From playful pups to distracted cats, trying to take a picture of your pet can be a frustrating experience. As a pet parent, you’ve probably tried and failed to capture an image that is worthy of social media, but you don’t have to be a professional to get a great shot. We asked Nate Wyeth, one of Nulo’s resident photographers, for tips and tricks on how he snaps such beautiful photos of his golden retriever, Ranger.
无论是顽皮的狗狗或是心不在焉的猫咪，给宠物拍照可没有那么容易。作为宠物父母，您肯定也尝试过捕捉宠物的可爱瞬间，分享到朋友圈。只要掌握以下技巧，您一定可以拍出好照片。
Train Your Pets Early
尽早训练宠物
Start training your puppy, kitten, or newly adopted friend as soon as possible once they are in your care. Well-behaved and well-trained animals are much easier to capture on camera, and those who know tricks are often better at holding poses. Two of the easier commands to use in pet photography are ‘sit’ and ‘stay,’ and even cats can learn these tricks with enough repetition (and motivation).
尽早开始训练你的小狗或小猫。表现良好、训练有素的小动物更容易在相机上被捕捉到，而且那些知道技巧的小动物通常更擅长摆姿势。宠物摄影中更容易使用到两个口号是“坐下”和“停下”，即使猫咪也可以通过足够的重复训练来掌握这些技巧。
If possible, make your pets comfortable in front of the camera from a young age. Get them accustomed to you pulling out a camera and give them time to check it out or give it a good sniff.
如果可能的话，让您的宠物从小就喜欢呆在镜头前，习惯你拿出相机，给它们时间观察或者好好闻一闻。
“Dogs can be frightened by objects they’re not familiar with – especially something like a camera stuck in their face that makes weird noises,” Nate says. “Taking the time to allow them to get comfortable in front of the lens and your phone pays off in the long run, especially when combined with treats.”
狗狗可能会被不熟悉的物体吓到——尤其是相机架在它们面前发出奇怪声音，此时需要花时间让它们在镜头前感到舒适，可以给它们一些零食作为奖励。
Prepare to Take Portraits Like a Pro
拍摄准备
You really don’t need much more than your furry friend and a camera, but considering some of these standard photography tips can elevate the final product that much more.
只需要准备好你的宠物和相机，再掌握一些规范的摄影技巧，最终的成片可以提升不少。
Figure out what camera you want to use, whether that’s your smartphone, a point-and-shoot camera, or a DSLR. Once you’ve decided, check your settings.
弄清楚您想使用哪种相机，智能手机、傻瓜相机还是单反相机。 一旦选定，检查好你的设置。
Always make sure you’re shooting in a high resolution and focusing on your subject(s) before snapping the picture. If you’re using a phone, you might want to try portrait mode to blur out the background. A low f-stop can achieve this effect with a DSLR. Other settings to consider include burst mode or a higher shutter speed (at least 1/500) for action shots.
在抓拍之前，一定要确保你拍摄的是高分辨率图像，并聚焦拍摄对象。如果你用手机，可以尝试竖屏模式来模糊背景。用单反相机，低f光圈就能达到这个效果。其他需要考虑的设置包括连拍模式或动作镜头中提高快门速度(至少1/500)。
For the location, consider something familiar, like your own home or your dog’s favorite park. Make sure you think about what’s in the background and try to remove mess, clutter, or distractions. If you’re at home, try for a neutral background, or something you can edit out later.
对于拍照地点，尽量考虑一些熟悉地方，如自己的家或狗狗最喜欢的公园。尽量选择背景干净的场景，没有混乱、杂乱或干扰。如果在家拍照，尽量使用中性背景，方便后期移除背景中不想要的物体。
Another thing to think about is lighting. Natural lighting is best, but you also want to avoid placing your subject with the light directly behind them. Depending on your pet, you also might want to avoid super bright lighting or using the flash as it can be startling to the animal and give them devilish red eyes.
另一件要考虑的事情是光线。自然采光是最好的，避免光线直接出现在拍摄对象的后面。根据宠物接受程度，尽量避免使用超亮的灯光或使用闪光灯，因为可能会吓到动物，还会给它们带来恶魔般的红眼睛。
Finally, grab any props you might want to include in your photos. If using costumes, be sure it’s something your pet is comfortable wearing first.
最后，准备好道具。如果使用服装，确保您的宠物穿着舒适。
Tire Pets Out Before Photoshoots
拍照前给宠物足够的运动
Taking your dog for a walk or getting your cat to chase a toy before attempting to shoot posed photos can be an enormous help.
在拍摄前带您的狗狗去散步或让猫咪追逐玩具，来消耗掉它们的体力。
“We like to make sure that when we go anywhere outside for photos, the pups have had time to run off a lot of their pent-up energy from being in the vehicle so they’re better listeners and more obedient when it comes time to grab some photos,” Nate says. “There’s an old saying that a tired dog is a good dog, and that’s especially true for photos because when dogs receive a healthy balance of physical and mental stimulation, they’re more happy and well-adjusted.”
当我们去外面拍照时，小狗们需要时间把它们在车里被压抑的能量释放出来，这样当我们拍照的时候，它们就会更听话、更服从。有句老话说，累一点狗更听话，这对于拍照来说尤其如此，因为当狗狗身心得到充分释放，它们更快乐，也更适应环境。
Obviously, you don’t want them to be falling asleep, but pets are more likely to stay still longer if they’re worn out or tired. (Then again, cats look pretty cute while napping!) Of course, action shots can make for good photos but these definitely require more specific camera settings as mentioned above.
显然，你也不希望它们睡着，如果它们筋疲力尽，可能呆得更久。（话又说回来，猫在打盹时看起来也很可爱！）当然，动作镜头可以拍出好照片，但肯定需要更多的参数设置，如上所述。
Alternatively, you can try calming treats if you have a hyperactive pup, or catnip for your kitties as long as it doesn’t have the opposite effect.
如果你的狗狗过度活跃，你可以尝试用零食让它平静下来，或者给你的小猫吃猫薄荷。
Capture Your Subject’s Attention
吸引拍摄对象的注意
It’s important to always use a calm and friendly tone of voice when going through the process of taking pet pictures. Our pets are very sensitive to human voices and can be reactive to yelling, increased energy levels, and negative emotions.
在宠物拍照的过程中，平静友好的语气非常重要。宠物对人类的声音非常敏感，会对喊叫、愤怒等负面情绪产生反应。
To steer their attention toward the camera lens, you can try whistling, making a funny noise, and calling their name. Holding a squeaky or crinkly toy above your head or the camera can help your cat or dog focus on the camera as well, and might even trigger the classic head tilt from them.
为了吸引它们的注意力，您可以尝试吹口哨、发出有趣的声音或呼唤它们的名字。将一个吱吱作响的玩具举过头顶或相机也可以帮助您的猫或狗专注镜头，甚至可能引导它们做歪头动作。
“This one may seem obvious, but treats are super effective,” Nate says. “If I’m trying to get Ranger to look right at the camera, I’ll hold a small piece of Nulo’s Jerky Strips, then reward him after I get the shot. One strip can be broken up into several smaller pieces and used throughout a quick photoshoot to get some great shots.”
毫无疑问，零食非常有用。如果想让狗狗直视镜头，尝试拿一小块零食，在拍完照后奖励它。在整个快速拍摄过程中合理使用零食，你可以获得一些很棒的照片。
It’s also a good idea to involve a friend for another set of hands, as they can hold the animal on a leash, or even become a subject in the shot. This tip is especially true if you are dealing with multiple pets. (Nate often includes his wife, Dani, in his pet photos, and they recently adopted another golden retriever named Lemon.)
请朋友一起参与拍照也是一个好想法，它们可以用皮带牵着宠物，甚至成为拍摄对象。如果您要给多只宠物拍照，请个朋友来帮忙十分必要哟。
在相机附近拿着一个零食来吸引狗狗注意力
Get the Best Shot Possible
捕获最好的镜头
The best pictures will probably come when you least expect them, but if you’re determined to capture something on the spot, here are a few extra pet photography tips for good composition of your shots:
最好的照片往往总是在不经意中拍摄出来的，但是如果您决心在现场捕获惊喜，这里有一些宠物摄影技巧，可以帮助您更好地完成构图：
- Get on their level与宠物保持同一高度
- Focus on the eyes聚焦眼睛
- Take closeups of their whiskers, noses, and paws抓拍胡须、鼻子和爪子的特写
- Highlight their personality突出个性
- Have them play with their toys让它们玩玩具
Final Thoughts
结语
The most important thing you can do as a pet parent trying to capture photos of your dog or cat is to be patient! It takes time and practice to learn how to take good pictures, and it takes time for your pet to become comfortable in front of the camera. Don’t forget to pay your models with belly rubs, back scratches, and head pats. And as always, reward good behavior with nutritious treats and love.
作为宠物父母，为您的狗狗或猫咪拍照，一定要有足够耐心哟！拍出好照片需要时间和练习，宠物也需要时间在镜头前变得舒适。别忘了给小模特们做做腹部按摩、抓抓背和挠挠头。一如既往的用营养美食和爱来奖励它们好好拍照。
