I'm So Frustrated -- Pictures

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by sassypup

Oh Jenn....we've all been thru these photo fustrations...if only you can say sit, and say cheese lol.

Here's what I do since I use Zoe a lot to model clothes...

BRIBE BRIBE BRIBE BRIBE....with favorite treats and tons of praise.

use something squeaky like a fav toy to get their attention, hold it right above or to the side of your camera depending on where you want them to look and adjust as needed. I've taught Zoe the wait command so that helps her understand to sit still. When they're in the pose you want, snap as many as you can using different lighting and while you are snapping away, prasie like crazy (good girl, good boy, wait etc). You can also put a treat to their nose, then pull away to the camera and they will look at the treat. With the toy though, if they look away, continue to squeak.

You will find some days that they will be very uncooperative, ie, too distracted, too tired, too lazy etc. If they are slightly hungry, they will be more motivated to work for treats. Also, eliminate distractions too if you can, I close the bedroom window to the room since she gets distracted by things like voices or birds chirping. I've also noticed that depending on time of day, I get better shots and cooperation. For Zoe, that is first thing in the morning when she is full of energy. If I try after a long walk or an afternoon at a dog park, all she would want to do is slump down and go to sleep.

Hope my tips help. You will find that it takes tons and tons of photos to find that 1 great photo.

Your Zoe is SO adorable and always comes out so awesome in pictures! I'm going to try again tonight. I hope to have some nice pictures to post tomorrow!!

[TinyBit]

Wow, what great ideas.
I can't get one of mine to sit let alone two.

And you get seven all in a row.

[nutkitty]

Originally Posted by red98vett

These are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS CATS ! OMG they look like Tigers - what kind are they ???

Thanks!

The spotty one is a silver spotted bengal. The other is a rescue girl from the local shelter. I'm sooo happy that I found her.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by nutkitty

Thanks!

The spotty one is a silver spotted bengal. The other is a rescue girl from the local shelter. I'm sooo happy that I found her.

Beautiful !! Just gorgeous - I've never seen cats with markings like that - WOW

[drawlins27]

I've been reading up on this alot lately, so here's what I've learned so far. I'm assuming that you're using a digital camera which means you have to overcome shutter lag and next shot delay.

Shutter lag is the amount of time between when you push the shutter release and when the picture is actually taken and can be up to several seconds. Next-shot delay occurs between shots when the camera is writing the image to the flash card and is usually longer than shutter lag.

You can combat these a number of ways:
* Decrease shutter lag by focusing the shot before you take it by pressing the shutter release halfway. This focuses the camera and prepares it to take a shot. When you press the shutter release the rest of the way, it takes the picture.

* Disable red eye reduction. It really doesn't work for animals very well anyway and greatly increases shutter lag. You can always use software to remove it after the fact.

* Many cameras have a sports or action setting. If your camera doesn't have this then you can manually adjust the aperture and shutter settings. Not only does this help your shutter speed, but it also eliminates the blur from movement.

* Consider using the burst mode. This takes a series of continuous shots in a row. This is great for pets who can't sit still.

I especially like these last two but the downside is that you can not use a flash with these settings. I don't like using a flash anyway because it distracts them and makes the next shot hard to take. Not to mention you get the spooky eyes. I always like to use natural light so I either take the picture outside or next to a window. I really like the shadows that using natural light indoors can create too.

Some cameras let you take video. This is great for catching action shots if your camera will let you move frame by frame after you take the video.

This link has great tips for taking pictures of pets.
http://digital-photography-school.co...otograph-pets/

Here are some of my pictures. The first one is inside using light from the window to create great shadows. The other two are outside using natural light, props, and different types of framing.

[nutkitty]

Originally Posted by drawlins27

I especially like these last two but the downside is that you can not use a flash with these settings.

I just thought I'd mention that my camera lets me take continuous shots while using a flash. It *does* go slower sometimes though, depending on the amount of light already present in the room.

Love your pics!! Very, very cute... love the autumn theme.

[drawlins27]

A couple of more where I was experimenting with lighting and such.

[drawlins27]

Originally Posted by nutkitty

I just thought I'd mention that my camera lets me take continuous shots while using a flash. It *does* go slower sometimes though, depending on the amount of light already present in the room.

Love your pics!! Very, very cute... love the autumn theme.

Thanks! I am just learning how to take good pictures and I'm having so much fun! I have a Kodak Easy Share something. I think its in the low to medium range as far as quality goes but I didn't know a thing about cameras when I bought it.

[Shadow]

Thats what I do too.

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

what i do jen is well i act like a real nut when i take lexi's pictures and shes
only one, sooooooo i place her where i want and say stay then right before
i clink , i make funny sounds so she look and usually i get the tilted head
shot... try it

[HighlandYorkies]

I think it depends on the dog and whether you have had them since a puppy or not.
I have had Tara since a puppy, and I just tell her to stay stay, and she stays just as she is at that moment until I take the pic....BLISS !
My other two, Casper and Tammy who I got when much older are a nightmare !
Casper just hates the camera, and puts his ears flat - and he usually has nice foxy ears, but you never get them - and he cowers and hides and goes in a huff the minute the camera comes out !
Tammy is too hyper ! She keeps closing her eyes as well !
The best way to get pics of them,
is to get them unawares....that's how I got Casper smiling teethies, which he constantly does, but not for the camera if he knows it's there !
I have the same problem with Tammy trying to get a pic of her smiling her teethy smiles too ! I haven't managed yet !
I also use toys and biscuits - hubby holds them high behind my head and calls their names !
1: Beautiful Tara
2: Cheeky Casper
3: Hyper Tammy
4: Casper smiling teethies !

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by red98vett

These are GORGEOUS GORGEOUS CATS ! OMG they look like Tigers - what kind are they ???

and tpaxton23 - this is a VERY QUICK fix of the eyes - I'm in the middle of printing and doing cards but wanted to show you in case you go try it yourself - I did all 3 except for the little black and white one on the left - you can see what I meant better by me showing it to you - if you have the tools I pm'd you about you can do this in most programs - and if not - 'gimp' (it's free) will have the same tools as photoshop

I put the pics side by side - see the difference ?

Villette, that's the best red-eye mending I've ever seen! At best, mine come out as little black holes, but you've kept a light glow that looks natural. Awesome.

There's been a lot of great advice on this thread. Follow that, and take LOTS of pictures, and you should get a few that look good. I usually follow the steps that drawlins27 suggested above. The only things I'd add:

* If you have a group that doesn't want to stay still, put them somewhere where they can't get off. Like a picnic table. Of course, don't do this if one of them is bold enough to jump from that height. I recently put three on a hammock, and it worked like a charm.

Good luck!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Villette, that's the best red-eye mending I've ever seen! At best, mine come out as little black holes, but you've kept a light glow that looks natural. Awesome.

There's been a lot of great advice on this thread. Follow that, and take LOTS of pictures, and you should get a few that look good. I usually follow the steps that drawlins27 suggested above. The only things I'd add:

* If you have a group that doesn't want to stay still, put them somewhere where they can't get off. Like a picnic table. Of course, don't do this if one of them is bold enough to jump from that height. I recently put three on a hammock, and it worked like a charm.

Good luck!

thank you Mike - coming from you that means alot Mr. ACE Action Photographer !!