Rabbit Photography
I love taking pictures of my rabbits. Photography is a hobby of mine, and my bunnies make excellent subjects! Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks that I've picked up... both for working with lively rabbits and for ideal lighting and camera settings.
Preparing with the Rabbit
Photographing any rabbit can be hard, but it's especially tricky when you're working with a curious Holland Lop! The first ingredient to any successful photo session is... patience! I often spend a good 15 minutes letting my rabbits explore the photo area and calm down before I even begin shooting. This can help tremendously. If you have a helper, it can also save time and frustration, but I almost always take pictures alone. Practicing posing with the rabbit for a few minutes before shooting can also help get it into the posing "mood." If you are wanting to take posed pictures, it is also essential that the rabbit be posed properly for its respective breed.
Camera
Generally, photos taken with a DSLR/SLR camera are going to turn out nicer than those taken with a simple point-and-shoot. SLRs are equipped with a bounty of manual and fixed settings, and offer many options. However, even those who don't own an SLR can take very nice photos with just the basic camera. The content of a photo is just as important as the quality of the image - an SLR can produce an awful photo, just as a point-and-shoot can produce a beautiful one. Don't let the type of camera you own deter you from from taking pictures!
Photographing any rabbit can be hard, but it's especially tricky when you're working with a curious Holland Lop! The first ingredient to any successful photo session is... patience! I often spend a good 15 minutes letting my rabbits explore the photo area and calm down before I even begin shooting. This can help tremendously. If you have a helper, it can also save time and frustration, but I almost always take pictures alone. Practicing posing with the rabbit for a few minutes before shooting can also help get it into the posing "mood." If you are wanting to take posed pictures, it is also essential that the rabbit be posed properly for its respective breed.
Camera
Generally, photos taken with a DSLR/SLR camera are going to turn out nicer than those taken with a simple point-and-shoot. SLRs are equipped with a bounty of manual and fixed settings, and offer many options. However, even those who don't own an SLR can take very nice photos with just the basic camera. The content of a photo is just as important as the quality of the image - an SLR can produce an awful photo, just as a point-and-shoot can produce a beautiful one. Don't let the type of camera you own deter you from from taking pictures!
Lighting
Lighting can be a tricky thing to master. Whenever possible, use natural lighting instead of a flash. Unless you have an SLR camera with a nice external flash, it's usually going to wash out your subject and add an unnatural contrast to the photo. Outdoor photos often afford the best lighting, and the colors of nature provide a lovely backdrop. Shooting outdoors is usually my preference. However, if the weather is bad, I'm working with young kits, or I want to use special backdrops/props, I will set up an indoor photo area next to a window. I have a wrap-around bay window that provides excellent natural lighting for this. Whether you're shooting outdoors or in, position yourself so that the light source is behind you, not behind the subject. The best time of day to take natural light photos is generally in the morning or early evening; if you shoot outdoors in the afternoon, you'll be battling with the sun. |
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Background
A background should always compliment, not clash. When shooting outdoors, I almost never use a backdrop as I love the muted foliage and the bokeh effect it often produces. When shooting indoors, I almost always use a backdrop - something very simple, with little or no pattern. I tend to gravitate towards lighter colored backdrops, especially for the darker rabbits. Props can add lovely detail to a photo when used appropriately; however, when used the wrong way they draw attention away from the subject and add clutter to the photo.
Get Close!
Finally, get up close to the rabbit and shoot at eye level. As a general rule of thumb, if you think you are close enough, then take a stop closer. It's also visually appealing to view a subject straight on versus looking down on it. For posed pictures, avoid odd angles and instead stick with basic, eye level front and side profile shots.
A background should always compliment, not clash. When shooting outdoors, I almost never use a backdrop as I love the muted foliage and the bokeh effect it often produces. When shooting indoors, I almost always use a backdrop - something very simple, with little or no pattern. I tend to gravitate towards lighter colored backdrops, especially for the darker rabbits. Props can add lovely detail to a photo when used appropriately; however, when used the wrong way they draw attention away from the subject and add clutter to the photo.
Get Close!
Finally, get up close to the rabbit and shoot at eye level. As a general rule of thumb, if you think you are close enough, then take a stop closer. It's also visually appealing to view a subject straight on versus looking down on it. For posed pictures, avoid odd angles and instead stick with basic, eye level front and side profile shots.