Portraits by Raymond Stauble

If you do not have satisfactory pictures of your pet and wish to take new ones, the following hints may be of help to you.

Use ISO 200 speed film or faster to stop motion. Shoot plenty of pictures, at least a full roll. If you get one or two really good shots from the lot, you will have done very well.

Get in close. Fill the frame with your pet, not scenery. If your lens is adjustable (zoom) use a long focal length (telephoto.) This will give you a big image without crowding the animal, thus eliminating distortion. Take some close-ups of the head to show detail.

Get down to your pet's level, or use a chair or table to raise your pet up to camera level. Do not shoot down on your pet from above; such pictures are always disappointing.

If necessary, restrain your pet with a leash or have someone hold him. It is very difficult to get good pictures with the animal roaming around at will. Someone standing behind you, attracting your pet's attention while you snap away, can be very helpful.

Lighting: Outdoors on a bright cloudy day or with hazy sun is ideal. In bright sunlight use supplementary flash to lighten shadows. Flash is ok, but the lighting may be flat and uninteresting. However, some flash shots should be taken for color; flash color is often the most accurate. Don't be afraid to experiment; try a variety of lighting arrangements and angles.