cuzrabbits

Photos are some of the best ways to cherish memories with your pet rabbit. Even when they cross over the rainbow bridge, you can look back on all the cuteness they had to offer. I love seeing pictures of some of our past rabbits when I check Facebook memories or look at old Instagram posts.

Some may find it difficult to capture those special moments.

The good news is, you don’t have to be a pro to take good photos of your bunny.

Here are some of my tips for getting the shot!

Things to keep in mind when setting up your shot

Anyone can take good photos with a little effort and planning!

Use natural light when possible

Bad lighting can ruin any photo or video. From my experience, it’s very difficult to get a good shot in low lighting. Everything ends up looking grainy and blurry.

If you can, try to shoot in the mornings or a little bit before sunset. You may even catch the “Golden Hour,” when the sunlight hits just right and gives the shot a magical feel!

You can use a full size ring light or a ring light that attaches to your phone if you really want to shoot in low light.

I wouldn’t recommend using the flash. I find that it’s too harsh and makes the photo look shadowy. It also doesn’t distribute light well, so seems to aggravate Baby more.

Check your focus

Besides bad lighting, nothing wrecks a photo quite like blurriness. The only good blurry photo is one done for comedic effect to show an especially fast zoomie!

Make sure your lens is focused on your rabbit. For most phones, this just means taping your bunny on the screen.

Get on your rabbit’s level

I find the best photos come from getting low to the ground. It makes for a cuter photo than a far off photo from a bird’s eye view.

It also helps you get close-ups of cute rabbit features like their soft paws and their cute little nose!

What equipment do you need?

You don’t need a expensive DSLR camera to get a good photo or video of your rabbit. Most smart phones and tablets nowadays have create cameras already built in.

I just use my phone to take photos. I’ve found the OnePlus line of phones is cheaper than many other options but still has great camera quality.

That being said, there are some extras you can buy to take your photos to the next level.

Consider getting a pet cam

I’ve found that pet cameras are so helpful!

First and foremost, they are great tools to incorporate into your rabbit care. I first bought a pet camera several years ago so I could check up on Baby while I was at work. Since then, I’ve used it during medical recovery times to make sure he was eating and pooping consistently. One time, I was even able to pinpoint the timeframe when Baby hurt his front leg by comparing videos taken by the pet camera at different times.

The other good thing about having a pet camera is that you can capture more candid photos and videos of your rabbit without all the extra effort. Just look through the recordings! You’ll be able to save screenshots or video recordings of nighttime zoomies and daytime shenanigans.

I use the Wyze Indoor/Outdoor Camera. It’s small enough that I can easily bring it on trips or mount it discretely in my apartment. It’s also easy to set up and the most reasonably priced camera I’ve come across.

Make a backdrop on a budget

I make cheap backdrops by clipping pieces of fabric to white foam boards. You can find these at most dollar stores.

It makes it easy to switch out backgrounds without having to buy those full sized backdrops designed for professional photography.

Buy cheap props

Make sure you supervise your rabbit if you’re using props. The last thing you want is your rabbit to accidentally eat something they shouldn’t.

Props aren’t necessary, but I use them to add another element of cuteness in some of my photoshoots with Baby.

I’ve found most of my seasonal decor at dollar stores. You can also find unique items at tag sales. One thing I look for are items made for 18-inch dolls, like American Girl furniture. They also happen to be the perfect size for rabbits!

Don’t get discouraged

Rabbits have a mind of their own, so don’t be shocked if your rabbit doesn’t sit nicely for a 30 minute photoshoot. It’s important to be patient with your bunny. They’re not a professional, and they’re just trying to live their best bunny life.

There are some rabbits I’ve seen on social media that seem like statues. They let their owner dress them up in cute outfits and even make them dance by holding their paws.

I know Baby would murder me if I even thought about doing that, so I don’t bother. Most of the time, I just wait to catch him in his natural environment, doing his cute daily activities.

Here are some things I do to make an actual photoshoot easier on Baby:

• Set up in advance: Make sure you have everything ready before you bring your rabbit over. You don’t want to be fumbling around, waiting valuable bunny attention span and time.
• Use food: If your rabbit is food motivated, keep a pellet or two in your hand so you can redirect their attention. I’ll sometimes drop a pile in the middle of the photoshoot space and snap photos when Baby picks his head up to chew.
• Don’t force it: Take your cues from your bunny. If they’re not having a good time, you’re basically torturing your rabbit “for the ‘gram.” Take a break or wait to take photos another day. The pictures will be better anyway if your rabbit is calm and in a good mood.

Take your time and make sure your rabbit is comfortable.

Storing Photos

Once you have your photos, make sure you don’t lose them!

I try to make sure I backup the photos on my phone to a hard drive every few months. That way if something happens, you’re not losing all your photos.

You can also use cloud storage like Amazon Photos Storage, which comes free with an Amazon Prime account.

Or you can go old school! Print out your photos and make a photo album you can flip through.

Just have fun!

Through this whole process, try not to stress about it! Getting a “perfect” shot can take time.

Remember the reason you’re doing all of this — hopefully because you love your bunny and want some good memories captured.

Worst case scenario, you could always get in contact with a professional pet photographer and schedule a shoot!

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