The original Ferretocious.com has been online for over 12 years so I've taken LOTS of pictures of my ferrets and cats.

A couple of years ago I was even interviewed by Ferrets Magazine and they featured my tips in the magazine.

I also know run a photobooth at various events for Purrfect Pals Cat Rescue and do photo sessions for shelter donations

 

Here's some of my best tips on photographing your pets.

 

 

 

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                                    A digital camera is a MUST.  And it's amazing how cheap they are now.  Back in 1998 when I bought my first digital camera

                                    it was a Kodak DC210 with a whopping 2 megapixels and I spent about $500 for it.   Several years later I upgraded to a

                                    5 megapixel camera (the Olympus C5000) and spent about $349 for it.  And a few years go I upgraded to an 8 megapixel

                                    camera (the Olympus Stylus 800) and spent $229 for it.

 

                                    Now I'm about ready to upgrade again and the 12 megapixel camera I'm looking at is under $200! 

                                    So nowadays you don't have to spend a lot to get a great point-and-shoot digital camera.  I'll be adding some links

                                    on this site to affordable, recommended digital cameras in the near future.

 

                                      Memory cards for digital cameras has gotten ridiculously cheap as well.  Years ago I bought a 128MB XD card for $79.99.

                                    I recently picked up a 2GB XD card for only $19.99!  So definitely buy the biggest card you can find - you'll need it for all

                                      that snapping.  I actually prefer to have two cards.  When I do the photo booth for the shelter I can be printing the photos from

                            one card while I'm shooting with the other.

 

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                                              TIP: Many cameras now come with rechargeable batteries and a charger instead of needing regular batteries.  Buy a second

                                                 rechargeable battery.  When the battery runs out put it in the recharger and put in the fully charged battery.  This way

                                                           you'll never miss a pic.  I also bought an extra charger and keep it in my suitcase.  Last thing you want is to go on a trip

                                                 and realize you're without your charger.  You can find your model's charger and battery pretty cheap on eBay.

 

                                      TIP: The tip I give out the most in photographing jumpy, bounce ferrets is DON'T AIM! 

                                                If you get down low and hold the camera up to your face to catch a shot - you'll miss the action.

                                                (Not to mention having to lay on the floor!)  I reach my hand down and snap - check the display

                                                and if it's not what I want then delete the shot and snap again.  Also remember you can always

                                                crop a shot or zoom in closer to the action on your pc later on.
 

             TIP:  Purchase a photo editing program so you can crop and enhance your pics.

                    These programs allow you to adjust brightness, contrast, color balance, etc. 

                    They also have cool filters you can apply to photos to get all kinds of cool effects.

             INSERT SOME PROGRAM NAMES AND LINKS TO AMAZON AFFILIATE LISTINGS      

                                        

                  TIP:  If you'd like to get some posed professional-looking shots of your pet you can make your own "studio".

                                           For the shelter's photo booth all I use is a long table up against a wall and then a bright piece of fabric

                                          for my back drop. I tape it to the wall and then let it fall down to the table, crease it where it meets the

                                          table then let it fall down the front.  These photos were actually taken out front of a store with a table up

                                           to the store window and the fabric taped to the glass.  For the larger dog I just pulled more fabric down

                                                     behind her and she squatted infront of the table.

   

 

 

                                            These shots were taken inside a well-lit gym where our shelter has our "Average Joe Cat Show"

 

 

 

TIP:  Using the flash on your camera can wash out colours, overbrighten white and generally give an unnatural

   look to your pics.  Look for a camera that shoots well in low light and/or has an "Available Light" setting and

             "Image Stabilization".  I shot all my "studio" pics above with my Olympus Stylus 800 using Macro and without   

    the flash.

 

                                TIP: For posed shots with ferrets keep them occupied with a dab of Ferretvite.
                                          See how posed the boys are with a dab of Ferretvite on the sleigh in
                                          our Christmas card from many years ago.

 

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TIP:  Most important tip - keep your camera close at hand with charged
          batteries and room on your picture card for plenty of pics - you
          never now when your pets will be up to something that you'll want
          to catch and share with others!  And don't stop to look at the pics you've
          just taken.  Snap away or you might miss the action!

 

 

 

HAPPY SNAPPING!