Pet photographer Yusuke Yuzawa shares about two simple but crucial items that help with his pet photography. (Photos by Yusuke Yuzawa, Text by Akiyo Ogawa, Digital Camera Magazine)

EOS R5/ RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 177mm/ Manual exposure (f/3.5, 1/640 sec)/ ISO 125/ WB: Daylight

 

1. Cat teasers to direct a dog’s gaze

Cat teasers don’t just work on cats. Many dog owners don’t know that you can use them to direct a dog’s attention (and gaze) during a photoshoot! The long wand on cat teasers, which dog toys usually don’t have, let you attract the dog’s attention from further away.

Tip: Make it a quick shoot

Nothing can hold a dog’s attention for long—not even a cat teaser. Once you have the dog looking where you want, with Animal Detection AF enabled, fire away with continuous shooting so you don’t miss any shots!

How to use it to get the dog looking straight at the camera

A direct gaze look more confident and gives a greater sense of connection.

First, catch the dog’s attention with the cat teaser. Once you have it, move the wand so the toy/material at the end is just above the camera.

Don’t hold the teaser too high!

If the cat teaser is too high, the dog will appear to look above the camera instead.

Use it to get the dog looking outside the frame, too

EOS R5/ RF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 158mm/ Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/500 sec)/ ISO 320/ WB: Daylight

Hold the cat teaser where you want the dog to look. Get someone to help you with it if you need both hands for your photography gear.

What type of cat teaser to use?

Recommended: Cellophane ribbons/ feathers

I recommend teaser wands with cellophane ribbons or feathers at the end. These make a rattling sound when you shake them, which piques the dog’s interest.

Use the pom-pom type for dogs that are hypersensitive to noise

 

2. A white rug for indoor shoots

EOS R5/ RF24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 70mm/ Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/250 sec)/ ISO 640/ WB: Daylight

If you are having trouble getting good photos of your pet dog or cat indoors, it could be because there isn’t enough good lighting. Finding somewhere with plenty of sunlight usually improves the photo tremendously.

One trick I often use is to place the pet on a white rug (or blanket) beside a window. Windows are great places for indoor photoshoots! The side lighting from the window flatters fur textures, and the white rug acts like a giant reflector, lifting the shadows on the animal’s face and chest that will usually form due to the lighting angle.

How to set up

1. Diffuse the light: Direct light from the windows can be harsh. Use lace or gauze curtains to diffuse the sunlight for a softer effect.
2. Distance: The distance from the window affects the light intensity. Place the setup nearer the window for brighter light; move it further from the window for a darker effect.
3. Lens: If you are shooting alone, you probably have to be closer to the dog. Choose a lens that allows a shorter working distance, such as a standard zoom lens. With a telephoto lens, you might have to stand further away than desired.
4. White rug: This acts as a reflector, lifting the shadows on the dog’s face and chest.

 

For more pet photography tips and ideas, see:
3 Types of Dog Portraits to Capture with Animal Detection AF
Pet-ography: Taking Adorable Photos of Pets and Owners