Pet Portraits. My first commissioned work...

Pet Portraits. My first commissioned work... · 11:05 PM

Last Sunday I was commissioned to take portraits of cats. Being my first commissioned shoot, I was pressured even further after learning that the cats belonged to the president of the Cat Fancier's Association! I think I did well though. At least, well enough to be asked to shoot all cat events here in the Philippines!

Now to get me to shoot dogs...

No PP, straight out of cam (except last photo, fixed the background on this with the clone tool)... you can still see the sensor dust on the others though!

leadbelly · 04-03-2008, 10:23 AM

Wow. Thanks thanks thanks!

@spyglass: My mentor, has been a pet photographer based in Canada for 35 years... saw your location, just thought I'd mention it...

He taught (and is still teaching me) all I need to know! He taught me how to get those kinds of shots with only one light, how to pose the animals, how to capture the moment, etc... basically everything!

Peter Zack · 04-03-2008, 10:43 AM

Beautiful series and although it surely was a test of your patience, You did very well.
I really like 3, 4 has a great pose, You could sell 5 if you were allowed. Just great expressions and well done, 6 is a riot. He's had enough and you're getting something if you get near him once more... the last is classic Egyptian Cleopatra.

nycxaro · 04-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Terrific shots! The lighting on all of these are amazing.

sweet bay · 04-03-2008, 11:11 AM

The poor hairless cat is hideous!

Beautiful shots of him though. Especially the one of him stretched out looking down -- that is a gorgeous shot. I really like the second one too as well of course as the three kittens in the bucket.

NYpHoToGraphEr · 04-03-2008, 05:01 PM

Those are cool pictures but I hate cats lol dogs are better.
I could see that dust in all the photos I have the same problem.
I just sent in my camera because the shutter didn't work and
I mentioned that too so I hope they fix it.

GOOD JOB.

**rparmar** · 04-03-2008, 06:25 PM

These are truly brilliant shots not just technically but for the poses and expressions. I mean... wow! The only thing wrong with is that there is no Norwegian Forest Cat among them.

rmtagg · 04-03-2008, 06:27 PM

Wow! You did a great job and I love the photos. So....what did you learn that you can share with us? Did you use treats?

leadbelly · 04-03-2008, 07:53 PM

Thanks guys for the wonderful comments!

@rmtagg: I learned that you must have a 15 foot cable trigger. After framing and focusing, while you are posing the cats, when the moment strikes, you get out of the frame and trip the shutter!

All it takes is 1/125 of a second! I didn't have any treats, just a stick with a furry toy tied to the end of it. Play with it on one side of the camera, then snap across the frame to make sure the cat is facing the frame!(lucky if it looks straight!)

@rparmar: The owners were breeders of persians only. The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there...

Thanks for the comments guys!

rmtagg · 04-03-2008, 08:43 PM

Originally posted by leadbelly

Thanks guys for the wonderful comments!

@rmtagg: I learned that you must have a 15 foot cable trigger. After framing and focusing, while you are posing the cats, when the moment strikes, you get out of the frame and trip the shutter!

All it takes is 1/125 of a second! I didn't have any treats, just a stick with a furry toy tied to the end of it. Play with it on one side of the camera, then snap across the frame to make sure the cat is facing the frame!(lucky if it looks straight!)

@rparmar: The owners were breeders of persians only. The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there...

Thanks for the comments guys!

Thanks for sharing, it sort of puts me there

leadbelly · 04-03-2008, 08:58 PM

Glad to be of help! Post your shots when you get to shoot!

**rparmar** · 04-04-2008, 02:44 AM

Originally posted by leadbelly

The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there...

Non any-hair-at-all cat.

imadethis · 04-04-2008, 08:08 PM

The lighting is excellent as well as the poses and eyes. The last two are my favorites. Great job!

**Eaglerapids** · 04-04-2008, 08:56 PM

Terrific shots, all of them, the three kittens in the tub is awesome, but my goodness the last pic is simply unbelievable, stunning. You are GOOD!

LaRee · 04-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Great work! How the heck you got those kittens to sit still in that bucket is beyond me.

**SCGushue** · 04-05-2008, 03:01 AM

I think you did a wonderful job. Nice work.

Stephen

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04-03-2008, 10:23 AM	#16
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597 Original Poster	Wow. Thanks thanks thanks! @spyglass: My mentor, has been a pet photographer based in Canada for 35 years... saw your location, just thought I'd mention it... He taught (and is still teaching me) all I need to know! He taught me how to get those kinds of shots with only one light, how to pose the animals, how to capture the moment, etc... basically everything!

04-03-2008, 10:43 AM	#17
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Beautiful series and although it surely was a test of your patience, You did very well. I really like 3, 4 has a great pose, You could sell 5 if you were allowed. Just great expressions and well done, 6 is a riot. He's had enough and you're getting something if you get near him once more... the last is classic Egyptian Cleopatra.

04-03-2008, 11:07 AM	#18
nycxaro Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 95	Terrific shots! The lighting on all of these are amazing.

04-03-2008, 11:11 AM	#19
sweet bay Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Posts: 338	The poor hairless cat is hideous! Beautiful shots of him though. Especially the one of him stretched out looking down -- that is a gorgeous shot. I really like the second one too as well of course as the three kittens in the bucket.

04-03-2008, 05:01 PM	#20
NYpHoToGraphEr Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn,NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 329	Those are cool pictures but I hate cats lol dogs are better. I could see that dust in all the photos I have the same problem. I just sent in my camera because the shutter didn't work and I mentioned that too so I hope they fix it. GOOD JOB.

04-03-2008, 06:25 PM	#21
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	These are truly brilliant shots not just technically but for the poses and expressions. I mean... wow! The only thing wrong with is that there is no Norwegian Forest Cat among them.

04-03-2008, 06:27 PM	#22
rmtagg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Warrington, PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,271	Wow! You did a great job and I love the photos. So....what did you learn that you can share with us? Did you use treats?

04-03-2008, 07:53 PM	#23
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597 Original Poster	Thanks guys for the wonderful comments! @rmtagg: I learned that you must have a 15 foot cable trigger. After framing and focusing, while you are posing the cats, when the moment strikes, you get out of the frame and trip the shutter! All it takes is 1/125 of a second! I didn't have any treats, just a stick with a furry toy tied to the end of it. Play with it on one side of the camera, then snap across the frame to make sure the cat is facing the frame!(lucky if it looks straight!) @rparmar: The owners were breeders of persians only. The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there... Thanks for the comments guys!

04-03-2008, 08:43 PM	#24
rmtagg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Warrington, PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,271	Originally posted by leadbelly Thanks guys for the wonderful comments! @rmtagg: I learned that you must have a 15 foot cable trigger. After framing and focusing, while you are posing the cats, when the moment strikes, you get out of the frame and trip the shutter! All it takes is 1/125 of a second! I didn't have any treats, just a stick with a furry toy tied to the end of it. Play with it on one side of the camera, then snap across the frame to make sure the cat is facing the frame!(lucky if it looks straight!) @rparmar: The owners were breeders of persians only. The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there... Thanks for the comments guys! Thanks for sharing, it sort of puts me there

04-03-2008, 08:58 PM	#25
leadbelly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 597 Original Poster	Glad to be of help! Post your shots when you get to shoot!

04-04-2008, 02:44 AM	#26
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Originally posted by leadbelly The sphinx was the lone non-longhair (or should I say no-hair?) cat there... Non any-hair-at-all cat.

04-04-2008, 08:08 PM	#27
imadethis Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 89	The lighting is excellent as well as the poses and eyes. The last two are my favorites. Great job!

04-04-2008, 08:56 PM	#28
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	Terrific shots, all of them, the three kittens in the tub is awesome, but my goodness the last pic is simply unbelievable, stunning. You are GOOD!

04-04-2008, 10:15 PM	#29
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225	Great work! How the heck you got those kittens to sit still in that bucket is beyond me.

04-05-2008, 03:01 AM	#30
SCGushue Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,449	I think you did a wonderful job. Nice work. Stephen