Pet Valu Casting Call contest winner Michael Diel and his partner Bailey created an Instagram account for their hedgehog Henry to act as a digital album of their lives together as a pet family.
The project led them to an even bigger community: other hedgehog pet parents online.
“From the very start, when he was a little baby, it was clear to us that we just wanted to document our life with him. That's why we started the account. We found out pretty quickly that the hedgehog community is beautiful and very supportive. It's a very great space to be in,” says Michael.
Pet parents are often big fans of pet photography and of sharing pet photos online with friends, family, and a wider community of animal lovers.
Our pets, on the other hand, are not always the most cooperative or willing subjects. They may not want to sit still while you toggle between cinematic and portrait mode, or harbour a not-so-secret hatred for your camera’s flash.
If you’ve ever wondered how to take a truly great picture of your pet without frustrating them or causing stress, Michael has some advice to offer up.
Timing is everything
Remember that you’re on your pet’s schedule, not the other way around. If they’re bored, frustrated, stressed, or uncomfortable, it’s going to show up in your photo.
Michael, whose partner is a professional photographer, says that they often plan out their shots, set up their camera, and then let Henry explore and do his thing.
“For example,” he says, “if we go to a pumpkin patch with him, we're just gonna walk through and think about what would look nice. We don't want to stress him out, so the idea is that if we take a picture, it's not going to be a lot of pictures, because Henry's well-being is always at the forefront. You have like 10 seconds where he's just looking around and doesn't want to run away. You have to make that count.”
Take tons of candid photos and choose the best of the lot
Like many online influencers, Michael and Bailey also take lots of photos and videos using their phones. These are usually spontaneous, on-the-fly images that are captured when Henry happens to do something extra adorable.
“We take a lot of pictures and videos of him and then we will select a particularly cute video [and] upload that to his stories. Or if we find this particular shot is really nice, we might upload that as well. We do want to make sure that the picture quality is good and that the composition is good.”
Borrow from the professionals
“A lot of the tips and tricks for normal photography can be applied to pet photography as well,” says Michael. “The frame needs to say something. Like, when it comes to Henry, we often play with his size. So if there's a huge bench, because he's so small, that's really interesting.”
Background colour and lighting also factor in. “Golden Hour is always a great time to take a picture,” says Michael, referring to the time of day just before sunset.
“And then it's about what kind of story are you telling? We've all seen pictures of dogs, cats, and other pets, but it's really about what makes it interesting. Are there interesting lines you want to play with? Are you playing more with the skies or the horizon? How do you add depth to your picture?”
Additionally, Michael recommends considering the size of your pet and making that work to your advantage, composing your shot according to how they fit in the frame. But above all, he says, make sure that your pet is happy and comfortable while you’re taking pictures.
“I think the most important piece is that this is a member of our family,” says Michael. “We love the little guy. He's not a model, he's just our little guy. So it’s really important that he always feels good and always feels safe.”
