CLEVELAND, Ohio – For new parents, whether their baby is human or furry, the newest family member is likely the subject when whipping out the camera or cell phone.
But how do you capture that perfect tilt of the head or playful bounce?
Renown Cleveland pet photographer Greg Murray has suggestions for capturing your pet’s inner diva. We asked him for tips to coincide with Cleveland’s Cutest Puppy contest, brought to you be Embrace Pet Insurance. We’re currently accepting photo entries. Hurry, only the first 500 puppies will be entered in the contest. See below for the email address and info on what you need to include in your entry.
Murray calls any photo session with an animal “controlled chaos” and suggests owners be willing to spend some time playing with the animal before pulling out your camera.
“It helps the dog relax and get comfortable with that foreign object (camera or smartphone) you are pointing in its face,” said Murray.
Another trick to get an animal comfortable with your camera: lay it on the ground and place a treat on top of it. Allowing the dog to snag a treat from your camera or phone will help it understand the camera is not a threat.
More suggestions from Murray:
· Get at your pet’s level -- close to the ground. “It’s a more natural photo, seeing your dog as other dogs would see him,” Murray said.
· Photograph your pet’s personality. "Whether your dog is lazy or playful, capture him the way he spends most of his time. If he sleeps a lot, take pictures while he is sleeping. Sleeping dog photos are always great,” he said.
· Never use a flash. Murray cautions a flash can frighten your pet and can cause red-eye or a harsh effect on your pet’s fur. “If you are indoors, find a spot in your house with lots of natural sunlight, though stay out of direct sun, which can be harsh,” he said. If you are shooting outdoors, Murray suggests shooting in the early morning or evening light, “which can be more forgiving.”
· Bribery works. Hold a treat right over your lens or smartphone to attract your pet’s attention.
· Get sneaky. For those pets who really don’t want their picture taken, wait until the animal is relaxed -- or asleep -- and use a telephoto or zoom lens to get a great shot.
· Be patient. “Don’t try to force a photo,” Murray said. “The less stress for you and your pet, the better photo you will get.”
How to enter Northeast Ohio’s Cutest Puppy contest:
All we need is a picture and some details about your puppy, which must be age 1 or younger as of Aug. 31 to be eligible. Email a photo of your puppy to best@cleveland.com by Friday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. Remember, only the first 500 puppies will be entered in the contest.
The owner must be a resident of one the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga or Lake.
Important: You must have rights to the photo, and no professional photos will be accepted due to copyright.
In the email, tell us about your puppy, including name, breed, how many months old and a little about the cutie, such as personality traits, likes, dislikes or a short story. Be sure to include your name, city of residence and a photo number in case we need to reach you.
Photos which contain more than one puppy will not be considered. If you would like to enter more than one puppy, submit a separate entry for each.
If you attended Saturday’s event and had a photo taken, your puppy is already entered into the contest.
Every dog in the contest will be featured in a photo gallery on cleveland.com beginning Aug. 19.
A selection panel from cleveland.com and Embrace Pet Insurance will select 50 finalists. Then our readers will vote to decide which puppy wins the ultimate title of Northeast Ohio’s Cutest Puppy. Readers will also vote to rank the Top 10.