When I was first starting out, the editing learning curve was a tough one! I knew my furry models deserved to look their best, but my early attempts to edit ended up looking like a dog’s breakfast (pun absolutely intended) of editing mistakes.
If this is also you, don’t fret!
Editing takes both technical know-how and a lot of practice. I teach the technical side to Learning Journey members (psst – click here to go to our Editing Techniques course,) but I thought I’d take a minute to lay out my top five pet portrait editing mistakes to avoid…
The 'Blue Dog' Syndrome
Ever looked back at your photo after hours of editing and thought, ‘excuse me, that’s a smurf!’?
Chances are, you’ve fallen into the ‘blue dog’ trap.
This happens when the white balance in your photo is off, making your model look like they’ve had a run-in with a paint store.
The fix?
Simply adjust your white balance, and voila!
Your dog is back to their beautiful self, and not auditioning for a role in the next Avatar film.
The Fake Sun Fiasco
We’ve all seen those photos where the sun seems to be having a rave party in the corner.
If you haven’t, or if you can’t picture what I’m talking about, here’s one I prepared earlier… much earlier (I took this in 2019 where a fake hazy sun glow made EVERYTHING better)
Adding fake sunlight in your editing can give a warm and sunny vibe to your photo, but only if done right.
Otherwise it just looks like your model is about to be abducted by aliens.
Remember – subtlety is key! If you wouldn’t believe it, you can bet your clients and wider audience won’t either.
Mood Mismatch Mayhem
The very best pet photographers use their model’s expression and personality to tell a story.
A grumpy bulldog in a field of sunflowers might be funny, but an overly cheerful edit might not match the mood. Keep your edits in sync with your pet’s personality and the vibe of the photo. A moody, dramatic effect for an exuberant, playful pup?
It’s a no from me, dog.
The 'Dark Side' Dilemma
Whilst we’re trying to tell a story through out photos, we’re definitely not trying to go all film noir.
Deep, moody portraits are a regular favourite of mine, but be careful!
Making an edit too dark takes away from the energy and overall story. Your subject needs to be the star!
Over-Edited Eyes
This one’s a big one I see in critiques and beginner Learning Journey assignments!
Eyes are a tricky thing to edit right, but they’re the window to the soul… especially for our furry friends who can’t communicate verbally.
Over-editing or over-sharpening a pet’s eyes can make them look unnatural and downright spooky. Unless you’re going for the zombie vibe, try to keep edits on eyes as natural as possible, and remember to add colour not light.
What do I mean by this?
Well, if your pup’s big brown eyes appear too dark and you go full-speed into adding light, you’re going to end up with a grey, washed-out result. Instead, I like to try adding yellow or even a tiny bit of magenta first. This often brightens the eye while keeping it the correct dark chocolate colour.
Where to next?
So, there you have it – my top five pet portrait editing mistakes. By avoiding these, you’ll be well on your way to capturing paw-fect portraits!
Remember, the best photos aren’t always the most edited ones. To learn about one of my favourite editing techniques, get access the “Seeking Distractions” FREE webinar recording which you can sign up for below ⬇️, or head over to the Learning Journey to check out a membership – there are TONS of lessons on editing, including white balance, adding natural haze and glow behind the dog, changing colours, and of course, editing eyes.
Now, go grab that camera and make your pet the star they were born to be.
In the meantime, if you learned something, why not share one of these images to your socials, or make a pin back to this post?!
See you next time!
Emily, Loki & Journey
Create magical, captivating pet photos for you & your clients!
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