Choosing a Background - Insight #6

Choosing a Background - Insight #6

Clean Background helps keep focus on the animal

In working with shelters, I have had multiple discussions about having a clean background for taking pictures.  By that, I mean that you don't want a background that overwhelms the main subject: the animal.  In the case of where I live now, Kaua'i, it is easy to try to take the dog out to some gorgeous areas.  However if you do not shoot a tight shot of the animal, you will actually minimize the animal and lose your audience.

Baby G, at the Kaua'i Humane Society since last August, during her 10-minute photo shoot.  By getting her with a regular backdrop, we were able to get nice clean shots of her without distracting backgrounds.

My suggestion for shelters is to use nature backgrounds only if it is well lit, the photographer can get down low to take the picture, and the background doesn't minimize the animal.