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Prepping for Fluffy’s Holiday Photo

It took working at Families.com for nearly a year before I got my first taste of the term “Fur Baby.”

The very first time I saw the words featured in a blog I thought the writer was referring to this. Then, I took a closer look and realized that it was “Fur Baby,” not “Furby.”

It didn’t take long to deduce that the blogger loved her four-legged “kids” as much as her two-legged ones. In fact, I became friends with said writer, and the following Christmas I received a hilarious photo card with her furry kids sitting on the laps of her fleshy ones.

If you have both kinds of “babies,” then you know that having them pose for a holiday photo can be equally challenging. Unfortunately, pets, like kids, aren’t always the perfect photo subjects. However, there are ways to capture a fetching holiday-themed picture of your fuzzy friends if you plan well in advance.

Preparation is key when taking photos of pets, regardless if you are aiming your camera at dogs, cats or fish. You want to make sure you have extra batteries, a tripod and plenty of treats to bribe your furry pal. Also, it’s important to consider your pet’s mood when preparing for a photo shoot. If you know your puppy gets tired after eating dinner, then schedule a holiday picture-taking session in the morning when he is well-rested and well-fed.

Before hitting your camera’s shutter button, select a theme for your Christmas photo. Are you going for a funny look or do you want something a bit more solemn? If you choose the former, consider dressing up your pet in a Santa costume. Party shops and pet supply stores offer a wide array of holiday-themed pet costumes, from reindeers to angels, snowmen to elves.

Some pets, especially cats, want nothing to do with a silly costume. However, if you are dead set on getting your pet into the Christmas spirit with some type of prop, then place decorations around him. For example, you could place a cat in an empty gift box. Or, if you are taking a photo of your gerbil, consider strategically placing Christmas ornaments, candy canes, wreaths, tinsel, or garland in his cage. After all, there’s no reason your pet’s home can’t scream “Merry Christmas!” even when he doesn’t want to.

Related Articles:

Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Shutterbug

Last-Minute Holiday Picture Taking Advice

Who’s In Your Christmas Card Photo?

Giving the Gift of Photos this Holiday

This entry was posted in Techniques, Tips & Tricks by Michele Cheplic. Bookmark the permalink.

About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.