How To Take The Paw-Fect Pet Portrait For Christmas

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.

This post was last modified on 06/12/2016 1:54 pm

James Graham: With over 20 years as a journalist and TV producer, James Graham has a wealth of experience covering the full media spectrum. James has a formidable reputation as a talented media veteran and worked as a reporter, script writer and as the producer of the TV documentary The Road To Athens. He has worked across newspapers, radio and the biggest flagship magazine brands in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, James was the News Director at Woman's Day and New Idea. Whether filing celebrity exclusives, or some of the biggest real-life splashes of recent years, James’ career has always been at the frontline of mainstream media. When not writing, you’ll find him at Royal Randwick, his beloved Long Reef Golf Club on the Northern Beaches – or visiting his mum in his native New Zealand.
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