Photographer’s Corner: Getting the Best
Pictures for Photo Registrations
By Robyn Martin
As many of you know, Continental Kennel Club offers a photo registration
service which includes a photo registration certificate and photo identification
card. This form of registration is becoming more and more popular with dog
owners registering with CKC. Unfortunately, with all the photo registrations
that we receive, only a portion of them actually go through without any problems
or delays. The problem is not with the dog’s name or birthdate, it is usually
concerning the photograph that is submitted with the application. In this
article, I will give you a few tips about portrait photography so that you can
take quality photographs that will be ideal for placement on your photo
registration certificate.
First of all, I will explain the process of
photo registrations. When photo registration applications are received in our
office, they are evaluated to make sure that the photograph is usable. If the
photograph is of good quality, the processor will scan the photograph, crop it
to size (1.5 inch x 1.5 inch square), and begin to fix any flaws that may be
present, e.g., red eye, blurring, exposure, etc., using up-to-date
edit-enhancing software. However, if the photograph quality is poor and unable
to be improved through the editing process, a letter is sent to the applicant
explaining the delay. A new photograph is usually requested according to the
processor’s recommendations.
Obviously, you want a crisp, clear
photograph of your dog to appear on the photo registration certificate. No one
would be satisfied with a blurred blob or an indistinguishable dog. In order to
achieve that clear snapshot, the photograph must be taken by a still
(non-moving) photographer. How do you stand perfectly still when taking a
picture of a rambunctious 6-month-old puppy? It’s almost impossible, but there
are ways to minimize the movement of the camera and also to reduce the picture
delay time.
Because we use software to edit photographs and eliminate
red eyes, it’s best to avoid using the red-eye feature on your camera since that
generates a longer picture delay. Flash photography also adds to delay time. Try
using a low aperture setting or a faster film speed instead of
flash.
Some of the easiest and clearest pictures are taken outdoors, in
natural light. Early evening is my favorite time to take pictures. The sun
enhances the color of the dog and helps with the contrast of solid black dogs,
making a brighter picture. When photographing light-colored dogs, it’s a little
trickier. If the sun is too bright, your white dog might appear to be
radio-active!
Usually, you want the sun behind you when taking pictures
so that the object you are photographing is getting the full reflection of the
sun. In the case of photographing a light-colored dog, experiment by shooting
from different angles to find the best position. You may find that shooting
toward the sun will give you a more realistic view of the dog. Lastly, try to
avoid instant cameras. Approximately eighty percent of these types of
photographs are of poor quality and must be replaced with another
picture.
Now that we are using the right setting, let’s consider some
scenery that will make for good portraits, especially for placing on
registration certificates. Obtaining a close-up photograph of your dog’s head
should not be your goal. Since this image will appear on the registration
certificate and become a permanent part of your dog’s record, you want it to be
a representation of the whole dog, not just a portion of him. Pictures that
include a section of the garden or the barbecue grill are fine to submit. Much
of what’s in the frame beside or around the dog can be cropped out of the frame
when it is reduced and prepared for placement on the registration certificate.
Avoid photographs that were taken of your dog behind a fence or on a chain. They
tend to take away from the overall attractive look that can be achieved in a
more natural, non-restrictive setting.
Frontal views of the dog are
best, especially when taken on the dog’s level. Sitting, kneeling, or lying in
the grass will allow you to capture a realistic view of your dog. Also, avoid
taking pictures from an above position ---- it may give the illusion of a dog
with a very big head.
Color is very important; therefore, you should use
color film, not black and white. Sepia-toned and black/white photographs are
great in picture frames, but will not be appropriate when placed on registration
certificates. Your colors should be crisp and clear. If your image is too blue,
try re-shooting near yellow light. If your photograph is too yellow, try finding
a darker area to re-take the shot.
If you are using a digital camera,
please print your photographs on photograph paper. The use of any other type of
paper, such as regular copy paper, becomes very pixilated (blurry) and is very
difficult for us to get a clear image from after scanning.
The best
pictures are those that are taken of a dog in his natural setting and
environment. The more natural the background, the better the outcome. If you use
props, keep them realistic and make sure the dog is your focal point, not the
prop. Since this photograph should be strictly of your dog, avoid using people
as props.
The size of your photograph is very important and should be no
smaller than 3x5 and no larger than 5x7. Never cut your picture; we will work
with the original size to fit it within our photograph specifications. If you
submit a photograph of your dog on the couch, that’s fine. But if the photograph
was taken while you were in another room (such as the kitchen), the couch will
probably be the focal point and the dog will appear very distant and small. In
this case, we would attempt to zoom in on the image of the dog. Depending on the
quality of your photograph, the edited picture may be too blurry to use.
Instead, submit the same photograph taken at a closer distance.
There are
many advantages to having a photo registration. One of the most significant is
that it can aid in the retrieval of a lost (or found) dog. Your registration
certificate (with photo) would provide sufficient evidence as to the true
ownership of the dog. This would also be a valuable asset in the case of a
stolen dog.
Continental Kennel Club’s goal is to provide you with the
very best in quality photo registration services. Following our recommendations
and taking the time to submit an appropriate photograph of your dog along with
the registration application, will speed up the processing of your registration.
If you have any questions as to what is acceptable, please call me at (888)
252-8042 or email me at robyn@ckcusa.com. I will be glad to answer any questions
you may have.
If you would like to upgrade your existing CKC registration
to include a photograph, call (800) 952-3376 for details!
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