Tips for Taking Portrait of Animals

Frank Noelker is a fine arts photographer who has been represented by galleries such as St. Etienne in New York City and Howard Yezerski Gallery in Boston. One of the cornerstones of Frank Noelker's oeuvre is photographs of animals, and his 2004 volume Captive Beauty: Zoo Portraits was published by the University of Illinois Press.

For many amateur photographers, pets are the most handy subject when it comes to animal portraits. These can range from snaps taken on a walk in the park to a formal studio approach. With the latter, making the animal subject feel at ease is critical. Therefore, it makes sense to set up sessions when pets are most relaxed, such as after mealtime or before taking a nap.

With any animal, time should be flexible and patience a byword. Pets have every right to be uncooperative, as they don’t know exactly what is going on, so the best approach is to take cues from the animal itself. Remember, the perfect shot may take numerous tries and several days to achieve.

Also, keep in mind that natural light, whether outdoors or near a window, typically works best with animals. This has to do with flashes tending to startle animals, with the glare’s reflection on the retinas often creating green or red-eye effects.