Horses, Rabbits, Birds & Other Pets

Not every pet is a cat or a dog. The general advice in what photo works best applies here too, but horses and small pets each bring one problem up more often than anything else.

Horses: usually photographed too far away

Most horse photos are taken at a distance — across a field, over a stable door, from the ground while someone is mounted. That is often the only realistic way to get the shot, but it means the face is a small part of a much bigger image. Where you can, get closer and focus specifically on the head and face rather than the whole horse. A close, well-lit head shot works far better as a portrait than a beautiful wide shot where the face is tiny. Outdoor daylight is usually plentiful for horses, so the bigger win is simply moving in closer.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets: usually blurry or behind bars

Small pets move quickly and unpredictably, so a lot of their photos come out slightly blurred. Photograph them somewhere they are calm and contained — after a meal, or on a lap — rather than trying to catch them mid-movement. If your pet lives in a cage or hutch, photographing through the bars almost always leaves shadow lines across the face; it is worth the ten minutes it takes to get them out onto a towel or your lap in good light instead.

Birds: reflections and low light are the main issues

Photos through an aviary or cage front often pick up reflections or a soft focus from the mesh or glass in between. If your bird can safely be out on a hand or perch for a moment, a direct photo in good natural light will be far clearer than one taken through an enclosure.

The general rule for any pet

Whatever the animal, the same things matter: good even light on the face, roughly eye-level angle, close enough that the face fills a good part of the frame, and a sharp, in-focus original file. See the full guide: what photo works best.