The craziest thing happened last week. Rik Fairlie, a contributor to the NYTimes.com personal tech blog section called Gadgetwise, contacted me. First he said Hi. Then How are you. Then he asked if I had any tips on taking good pet photos. And then he inquired whether or not I’d be willing to share those tips in an “informal” Q&A for the blog.
I thought, !!!!!
Do I have tips? Um, maybe? I think I got some tips? I’ve got some here in my back pocket, and maybe some more at the bottom of my purse….rummage rummage rummage.
But I mean really, for the New York freaking Times, I’ll make up as many tips as you need.
So here’s some insight to how I shoot. A lot of it might seem obvious or easy, but then again if that were so, there’d be a lot more pet/children photographers out there.
No, I’m not a self-proclaimed expert.
But yes I am totally passionate about what I do, have learned some things in my short tenure so far as a “professional,” and I am trying to get better every day.
And no, the 17-55mm is not a kit lens. Seventeen to fifty-five people, not eighteen to fifty-five. f-stop 2.8, mkay (had to clarify, just had to).
However YES, I totally submitted a blurry photo to the Times.
The point is: Good photography – wedding, travel, baby, pet or otherwise – is not lazy. It’s not all about the camera body, it’s not about standing around waiting for Something to Happen. It’s all deliberate, it’s all work, even – and especially? – the candid ones.
And this is kind of how I feel about the whole interview going up:
(link to video here)
Thanks Rik for the write-up! Sha-day!
Holy crap, does this mean T-Pain is at your house? I’m totally coming over. ;-)
Awesome tips, Li! Congrats on the article!
Congratulations
Dude. New York Freakin’ Times. You are so cool.
Don’t put “professional” in quotes! You’re a pro, no ifs, ands or self-depreciating quotes about it.
Hi Li-
Love your blog and congrats on the NYT piece! I wish they had also asked you about post production tips…do you use any particular actions or process on your photos? They look really awesome.
Thanks,
Emily (in Austin)
I found about you through lifehacker. I can’t see your video because of hulu. The pictures are outstanding.
My daughter has a a big fat orange cat, a classic tabby maine coon mix. She saw his picture on petfinder and made me fill out an application at 2 in the morning.
Great article. Great tips. Great exposure for you! Li, your work is fantastic! An inspiration to pet owners who want better daily pics of their little (or ginormous) furballs, and those who desire to enter the biz themselves. Congratulations on this opportunity!
Congrats on making it to the NYT! Your pictures are awesome :)
wow, nyt! congrats!
I found your site through an nptech arts/tech news feed that picked the lifehacker link. Great article! Your tips were insightful and approachable for any audience. When I got to your site, I was surpised to find you consider yourself such a newbie. I love your images! Having the gift to work with animals in such an expressive way is a gift and I quote – “no ifs, ands or self-depreciating quotes about it.”
Stacy (also in Austin)
I like the fact you are really developing this. Thanks for keeping us informed!