Award-winning Brisbane-based photographer Ken Drake has a gorgeous new book out in time for Christmas, called Pawtraits.
It’s a must-have coffee table book for all dog lovers with its wide range of breeds photographed at their cutest, most memorable moments.
From dogs wearing sunglasses and feather boas, to playing fetch, or sipping a cuppa, world renowned pet photographer Ken truly captures the body, mind and soul of man’s best friend in this stunning hardback collection.
Check out our exclusive gallery for just a ‘sniff’ of what you’ll find inside this fabulous book.
“It’s our passion, our soul, our life – every pet deserves to be celebrated and have their story told,” says Ken, who devotes a lot of time helping to raise money for charities with his work.
He’s just finished photographing 1000 dogs for the RSPCA’s Santa Paws project in Brisbane – and his also donating funds from Portraits to various animal charities.
So how can you ensure you get the best pic of your four-legged loved one this Christmas?
Ken shared these tips with The Morning Show recently:
1. Make sure you have plenty of light
Ken advises shooting near a window, or out on the deck. This is especially important if you’re taking the shot on your smartphone, he says.
2. Get up close and personal
Nothing beats seeing your pet’s eyes up close, that’s where the true personality comes through. “Make sure you fill up the frame with the face, and have a clean background too.”
3. Mix up the angles
Most of us take shots of our pets looking down on them. But Ken says if you really want to make a pic pop, get down on their level so you’re looking them straight in the eye.
- Pawtraits, out now, New Holland Publishers (RRP $49.99)
More about Ken Drake:
Ken is the director and Master Photographer at Zoo Studio, the proud Dad of two dogs, several cats and a clutch of chickens. Ken has been recognised for his beautiful animal portraits all over the worlds, has been published on at least three continents and has won major international photography competitions.