How to take your pet photos to the next level

Straits Times

01-06-2025

Pet photography is an art form that requires patience, creativity and an understanding of animal behaviour. PHOTOS: ASHANTI CHAND WILKE, CARRIE ER, ANDY YONG, MASAYUKI OKI
How to take your pet photos to the next level
SINGAPORE – Animals make adorable photography subjects. But just like children, they are unpredictable and it can be challenging to capture the fleeting cute moments of your fur kids.
Pet photography is an art form that requires patience, creativity and an understanding of animal behaviour.
Mr Masayuki Oki, a Japanese photographer, has been taking snapshots of street cats for over a decade with his Canon EOS R1.
The 47-year-old, who is based in Tokyo, would spend a week away from home travelling to various 'cat islands' or fishing villages around Japan to observe and photograph cats.
'I realise that, just like humans, each cat has its quirks and personality ,' he tells The Straits Times.
Mr Oki's photographs capture the spontaneity of felines, turning each photo into a story. He posts his pictures on Instagram (@okirakuoki), which has amassed 508,000 followers. His works have also been published in books and calendars.
On capturing an animal's personality, his advice is to find the moments that 'reveal the cats' feelings'.
'If you try to rush to take the photo, the cat may sense it and choose not to do anything on purpose,' says Mr Oki, who will be one of the judges at the Asia Cat Expo 2025 Photography Competition that will be held at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on June 21 and 22.
Into its third year, the annual Asia Cat Expo is the largest feline-exclusive event in Singapore. The two-day expo will see a line-up 120 vendors offering cat essentials, accessories and cat-themed creations. There will also be a cat adoption drive, educational seminars and interactive stage programmes such as a cat grooming competition.
Mr Masayuki Oki's photographs capture a raw affection of felines, turning each photo into a story.
PHOTO: MASAYUKI OKI
He adds: 'If you have the mindset that it's okay to not take good photos on some days, you will be able to take good photos eventually.'
He will also be giving a talk, Taking Photos That Tell A Story, at the expo on June 22 at 3pm.
Fellow judge Andy Yong, 29, agrees that cat owners have to 'let them do their own thing'.
A tip on how to capture the perfect moment is to 'approach it like street photography, predicting and timing the perfect moment instead of posing for it', adds the Singaporean content creator, who has 2.4 million followers on his Instagram account (@andyyongfilms).
Mr Yong, who got into photography as a hobby in 2018, creates photography content on how to take better photos – of both humans and animals, as well as everything from food to nature – using mobile phones and professional cameras.
His talk, Making Everyday Moments Into Aesthetic Photos, will also take place at Asia Cat Expo 2025 on June 22 at 3pm.
Taking photographs of dogs requires different shooting styles, says Mr Yong, adding that he would use Clover, his pet pomsky, as a model.
Getting down to the animal's eye level is also another tip for that great picture, says Mr Andy Yong.
PHOTO: ANDY YONG
'Dogs are more active, so it is good to tire them out first,' he says . 'Once they are settled in and are comfortable with you, it is quite easy to direct them.'
He adds: 'It helps to hold a treat in front of your camera.'
Singaporean Carrie Er has been photographing her West Highland terriers Sasha and Piper since 2015. Her dogs have become 'influencers' with more than 25,500 followers on Instagram (@lomodoggies).
'Sasha and Piper are treat-motivated, so once they see a snack in hand, they're instantly alert and camera-ready,' says Ms Er, who is in her 40s.
Ms Carrie Er says getting a good photo of her dogs Sasha (left) and Piper is about catching the right angle and lighting.
PHOTO: CARRIE ER
Ms Er, who works in the food and beverage industry, documents 'everyday things' such as going on walks or playing dress-up with Sasha, 13, and Piper, nine.
For the dog lover, getting the perfect shot is all about catching the right angle and lighting. 'I try to shoot when the light's soft, like in the early morning or late afternoon,' says Ms Er, adding that she always follows the dogs' mo vements.
She adds: 'Pets have a mind of their own, so you can't force the shot. I let them do their thing and stay ready with my mobile phone. Sometimes, the best photos happen when you least expect it.'
Ms Ashanti Chand Wilke manages the social media accounts of her cat Brossy Meowington. The eight-year-old Maine Coon has more than 51,000 followers on Instagram (@brossymeowington).
The 32-year-old Singaporean homemaker did not expect Brossy's photos and YouTube videos to have a following, let alone attract sponsorships from pet food and grooming appliances companies.
Ms Ashanti Chand Wilke would paste coloured sheets on the wall as backdrops when taking photos of her cat Brossy Meowington.
PHOTO: ASHANTI CHAND WILKE
Patience is key to a good photo, says Ms Ashanti, adding that she needs to 'time the shoot, and wait for Brossy to be in a good mood and the perfect sunlight'.
'Getting him to pose requires a lot of patience. We don't force him to pose. We just put him in the frame and wait for the cute moments,' she says. 'It's a lot of sitting and waiting with the camera.'
As Ms Ashanti takes mostly indoor photos, she makes use of objects she can find around the home that make noise to get her cat's attention. Her sister and mother help with her shoots.
'Sometimes, my entire family would be clapping behind the camera to get Brossy to look at it ,' she adds. She uses the quick shutter mode on her Canon EOS 200D camera to take hundreds of shots, which she sifts through to find that 'perfect cute photo'.
To add to the fun, Ms Ashanti uses coloured sheets or wrapping paper as backdrops and has an entire wardrobe full of cute little costumes, bows and hats.
Getting down to the animal's eye level is also another tip for that great picture, Mr Yong offers.
'We're so used to taking photos at a height that's comfortable for us, but that angle is always unflattering to our pets,' he says.
He adds: 'Simply crouching down or even rotating your phone upside down, so the lens is lower, gives a much nicer angle for pets.'
Pet photography is taxing, but also fun , says Mr Yong. 'Nailing that one perfect shot can feel so rewarding.'
Book It/Asia Cat Expo 2025
Where: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Halls 404 to 406, 1 Raffles Boulevard
When: June 21 and 22, 10am to 8pm
Admission: $6 to $15
Info: str.sg/btFV
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