How to photograph Animals (Dogs, Cats, Tigers, Macaws & Leopards)

A super cool photoshoot at Profauna Vet Hospital in Tijuana, B.C. Mexico

Introduction

This amazing photoshoot started as a chat with a friend about ideas for cool photos that show the new gigs of the Hospital and the variety of patients that come and go through the doors. 

The Logistics

Before every photoshoot you need a  clear idea of what the final photo will look like and  list of 3 things basically:

1 List of Subjects, locations, and time management. 

2 List of Equipment needed 

3 List of shots with descriptions 

4 Food and treats for the animals

5 Patients!!! a lot of it

This photoshoot took place in a super cool and extremely nice veterinary hospital in Tijuana, Baja California Mexico, its called Profauna there are located in front of Cerveceria Tijuana 8 min from the border.

The concept was to show the amazing new gigs but at the same time show all the diversity of pets and animals they work with every day.

So I went to the location to get a better feeling and understanding of the endless potential to get that perfect shot, then we started brainstorming a couple of ideas, we knew that this was going to be incredible in every way incredible cool but at the same time hard.

For a photoshoot like this, you definitely need a professional trainer in the exotic animals like tigers, have treats, and a first aid kit just in case.

For the equipment I use a Sony A7 Flash and a 28mm f2.8 or an 85mm f2, Fast shutter speed is a must if you are not using flash I recommend at least 1/1000 if you are using flash try to use a short flash duration to help you freeze the moment this one where shott at 1/32 of full power on a 360w flash.

Enjoy, for me the best part was been able to work with amazing animals and the awesome family of people that help on the photo shoot, I still constantly get surprised by what photography brings to my life, and for that, I’m super grateful.