Shelter Photography versus Pet Photography

Volunteering has really pushed me to expand my photography knowledge. I strive to get every animal I work with adopted, meaning that I need to be able to display their best qualities, regardless of the environment I'm shooting in.

This meant researching different ways to get the animal's attention, the best angles, and creative ideas. I wanted to be ready with the first fur balls I met, and not regret a photo shoot later on down the road.

While I found a wealth of information about pet photography, there was very little information relating to shelter photography. This might feel like splitting... hares... but I assure you it's not.

Shelter animals are a very different breed than the pets we all know and love. Yes, they are technically still just dogs and cats and rabbits, emotionally they are very different. They have been abandoned or even abused.

Treating them exactly the same as Col. Fluffer bottom back home is a mistake.

A lot of pet photography articles say noises are your greatest asset, but this isn't always the case in shelter photography. Making a lot of noise (or any noise sometimes) can terrify the animal you're photographing in a shelter.

These animals could have been abused or neglected, so they could associate noise with abuse or, if they were neglected, haven't heard noises from a squeaky toy.

Treats on the other hand works well for both shelter animals and home pets. But I have photographed some animals who are too scared to be interested in the treats. Unfortunately, pet photography articles don't include what to do when noises and treats won't work.

But luckily for you, that's where I come in.

I've found that distracting the animal with something they find interesting to sniff (I've had more reactions to flowers than anything else) works great and makes for really sweet images of the animal.

Adora was scared of cameras, noise, and wouldn't take treats, so I photographed her sniffing a flower. She had been in the shelter for two months, however, she was adopted less than a week after this photo was posted.

To adopters, they look curious and calm, not scared and traumatized.

Why aren't pet photography articles more expansive on this? Because they have the animal's owners with them, so having a squeaky toy and treats is really all they need. However, a shelter photographer will be extremely lucky to have another person helping them at all.

If someone is in the room, they probably know just as little about the shelter animal as you do.

Typically shelter photographers work alone. They handle the animal and have to figure out their fears while photographing them on the fly. To make matters worse, this all must be done as quickly as possible. No shoot can take too long. The animals need to get back to their kennels so potential adopters can see them. Plus, there will be other animals that need photos. 

A lot of pet photography articles talk about getting the right angle, which is photographing them at their level. Great! Shelter photography can do this too!

....Until you can't.

Again, these animals could have been abused, neglected, and they've definitely just been abandoned. I've seen really odd reactions to dogs seeing me either being on their level or standing at shelters.

There's been some who were absolutely terrified by me getting on their level. I needed to be fully standing for them to approach me and to be comfortable.

Others were petrified of me standing, so I crawled around on the ground to photograph them...even me kneeling was too much.

The important part is making sure the animal is comfortable, if they're not, you're not going to get a good photo of them and it'll hurt their chances of getting adopted.

Ideally, yes, capture them on their level, if not, adjust and move on. You can still get great photos in different angles 

Maleficent was terrified of me standing and kneeling. I had crawl on the ground to photograph her.

Marnie was the opposite. She was scared of me kneeling (being on her level). I could only stand while photographing her.

Lastly, pet photography articles are an excellent recourse for creative ideas and as a shelter photographer you should absolutely try anything and everything that could attract potential adopter's attention.

However, you need to do this within reason. You could walk into the shelter with the greatest idea since sliced bread, but the animals just don't want to do it. They're too scared, they're over excited from being outside their kennel, or they just don't want to and that's okay!

This is one of the many reasons I love working with animals. You never know what to expect, especially inside a shelter. With pet photography, you can talk to the owners to see what their pet will or will not do. Shelter photography is like always being on a blind date; you never know what's going to happen.

Just enjoy yourself and make it fun for the animal. 

I wanted a nice portrait of Dracula with the pumpkins, but it was very ironic that he just wanted to bite them.