The Simple Guide to Pet Friendly Holiday Photos: 10 Tips to Your Best Family Holiday Photos

What’s the best camera to photograph your pet friendly holiday photos?

The one you have on hand.

Are you thinking about a pet friendly family photo session? You’ve come to the right place. As a professional photographer, animal shelter volunteer, and pet mom to two seal mink bengal cats, I love pet photography almost as much as I love wedding and family photography. In fact, if taking your own family holiday photos with your pet doesn’t work out, feel free to contact me and we will set something up.

But this isn’t about me. It’s about you — and empowering you to bring your pet-friendly holiday photos to the next level. It’s also about your pets — those lovable, incorrigible family members who bring you joy all year long.

So yes, the best camera for photographing your pets is the one you have in hand, whether that camera is your mobile phone or a full-frame mirrorless camera.

I’m writing my top tips for pet friendly holiday photos with my seal mink bengal Calvin curled up in a cinnamon swirl donut next to me on the sofa, after upsetting his routing yesterday by pulling out the Christmas tree. Yesterday he climbed the tree and hung out for a bit, literally splayed across 5 wire branches, before springing to the top of the step stool, making fights with his brother Hobbes, walking across the piano, and knocking Mary with Jesus off our Cradle to Cross wreath. We’ve been using garden wire for years now to fix our plastic ornaments to the tree, and leaving smaller, broken ornaments as offerings in strategic places to distract our cats from the tree.

How we made room for Calvin & Hobbes, our two minky troublemakers

After the upheaval of moving from the United States to England, and then dealing with visa errors that forced our move to Eindhoven in The Netherlands, we’d promised our tired children they could have two cats once we settled into our permanent home. When they fell in love with tiny white bundles of energy listed as Bengal kittens in Den Haag on Marktplaats, we decided to take the plunge and reserved two baby boys from the same nest.

But before reserving Bengal cats, I did my research. Already the mother of four energetic children, I was happy to learn that Bengals are a large breed and highly intelligent. They can be mischievous when bored, but they generally get along well with children. It seemed like they’d be a perfect fit for our family. And having two cats would help keep each other company when we weren’t home, while still sharing cuddles with all six of us when we were!

And yes, they are Bengal cats. I could tell you stories of the things they’ve gotten into, the toilets they’ve flushed, and the lights they’ve turned off. I love my boys — my own children will tell you I take more photos of my cats than I do of them now.

I do not recommend Bengal cats for first-time cat owners, or those looking to leave their cats alone for extended periods. They need enrichment and an experienced hand to help them avoid trouble. Our two have free roam of the garden, but we’ve blocked off access to the restaurant terrace on the right and the museum on the left.

Calvin & Hobbes have become an indispensable part of our family. But that doesn’t make them easy to photograph, even for this professional photographer & animal shelter volunteer. They especially love it when I set up my Savage paper backdrops, jumping on and shredding the backdrops.

How I started photographing shelter animals

After a draining season as a school photographer, where I learned the art of quick and efficient portraits, I realized I craved something more mindful and intentional in my photography. That’s when I saw an online ad for a volunteer shelter photographer, and I knew it was the right fit.

In the beginning, I was the main photographer coming in weekly to capture the animals who’d just finished their quarantine and were ready for adoption. Over time, I photographed a wide range of animals—cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs, even a goat and a tiny snake named Captain Hook. Each session taught me the importance of working quickly, quietly, and with sensitivity to the animals’ needs.

Over time, these experiences, along with my work photographing families, events, and weddings, gave me plenty of insight into how to capture cherished pet-friendly holiday photos.

Pet friendly holiday photography is for everyone to enjoy

Pet-friendly holiday photography is something everyone can and should do! I always tell my clients that all photos are valuable, whether they’re quick, casual snapshots or high-end professional photo shoots. There’s room for every skill level. You, as the person closest to your pet, have a unique ability to capture moments and expressions that a professional photographer might miss. That said, I’m always happy to help bring your vision for family holiday photos to life.

Let’s get to my top 10 tips for pet friendly holiday photos!

1. Don’t force it

The best pet-friendly holiday photos are often unforced and enjoyable for your pet. Only you know if they’re comfortable wearing Christmas sweaters or a funny headband. My Bengals would rather shred any collars I try to put on them, but they’ll happily wear their harnesses when we go for walks.

Throughout the shoot, keep an eye on your pet’s comfort level and interests. Move with patience, as animals are finely tuned to our emotions. Your patience will reward you with more natural, beautiful holiday photos. Don’t force them into situations they’re not comfortable with, and be patient with their moods.

2. Safety is a key element of pet friendly holiday photography

Don’t endanger your pet with props or decorations that they can get tangled in or eat. I once heard of a cat who ate a whole string of lights! You know your pet best, so anticipate how they might react to unfamiliar objects. Proceed with caution when setting up for those adorable holiday pet photos.

3. Pick your battles for timing your family holiday photos

Trying to get the perfect shot right before dinnertime is a recipe for disaster! On the other hand, capturing your pet during nap time or after a play session might be the perfect opportunity to snap more active shots without the distraction of props they want to chew on.

4. The eyes have it

Always try to shoot at eye level and maintain eye contact with your pet. This makes your photos more engaging and brings them to life. At the shelter, I learned that animals were more at ease when they could see my face, not just a black lens.

5. Light is everything

The three most important elements of pet-friendly holiday photography are light, light, and… you guessed it, light! The difference between a snapshot and a truly captivating photo often comes down to how light interacts with your subject.

When positioning your pet, aim to place yourself at a 45º angle to both your subject and the main light source. For example, if your beautifully lit Christmas tree is the primary light source, don’t place your pet directly in front of it. The backlight will create shadows on their face, which can result in a flat image. Instead, position your pet to the side of the tree, so the light wraps around them, highlighting their features.

Also, take advantage of natural reflectors like white sheets, walls, or even carpets to bounce light onto your pet. This can help even out any shadows and give your photos a soft, flattering light — and it won’t cost you a thing. You don’t need fancy reflectors for this!

In the winter, keep in mind that daylight can be scarce, so try to schedule your photo sessions earlier in the day to make the most of ambient natural light. In the evening, Christmas lights and other indoor lighting can work wonders to illuminate your pet’s eyes and add a festive touch to your photos.

6. Edit your photos after taking them

Did you know you can edit your mobile photos on the go using free apps like Adobe Lightroom? With Lightroom Mobile, you can apply presets that give your photos a consistent, professional look.

7. Watch for colour casts

Brightly colored elements in your scene can reflect onto your pet’s fur, creating an unnatural color cast. Keep an eye on this during the shoot, and if it’s too much, you can correct it in post-editing with apps like Lightroom Mobile.

8. Balance your exposure

It can be tricky to get the right exposure when photographing black or white pets. You can adjust your exposure on an iPhone by tapping the screen until the sun icon appears, then dragging the slider to adjust the brightness. If you’re still not happy with the result, you can fix it in editing.

9. Check the white balance.

White balance controls the warmth of your photo. If your pet is looking too yellow or too blue, adjust the white balance either in your phone’s settings or with editing apps like Lightroom Mobile. iPhones, in particular, can give photos a cooler, blue tint, so keep an eye on that.

10. Reward that patient pet!

Don’t forget to reward your friend after they’re done modeling for your pet friendly holiday photos. Whether that’s praise, pets, an extra special meal, or some snacks, I’ll leave that up to you. Animals are more likely to associate photography positively when you reward them immediately after you’re done. That means they’re more likely to cooperate in the future.

Your best family holiday photos with your pets

Pet-friendly holiday photos that you’re proud of are absolutely attainable when you follow these 10 tips and take your time. And if you feel that’s beyond your scope at the moment, I’m more than happy to provide a pet-friendly holiday photography experience tailored to your vision. Contact me, and we’ll chat about how we can make this holiday season one to remember with your pets!

Groetjes,

Amy