MENU

The Portrait Lens That I Cannot Live Without

Friday, September 17, 2021 | By: Tracy Allard

Whether you're a pet photographer, landscape artist or a photo journalist, I can guarantee there's one thing we all have in common - we love gear! Camera bodies, lenses, camera bags (with wheels, without and backpack styles), attachments, lights, modifiers, etc, etc, etc. I'm no different. I have at least five camera bags, three camera bodies (as a professional, I do need a back up) and too many lenses to count. I'm lucky that we have three great camera stores here in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex; Competitive Cameras in Dallas, Arlington Camera in Arlington and Fort Worth Camera in Fort Worth, all have a broad range of inventory and order pretty much anything you want. I try to support all three because nothing beats the support you get from a local small business. 

My Favorite Portrait Lens No Matter What, Or Where I'm Photographing

Despite having all those lenses (macro, wide angle, ultra-wide angle, nifty-fifty, 24-70mm and a bunch more that I'm too embarrassed to list), I can, and have, shot an entire session with nothing but my 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens. I am in love with that lens. I love it's sharpness, the compression it creates (the phenomenon in which the background appears to be closer to a subject and larger in comparison than it actually is) when photographing at 200mm and the beautiful bokeh (what's bokeh? check out this post I wrote on it). 

My 70-200mm has saved me in sessions with fearful dogs who couldn't handle having a "big black eye" pointed directly at them or couldn't tolerate a stranger (me) being too close to them. It's weather proof so even in wet conditions I know it can handle it. I've had it at the beach, in the mountains and on the prairie. It's my go-to lens whether photographing dogs, horses, families or high school seniors and makes them all look good. I love it when clients snap behind the scenes images of me at work, I'm always happy to receive them. Here's a collection below as evidence to how much I love this lens!

(click on any image to view full screen)

This Is Why I Love The 70-200mm Lens For Pet Portrait Sessions

Terrific sharpness on the dog's face, compression of the background to make it look closer to the subject and beautiful bokeh of that tree line make the 70-200mm lens my go-to for every portrait session. 

Settings: 1/180 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200, 180mm

A Close Second and Third Choice For Equipment I Can't Live Without

Here's a little bonus for you, two more pieces of gear that always accompany me on any on-location dog photography session; knee and elbow pads. Why the knee pads? Well, one of the key things in capturing a dog's personality is to photograph them at their eye level, which means you're going to be crouching, kneeling and squatting a lot! The knee pads have been a knee-saver on so many occasions, allowing me to kneel comfortably on gravel and rocks as well cushion my landing when I come down hard trying to catch that perfect expression or pose. 

For some shots, I want to get even lower so it's on my stomach and elbows. Standing up from one such occasion I found I had bits of gravel embedded into my elbows so figured elbows pads were in order in addition to the knee pads. Both pads never leave my car and I just suit up at the beginning of every pet photography session so I'm ready for whatever comes my way. I think of it as my survival gear. 

 

Pet photography can be a contact sport (with the ground!), pads help

All Around The Circle

So now that I've pulled back the curtain a bit on some of my favorite gear, check out these other talented pet photographers from around the world to see what they can't live without starting with Ina from Ina J Photography talks about the photography gears she brings to every session and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each page until you land right back here and then you will have completed the circle. 

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy recently had 3 of her 4 submissions to the Southwest District Photographic Print Competition awarded the Top Ten distinction in the animal portrait category. 

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Let's talk about your pet's portrait!
Previous Post Next Post

Related Posts

Homemade Dog Food For Your Picky Senior Pup

April 15, 2022

My Favorite Lens for Pet and Equine Photography

August 12, 2022

Our Brown-Eyed Girl

August 31, 2018

Why I Love Coppell Texas As A Pet And Family Photographer

January 21, 2022

Archive

Go
Contact Form
CALL US
Contact Form
CALL US
CLOSE
Contact Form
CALL US