.

Practice

Take ten photos of a pet or child at their own eye level, choose the best two, and edit them lightly.

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