2. Think in thirds.

The Rule of Thirds was meant to set guidelines for art—not just photography—but paintings and films as well. You know how tic-tac-toe is set up by drawing lines to represent 9 boxes in rows of 3’s? Think of this tic-tac-toe design while you are shooting. Rarely do professional images have one single focus in the middle of the photo (unless the photo is meant to show symmetry), so you should avoid placing your main focus in the center box. You want the main focus of your photo (such as a person, a dog, or a food bowl) to rest on one of the vertical lines instead of directly in the center. Angling the photo by placing the main focus off-center can make your space seem more spacious and your photo have an artsy feel. If you’re main focus is the front desk, try taking your photo from the side of the room as opposed to shooting directly in front of it.

Here’s an example:
The dog home is the focus, yet it is off to the side and rests directly on the 2/3 vertical line. This allows the viewer to take in the image as a whole and notice the embellishments of the background, while still keeping the dog home as the primary focal point.

3. De-clutter and decorate.

Decorative features in a photo make the scene come alive, but you want to make sure not to have too many “props” in the photo. Make sure your space is clean and presentable. Plan the guidelines of where the photo will end and make sure to take out any unnecessary items in the area that detract from an organized look. Professional Stagers will tell you, “Less is More”. Find a balance with the right amount of décor, which can include humans as well. Feel free to add a few employees to the mix by taking a few candid shots of them interacting with each other or with the dogs. 

4. Be a copy cat.

Look on other websites for inspiration on how to stage your photos. One great place to start is your competition or a facility that you know that is has great photos or even hired a professional. See what you like and what you don’t like about how their photos are displayed. This will give you a more critical eye on your facility photos. Websites like houzz.com have amazing home design ideas that you can apply to your business. Thinking up the perfect scene doesn’t have to be hard work. Find a picture that fits the feel of your facility and go with it!

5. It’s all in the details!

You’re a pet business, which means you have a lot of room for creativity. Put pictures on your website that show close-ups of the details that represent your brand, like a row of hooks with leashes attached to them. Grab a few mason jars from the dollar store and fill them with colorful dog treats. Simple DIY (Do-it-yourself) projects can liven up the room and give your business some character. A fun and creative environment is attractive to most pet owners.

6. Experiment with free photo apps.

The pet world is light-hearted and more casual than other industries. Don’t overlook the crazy effects like color saturation, black and white with a pop of color, retro filters, and cropping images to focus on parts of the photo.

Here are some pretty awesome apps that you can download for FREE and use to fine-tune your photos:

Picassa
Camera360
Tadaa
Magic Hour Lite
Photoshop Express

Go to your website and Facebook. Now that you have these techniques in mind, you can look at your facility photos with a critical eye. Do they encompass everything you want to say about your company? Do your photos say you are professional, clean, or have that home-like presence? If not, then take your smart phone out of your pocket and test out 2-3 shots. Ask your colleagues and employees for feedback on what feels the most like your business. Then you can finally start posting while your pet resort software handles the booking process for you!

Throw Us a Bone!

What photography tips or techniques have worked best for you? Please attach a link to a photo of yours that you really love or feels represents your business!