Posts Instagram shot of self: 30 likes
Posts Instagram shot of cute puppy or kitten: 300 likes
Yep, there’s no doubt about it—Instagram goes crazy for animals. You only have to look at accounts like @sukiicat and @jiffpom, which each boast millions of followers, to see just how far the Insta-famous pet trend has spread. I personally have more than a few friends whose pets have more Instagram followers than they do! So, if you think your adorable fur baby has what it takes to be a superstar (we’re looking at you, @sportethefrenchie), there’s no better time than now to start building their account.
That said, taking great Instagram photos of your pet is significantly harder than taking photos of humans, given they can’t exactly take direction. In partnership with MARS PetCare, who have created PetPositives.com, celebrity vet Dr Chris Brown has shared his top tips for taking purr-fect Insta shots of your four-legged friend.
1. Choose your spot
“Keep it simple. Often the busier the background, the more it distracts away from the true star here: your little mate. An empty park, beach or even a plain brick wall allow your pet to shine.”
2. Light it up
“Really manage the light where you’re shooting. You’re aiming for a soft light that you often find early in the morning or late in the afternoon. That’ll add some warmth and emotion to your image straight away but it’s also really important for those eyes as well.”
3. The eyes have it
“The eyes let you into that personality of theirs so try focusing upon them. Plus having enough light so they don’t just look like black holes will help you (and a potential owner) to get inside that delicate soul.”
4. Go low
“In order to appreciate their personality, you have to be on their level and look into their eyes. So, despite how it may look, get down onto their level by sitting or lying on the ground.”
5. No flashing
“Our pets have a reflective membrane in the back of their eyes (often a blue, green or orange colour) that will bounce that flashlight right back at you. It’s like ‘red eye’ on steroids. And it’s obviously hugely distracting.”
6. Be patient
“You’re only after one look or even one lick. Go in with an open mind about what you’re after and I guarantee they’ll flash you a glance when you least expect it…so be ready.” You can also set up a timer or use rapid shooting mode so you can take hundreds of shots and select the best one.
7. Blur the background
Here’s a bonus tip from team Amodrn. If you’re really looking to take your pic to the next level, keeping the focus on them with a blurred background always looks profesh. If you have a DSLR, you can achieve this by using a wide aperture—but the new iPhones and Google Pixel smartphones also have built-in portrait-modes that creates a similar effect.
