Reptiles make fascinating photo subjects, especially when their unique features are displayed in detail. But, what are the best settings that you should use on your camera when you want to take reptile or exotic pet imagery?
This is where we come in to lend you a helping hand. In this guide, you will learn about all of the best camera settings that you should use when you want to achieve the best reptile photography results.
So, without further ado, just keep on reading to discover what camera settings you should use to take professional pictures of reptiles and other exotic animals.
What Camera Settings Should You Use For Reptile Photography?
Given the fact that you have clicked on this article, we’re sure that you’re fond of reptiles and appreciate their unique beauty. That’s why, below, you will be able to discover some of our top tips for setting up your camera for reptile photography.
Let’s take a look at them all below.
1. Get Up Close And Personal
While this first point isn’t necessarily a “setting” for your camera, we still think that it’s deserving of a spot in this roundup. As we’re sure you’re already well aware, when it comes to reptiles, they’re not known for being the biggest of animals!
For that reason, if you want to make sure that you give your camera the best chance of capturing the highest quality images, you’re going to need to get up close and personal with your favorite cold-blooded creatures.
In other words, you’re likely going to need to get on the ground with the reptiles, as well!
Shooting images from your regular eye level will make it really hard for you to capture high quality images of your reptile subjects as you will be too far away.
In addition to this, shooting at eye level will also make it harder for the reptile subject to stand out from the background.
Instead, you should make sure that you are bringing the camera down to the same level as the reptile to achieve the best images.
Not only will this ensure that your camera is able to capture the reptile in high resolution, but it will also offer you the chance to capture some awesome angles that will make your images more visually interesting to look at.
2. Use A High Aperture
Along with making sure that you are adjusting your perspective in line with the height of your reptile subjects, it is also recommended that you make sure to use a high aperture in your camera rather than a standard, low aperture.
By making sure to use a high aperture when snapping images of reptiles, you will be able to help adjust the camera’s settings to create a shallow depth of field.
This is very desirable when taking images of reptiles, as a shallow depth of field will be able to make your reptile subject stand out from the background.
Thanks to this, it means that you will be able to ensure that your reptile subject is the central focus of your image, while the background will be out of focus and appear to be further away from the subject.
3. Use A Fast Shutter Speed
It’s no secret that reptiles can be unpredictable! Given the way that many reptiles can move quickly at a moment’s notice, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re prepared for this while taking your images.
For the best results, while taking images of reptiles, we recommend that you opt to use a fast shutter speed, as this will mean that your camera will be able to “freeze” any motion that your reptile subjects make without compromising on the image quality.
As well as this, making the decision to use a faster shutter speed when capturing images of your reptiles will also help to make your camera more resistant to shakiness. Thanks to this, it means that you will end up with high-quality images, time and time again.
4. Don’t Forget To Focus!
When it comes to taking close-up images of subjects like reptiles, your camera’s focus is going to be your best friend.
Even though it’s possible to manually set the focus on your camera, manual focus can be very tedious and time-consuming to get right, and there is often a much greater chance of the subject being blurred if you move the frame.
Given the fact that reptiles can be hard to spot at the best of times (as well as the potential of having to move your camera around if they suddenly begin to move) it is highly recommended that you simply opt to use your camera’s automatic focus function.
Not only will it help to ensure that your reptile subjects are always in focus within the frame, but it will also save time.
5. Use A High ISO
Last but not least, the final camera setting tip that we have to share with you is to use a high ISO.
Reptiles can be hard to spot at the best of times due to the way that they camouflage into their surroundings, and they are also typically found hiding in vegetation which can result in poor lighting conditions.
Due to this, when it comes to reptile photography, you’re going to want to make sure that you are opting to use a high ISO, rather than a low one which is typically the default in most cameras.
By using a higher ISO, you will be able to increase your camera sensor’s sensitivity, which means that it will draw on the maximum amount of light available in the images that it captures.
Thanks to this, this will then mean that your camera will be able to utilize the maximum amount of exposure to ensure that the images you capture will not be dark or difficult to decipher.
In addition to this, using a high ISO will also help to prevent any noise from appearing in the images, which might greatly impact the overall quality.
Additional Reptile Photography Tips
Now that you have discovered some of the best camera settings that you should use when taking images of reptiles, we are now going to be providing you with some additional tips to help you get the best results for your reptile photography.
1. Do Your Research
If you are planning to take some reptile photos out in the wild, then you should make sure that you are doing your research prior to beginning your session.
As we’re sure you already know, reptiles are masters of camouflage, which means that they might be a little hard for you to spot!
So, in order to raise your chances of spotting the reptiles that you want to capture images of out in the wild, you should make sure that you are doing your research on how to find them to avoid any disappointment.
We recommend that you learn about where your selected reptiles can typically be found, as well as what types of vegetation they usually reside in.
2. Have Patience!
Regardless of whether you want to shoot your pet reptiles or reptiles out in their natural habitats, it’s important to remember that you are going to be working with wild animals.
Due to this, it means that it might take much longer than expected to capture the reptile imagery that you want, so you should make sure that you are prepared to potentially wait around for your subject.
3. Work With Color
As we’re sure you already know, reptiles are known for camouflaging themselves for survival. Due to this, it means that reptiles are almost always blending into their surrounding environment in order to remain unseen by predators and prey.
So, how can you help them stand out in your images?
If you are going to be shooting your pet reptiles at home, then you’re going to have the added advantage of being able to use a backdrop that will contrast against your reptile to help make them stand out more in the images.
A white backdrop is a great option to use.
If you’re going to be shooting reptiles in their natural habitat, it might be harder to do this. So, one way you can get around this issue and make your reptile subjects stand out from their background is by making the images black and white.
This will get rid of distracting colors and pull the viewer’s eye to the reptile subject.
It’s also a great idea to consider taking pictures of reptiles in their natural habitat, as well. These can make for very interesting and fascinating images, as viewers will have the opportunity to see what reptiles typically look like while in their natural habitat.
Final Thoughts
There we have it – our top tips for photographing reptiles! Now that you have taken the time to read through all of the above, we’re sure that you’ll be able to create a stunning portfolio of professional and high-quality images of your favorite reptiles.
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
