Tips for taking good pet photos

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Jiujiu is a four-month-old active puppy owned by Wang Yihuan. During a three-hour shoot with CGTN earlier this month, Jiujiu was constantly sidetracked by snacks, toy cars and even a tree in the neighborhood garden in south Beijing.

Following him around certainly exhausted the team, but it's nothing to the sought-after pet photographer Zhang Tianhang. He said being patient is lesson one for getting pet photos done, and often the key to getting them right.

"What you do is to go with the flow, be patient, wait, observe closely, and catch the best moment in what the dog does naturally," Zhang told CGTN. "Pets are different from other subjects. They won't listen to instructions nor will they pose. They might respond to food and sounds, but not always."

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Zhang had thousands of pet dog assignments in his portfolio. He said his clients are so taken with their dogs these days that many might skimp on themselves but pay for hundred-dollar photo shoots without blinking.

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Wang has been his regular client for the last few years, having had her wedding photo taken by Zhang with her other dog Xiao Ku, which passed away in 2017.

"I started getting my dog photographed when I first learned of it six years ago," Wang told CGTN. "I wanted to give him the best of everything I can. My first dog passed away last year and the photos are so dear to me now. I will get new ones with Jiujiu every year."

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She said Jiujiu is too young to understand her needs and care for him, but they already have a special bond that none can break.

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And love is lesson two.

"They (the dogs) feel you and they mirror your attitude, they need to feel they're welcomed and loved to relax, respond to you, and be themselves," Zhang said.

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