Pet Photography in St. Louis: Why Not Use Your Phone? A Photographer’s Take.

This photo is from my most recent client session. The SOOC (straight out of camera) shot was quite involved, including off-camera flash, positioning of the dog, very specific settings, and intentional use of my portable studio + accessories and more. Editing was a whole other beast! This image included backdrop clean-up, intense adjustments, forming the light, and much more.

The Truth About Phone Cameras, Pro Gear, and Why Your Pet Deserves More Than a Quick Snapshot.

Phones are a fantastic tool! Being especially convenient, they work beautifully for capturing everyday memories. It’s understandable to ask yourself why hiring a professional photographer makes sense in this market of workhorse devices… but the reasons are plentiful! This becomes wholly noticeable when you seek the kind of images you’d proudly hang on your wall. These portraits capture your dog’s unique beauty/personality and need to demonstrate a clear distinction between a snapshot and a crafted piece of art. This article seeks to break down why hiring a professional pet photographer (such as myself) offers much that your phone simply can’t, and why it makes such a dramatic difference in the final images!

Professional Equipment Comes at A Hefty Price for a Reason. That Reason Is Quality!

My main camera body is a Canon R5, one of the most highly regarded professional cameras available (with a price tag approaching $3,000 without any accessories or lenses). Boasting many important features, let’s “focus” on one that is glaringly obvious… sensor size! The R5 utilizes a full-frame sensor (36mm x 24mm). Compared to the latest generation of iPhone sensors (about 9mm), the R5 has a stunning ability to gather light… which is what photography is all about! This also affords better low-light performance, introduces substantially less noise in the image, and produces exceptionally vibrant and accurate colors. A larger sensor also aids in depth-of-field control, dynamic range (detail in bright highlights and dark shadows), and quality which is high enough to crop without fear of losing a crisp, professional look! This is only one of many features which gives the R5 an advantage over modern phones. When you begin to consider other fundamentals of using a professional camera (manual settings, for example), the differences begin to stack even higher. With such a tool, I can prioritize shutter speed for freezing the motion of your dog as they run around, prioritize aperture when I want a beautiful background blur for that close-up headshot, and prioritize ISO or other settings when in low light. I also love the advanced eye tracking on the R5 to ensure that your pet has tack-sharp focus on their expressive eyes/face!

How about lenses? The lenses of a professional photographer are real glass, each designed for a specific purpose. In my case, I don’t own a lens that isn’t one of Canon’s “L” series, which is the highest quality optics available. I use the 135mm for buttery backgrounds and dramatic edits, the 24-70mm for versatile storytelling, the 100-500mm for fast action and candid moments from afar, and the 10-20mm for wide-angle fun. These lenses alone cost approximately $9,500. Don’t get me wrong… someone can have all of this (and the mountain of extras needed for a portable studio, etc.) and still not take wall-worthy photos, but the numbers and investment doesn’t lie and when things go correctly, you have a stunning image on your hands!

Lighting Makes or Breaks an Image. I can Control it! A Phone Can’t.

Phones rely on whatever light is already there, or you can choose to use less-than-desirable accessories for an often janky/unprofessional result. In general, phones brighten, darken, or “enhance” (using that term loosely) the scene through an algorithm, often leading to blown highlights, muddy shadows, blur, harsh contrast, etc. A professional photographer brings off-camera flash/strobes with important accessories such as a variety of modifiers. This lets me create light in any environment when needed (and we just discussed ways that a professional can achieve superior results under natural lighting). This way, your pet can look crisp, dimensional, and beautifully lit every time!

Speaking of Control… I Shoot in “RAW.”

On a phone, photos are automatically compressed, smoothed, brightened, and sharpened (with very little room for adjustments afterwards). I have my camera set to shoot in RAW. This means that the SOOC image has every bit of detail preserved, the color is true, shadows and highlights are recoverable, and the editing possibilities are endless! When shooting in RAW, the real magic comes through experience in editing rather than having the camera choose what your picture will look like.

Editing Continued…

Just as with my physical camera equipment, I have invested heavily in a highly color-accurate and photographer-specific editing monitor. This gives exceptional detail and ensures that every aspect of how your image looks is intentional. I also regularly invest in training courses for using Lightroom and Photoshop! The larger screen size also makes details pop much easier than on your phone. Can you see how the professional’s experience is worthwhile throughout the entire process?

Professional Photos = Professional Prints!

This is major and represents the meaning behind Top Breed Pet Photography’s motto… your pet is art! Seeing your pet’s images on a screen is one thing, but having their photo mounted to your wall is an experience truly worth having! If you’ve tried printing a photo from your phone’s camera at anything approaching a size suitable for impressive wall art, you would have likely noticed lots of grain, lack of detail, odd artifacts, and an overall lack of sharpness. When compared to a professional photographer’s results, the differences are stunning! My largest print on my personal wall is 30x40. Even at this massive size, the dog (and entire image) is razor-sharp and extremely detailed. The printing process as a whole is an entire skill to navigate on its own, which is why I highly recommend going through me for acquiring prints! If you’d like more detail about this, I give additional reasoining on my FAQ page.

Conclusion…

Take photos of your pets with your phone! Seriously… it’s a lovely feature of that little device in your pocket! Not every picture has to be a crafted piece of art. When a special occasion is in order and you do want to have your companion captured in gorgeous detail (and then physically represented on your wall with an equally beautiful piece of art), contacting a professional is the way to go! If you’re in St. Louis or the surrounding area and want to experience this process for yourself, I’m your photographer! Reach out anytime via any of my available resources, including my contact form which can be found here.

“Golden Hour” Pet Photography in St. Louis, Missouri (and What it Means)

The above image was captured in direct mid-day sunlight. Quite gorgeous, yes? Exactly! This article is in no way intended to dissuade clients of Top Breed Pet Photography from scheduling photoshoots during the day (or times other than “golden hour”), but rather to demonstrate how the time of day can influence the mood of a final picture. If you prefer capturing your beloved pet in the glory/intensity of full sunlight as you know they enjoy and you’d like to preserve, then perhaps such a setting is for you! That said, there exists fine reasoning behind considering golden hour as well. Let’s explore!

What Exactly is “Golden Hour?”

Golden hour refers to the period shortly after sunrise or just before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, casting a soft, warm light. During this time, sunlight travels through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, which naturally diffuses it-reducing harsh shadows and muting overly bright highlights. The result is a flattering, even glow that can beautifully enhance the color, texture, and depth of your pet’s features without the need for artificial lighting or heavy editing.

The mood golden hour creates is often described as dreamy, peaceful, or even magical! In pet photography, the golden tones can enhance the natural colors in your pet’s coat and surroundings/background. This has the potential to give the image a storybook feel, with uniquely artistic light.

Shadows can Work Towards Our Advantage as well!

Here is an image which was taken during mid-day sun, but in the slight shadow of a tree. You can see the intense impact of the sun on background features such as the parking lot, but the tasteful shade affords us the ability to still capture a gorgeous photo!

Here are a couple more pictures which demonstrate this same concept…

This is a “Keeshond” breed of dog… absolutely eye-catching! I love how this image shows the dog near his home, going about a walk so common that his owner’s wanted to capture it and have it be preserved forever as to always keep a memory of it into the future. Notice how our fluffy friend is in shadow, letting the intense sunlight be present in the background but not disturbing his beauty?

and finally… here is a new friend showcasing the same technique of using shadow when there is powerful natural lighting.

Given all of this info, let’s now look at images which were taken during golden hour and see the differences!

Golden Hour Photos by Top Breed Pet Photography:

Look at that! See how the sunlight blankets the entirety of Kiwi’s surroundings and even brings out the brindle coloration in her fur? This is simply an impressive image!

Saint Louis Specifics…

I do hope that you enjoyed having this visual tour of natural lighting and how it can influence the final image that you receive as a client of Top Breed Pet Photography! Now, I’d like to provide you with a guide to keep in mind if you would like to schedule a golden hour photoshoot of your own! Of course, the times of sunrise and sunset change throughout the year… so here’s a general plan for golden hour depending on which month that you find yourself reading this article.

January- Sunrise occurs at about 7:15am. Sunset occurs at about 5:15pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 8:15am-9:15am and in the evening, it would be around 4:15pm-5:15pm.

February- Sunrise occurs at about 7:05am. Sunset occurs at about 5:35pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 8:05am-9:05am and in the evening, it would be around 4:35pm-5:35pm.

March- Sunrise occurs at about 6:30am. Sunset occurs at about 6:00pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:30am-8:30am and in the evening, it would be around 5:00pm-6:00pm.

April- Sunrise occurs at about 6:45am. Sunset occurs at about 7:25pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:45am-8:45am and in the evening, it would be around 6:25pm-7:25pm.

May- Sunrise occurs at about 6:00pm. Sunset occurs at about 8:00pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:00am-8:00am and in the evening, it would be around 7:00pm-8:00pm.

June- Sunrise occurs at about 5:38am. Sunset occurs at about 8:28pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 6:38am-7:38am and in the evening, it would be around 7:28pm-8:28pm.

July- Sunrise occurs at about 5:48am. Sunset occurs at about 8:25pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 6:48am-7:48am and in the evening, it would be around 7:25pm-8:25pm.

August- Sunrise occurs at about 6:03am. Sunset occurs at about 8:10pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:03am-8:03am and in the evening, it would be around 7:10pm-8:10pm.

September- Sunrise occurs at about 6:31am. Sunset occurs at about 7:30pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:31am-8:31am and in the evening, it would be around 6:30pm-7:30pm.

October- Sunrise occurs at about 6:58am. Sunset occurs at about 6:45pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 7:58am-8:58am and in the evening, it would be around 5:45pm-6:45pm.

November- Sunrise occurs at about 7:28am. Sunset occurs at about 5:59pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 8:28am-9:28am and in the evening, it would be around 4:59pm-5:59pm.

December- Sunrise occurs at about 7:00am. Sunset occurs at about 4:40pm. Golden hour in the morning would be around 8:00am-9:00am and in the evening, it would be around 3:40pm-4:40pm.

Thanks again! Be sure to contact me to schedule your photoshoot (whether outdoors or indoors with my portable studio setup) HERE

The Best Place in St. Louis for Pet Photography

Interested in honoring your pet with professional photos? Contact me HERE!

Welcome our lovely model for some photos in this article (her name is Kiwi)! Though we won’t disclose every single spot that I love in this park (saving some other locations for clients of Top Breed Pet Photography), we will see just how many great areas there are within the main entrance! This is impressive on its own, because it isn’t an insignificant selection (including the spot shown here)!

Why Bee Tree Park is Ideal for Pet Photography

Located at 2701 Finestown Ave, St. Louis, MO 63129, Bee Tree likely already comes off as worthy of a dedicated trip out due to the convenient location for both residents of Saint Louis and surrounding areas! That said, this gorgeous gem has much more to offer. The main focus of this article is to showcase some stunning compositions which can be captured surrounding one of this park’s most unique features… the Nims mansion!

This gorgeous home resides near the entrance of the park (you can’t miss it). You’re welcomed to get up-close and enjoy this magnificent structure which itself warrants photos. The surrounding grounds don’t leave anything to be desired, though! Let’s investigate further…

The Grounds of Nims Mansion

Consisting primarily of beautiful and wide-open fields, the immediate area around the mansion is well-groomed and maintained. One outstanding feature to behold is the fountain and stone masonry which invites you to sit and enjoy the view, stressing the glorious opportunity for pet photos to be taken between bouts of relaxation and tranquility.

See the rectangular gray card near the center of the above picture? Look at that as a “your dog here” sign in any photo where it is present. As is made evident by this perspective, you can perceive colorful flowers, more stone structures, a lovely view in the distance, and the beforementioned fountain! This isn’t the only composition here, of course…

I am absolutely in love with these benches which surround the area! Check this view out. Imagine your dog sitting here amongst the flowers, with the lingering beauty of the mansion existing behind him/her. No worries about safety, either! This bench isn’t high off of the ground. Notice the patio area in the background? Look at this…

I wasn’t lying when I said that this one spot has a lot to offer! You may even want to bring binoculars to your photoshoot because the view is breathtaking.

Here Kiwi is, taking in the sights of this awesome portion of the property! Did this composition come to your mind when you saw the gaps in this stone wall? How about shifting perspective over just a tad and moving Kiwi to the grass?

A ball makes for a great prop and if it squeaks, even better! It’s always important to bring toys and treats for catching your dog’s attention and rewarding for great outcomes… as well as making for natural-looking photos such as this where Kiwi was clearly just enjoying some play time! Give them some exercise and they’ll be more interested in your pictures, as they aren’t concerned with having a excessive energy. Want more of the distant background?

Here you go! This area is between the fountain and the mansion. Check out the plants, stone wall, tasteful bars, and distant view! Would you believe me if I said that there’s a secret hiding behind the bars photographed above?

Talk about a hidden gem! This stone staircase and photogenic overgrowth only compliments a stunning picture. Want to know another secret? In every single picture of Kiwi, her owner is present and Kiwi is actually attached to a leash! That’s right! I photoshopped the leash and owner out for some of these pictures (and all of them featured on this page, for privacy). If your dog requires being on a leash, do not hesitate to reach out for my services! That is no problem and actually preferred. Now, let’s go around to the other side of the fountain…

Another stone staircase! This time, the stairs lead right up to a brand new perspective. It’s as if this spot was created for pet photos! Don’t just imagine your pet here… let’s make it happen!

Your Saint Louis Pet Photographer

Remember… these aren’t all of my favorite compositions within the park! If you like what you’ve seen and want professional-quality photos (along with a fantastic source of gallery-quality wall art of your pet), I am your photographer! Contact me HERE anytime!

As a bonus, here is a photo of Kiwi taken with my Canon 100-500mm lens. All the rest of these pictures have been with my Canon f1.4 50mm L lens. The 100-500mm does a wonderful job of blurring the background. Bee Tree park has great spots for me to get distance from your pet and capture images such as this one!

Have a great day!