how to successfully

photograph pet?

   
       
         
 

When you are shooting outdoors, be careful to avoid shadows produced by direct sun. You may have to open up these shadows with fill-in flash or a reflector. Open shade avoids these problems, but it also may not bring out the texture of the pet. Try to use a flash from the side if you want to see the texture. A pleasing effect can be produced by using the sun for backlighting, adding flash, or reflection to bring light to the front of the animal. But don’t forget to use a deep lens shade to avoid the sun coming into the lens.
How do you take a proper exposure reading of a black cat or a white dog? If you just meter the pet, they'll both end up as 18% gray. The best way is to use an 18% gray card or take a reading of the animal's face. If the pet is black, close down two stops. If it's white, open up two stops. Then bracket at least one stop in each direction.

 
   

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