Animals also make nice portrait images. But what can we do to give them a bit of life?

We can wait for the growl, yawn, or aggression.

We can play with contrast and mood.

We can feature the tongue.

We can show age. This male looks fairly tired.

          The point of these examples is that we should not be satisfied with a portrait or close-up of an animal simply to have a portrait. There are so many ways to make a portrait just a bit more interesting, more impactful, more story-telling, funnier, etc. Don't settle for the ordinary when you can get an image that is better. Be patient. Wait. Shoot much, but get something just a bit more interesting than a straight-faced frontal headshot that is boring. The only time where that kind of image really works well is when the face itself has something different to say, like this tired lion.