Your dog may be adorable, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t just snap a photo of him and have it look great. Dog photography takes some skill, especially if your pet isn’t cooperative when trying to get the perfect angle or lighting for your shot. Fortunately, we have 13 dog photography tips that will help you with everything from taking the first shots of your pup to learning how to produce unique pictures every time!
Table of Contents
Schedule the session
Before you take your dog out for a photo shoot, set aside plenty of time, dogs need plenty of water and breaks during the session. It’s also important to know what level of attention your dog needs and if they are shy. Remember that dogs don’t respond well to being told what to do, so try giving them instructions rather than telling them what to do. The best way to get a good shot is by asking the dog’s owner for permission before taking their dog out of the house, or if they’re not available, ask a family member or friend with whom they have a good relationship. Once you’ve got the okay, it’s time to prepare!
Carefully Plan your shots
Get your dog on a white background to stand out, and make sure they look straight at the camera, not off to one side. Use a wide-angle lens to include more than just your pet in the picture, like their favorite toy, or if they are outside their favorite spot to lay around and relax. (A macro lens will also work well!) Next, hold down your shutter button and snap away to get great shots with different expressions from your dogs! Let them sniff things first before snapping a photo – this helps them be less wary about being photographed. Lastly, have fun with it! Dogs love seeing themselves on camera as much as we do.
Find something interesting in your yard that they like and use that as a backdrop for a few shots. Give them snacks, talk to them calmly, pet them gently and watch their personality come out through the lens. Take a little time to figure out what might make your players happy, then prepare for it accordingly. It may sound corny, but most people don’t want anything other than photos of themselves with the newest gadget or pose. Your pup deserves the same attention! Showcase the little quirks that make him unique by capturing those fleeting moments where he’s got an ear perked up waiting for something delicious, or she’s wondering what you’re up to while staring at you with curiosity.
Use Natural Light
The ideal choice is to utilize normal, persistent light that will not scare them or cause red-eye in your pictures. Whether you’re using encompassing or studio lights, the basic principle is to go for brilliant, diffused light that will assist with making additional complimenting representations.
On the off chance that you’re in a somewhat hazier climate or, on the other hand, if the little guy isn’t answering great to more splendid lights, you can continuously support your ISO to catch activity shots at quick screen speeds even in a hazier climate.
The higher the ISO, the quicker you can shoot! Assuming you’re shooting outside, cloudy days are many times best for giving even, diffused lighting. Remember to ensure that your subject has more than adequate catchlight, or intelligent white parts in the eyes, to try not to make the eyes look level and dead. Catching that additional flash will give your canine photographs greater character and assist you with standing apart as a pet photographic artist.
Use a high shutter speed
You want to use a high shutter speed when shooting action shots. You’ll have to experiment with this one, but you’ll need a higher number to capture the action without having it look blurry. How fast they’re moving. It’s also important that your pup is in sharp focus and not blurry. Experiment with the stress by putting your camera in manual mode and setting it to auto-focus before taking pictures at different shutter speeds.
Next, take three photos of your dog with each pace. Here’s one justification for why catching photographs of pets tend to be undeniably challenging. As a rule, you’ll have to utilize a camera that offers quick screen velocities to freeze activity. Unfortunately, this implies you’ll have to know how to arrange camera settings manually.
A few computerized cameras offer a customized Pet Mode. Yet, it’s typically sufficiently not to catch very much uncovered tack-sharp pictures, so your smartest option is to utilize a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or possibly an exceptional application that permits you to change manual camera settings. Using a creature-based face recognition setting similar to the one presented on some Nikon, Group, and Sony models can help.
Shot Where they are comfortable
The most fundamental point in dog photography is to catch their personality and character. You’re less inclined to get this if they’re in a new spot, like a studio. Instead, go to a recreation area or your lawn and let your pet unwind and relax. This should assist them with feeling and looking more agreeable to the camera. For new pet photographic artists, it will also help you feel greater.
Keep it natural! Many dog owners like to dress up their pets in little outfits and funny hats, but if you want a more natural look, it’s best to use something other than props or put your pup in clothes. If your dog is already wearing something, try adding a hat or bandana instead so they will still look cute and natural while still being dressed up a little bit.
Get down at their level
Everyone is accustomed to seeing canines from a higher place, so photographs from that point may be less striking. For the best outcomes, shoot them in their reality from beneath. Based on the dog variety, you might need to squat with your camera or lie on your gut just to even out the camera with your dog. The goal is to shoot from their eye level or even lower, where you can get the best perspective on their demeanours. As another dog picture taker, lying on the floor with your camera for a photo shoot may feel scary.
How to grab their attention
Standing out is one of the main creative abilities while doing dog photography. On the off chance that you wish to make them keep actually, attempt this straightforward stunt: let them play discreetly and, when prepared with the camera pointed and your finger on the screen, require your canine’s consideration. Click the shade as they glance toward you, and you’ll have the option to catch them with their complete focus on you and your camera. But, for those who have a nervous, skittish dog or cat, these tips from an experienced Pet Photographer may make things easier:
- Treats are your best partner.
- Patience and Practice.
- Noises always work wonders when capturing your furry friend’s attention.
- Toys are an easy go-to
When you stand out, you might have the option to catch two or three simple shots of them standing by. Be mindful to avoid making any unexpected developments, as this will doubtlessly take them to leap up and follow you. Move gradually and try not to visually engage as you change positions or connect for a prop. If they truly do begin to move or play, continue to shoot in burst mode for the most obvious opportunity at a decent activity shot.
Focus On Their Eyes
The eyes are the window to the soul, so it’s important to capture them in all their glory. With that said, getting a good focus on your dog’s eyes is also essential. If you’re using a camera with manual settings, that means adjusting the focal length and aperture accordingly. But if you’re not familiar with these settings or your camera doesn’t have them, there are other ways to get a crisp shot of your dog’s pupils.
While outlining your dog, please make a point to auto-centre around the eyes to ensure they’re sharp and to permit the canine’s demeanor to turn into the end of the convergence of your picture. You should watch and catch that ideal big adorable eyes second, whether they’re gazing directly toward your camera. Articulation and character in the eyes will constantly bring about captivating canine photographs.
Capture Their Characters
One of the first things you want to do is find out your dog’s personality. Dogs don’t just have one attitude; they always change based on their surroundings and how they feel. After you figure out your dog’s personality, you will want to play with them and get them in a happy mood so that when you take pictures, it won’t be difficult for them to stay still or cooperate. Stunningly better than a charming closeup of your pet is a photograph of them that conveys their personality. If your dog is energetic, you should add an image of him in real life to your proposed shot list. If the hound loves relaxing around, take a snap of him yawning while at the same time lying in his number one bed. Those valuable photographs will be for the long haul!
Change your perspective
Get down to their level. This is a great way to take pictures from the dog’s perspective and makes it easier for them to interact with you when you’re on the ground. Avoid having your subject look directly at the camera but rather have them look off in a different direction.
This will help give your photos the genuine feeling many people are looking for when taking pictures of their pets. Use your extensive memory card by taking as numerous photographs as you need. In any case, for assortment, have a go at shooting from various points; besides making efforts from a higher place and at eye level, attempt to shoot from way down beneath (particularly for greater canines), from the side, and even from behind. Utilize your inventiveness and have a go at making closeup efforts of the face, paws, or even the tail.
Be patient
Besides camera stuff and photography skill, another significant thing that dog photography requires is persistence, and a great deal of it. Pets clearly can only adhere to explicit guidelines if an expert prepares them. But, simultaneously, they’re known to ingest human energy, so assuming you get worried or disappointed, they’ll detect it and start to reflect your sentiments.
For starters, be patient. Don’t try and take snapshots as quickly as possible; instead, take your time to line up the perfect shot. Let them know what’s about to happen so they don’t jump out of surprise, use treats or toys for bribery, and get in close so you can see all those adorable wrinkles.
Reward your pet
Remember to pay your model! Throughout the shoot, offer them something they really like to keep them motivated and encourage them to cooperate. The reward is up to you, and it can be anything from treats and toys to belly rubs and other forms of affection. Treats can even serve as bait, props, or tools to help warm up your pet for the camera. Rewards can make shooting more of an adventure and less of a chore. It’s always hard to get a good picture of your pet, but we have a few tips that should help make it easier. Sometimes pets might be too active for a good picture, or their face might not be looking at the camera. If this happens, use treats as a reward. Give your dog one treat when they look at the camera, then another if they turn their head again and look away from the lens. Repeat this process until you’re satisfied with your photos.
Use Good Gear
Good gear is worth the investment! Here are some essentials to consider when buying equipment:
Camera – good for capturing your pet’s personality on film.
Lenses – come in different focal lengths and make a difference when taking pictures from close or far away.
Tripod – stability is important to prevent blurry photos, especially with longer exposures and low-light conditions.
Reflector – helps you get more natural-looking shots with less harsh shadows and glare. It also provides more flexibility for positioning the dog in the photo depending on where the sun is about them at any given time during the day or year. Few of the god gears are listed below,
Conclusion
Every dog owner deserves to know how to work with dogs. Once you get some practice, it will be easy to create the perfect shots. As long as you’re good at positioning yourself and adapting to different camera settings, nothing stops you from becoming a world-class photographer of animals. You don’t even need professional aspirations! So whether you want to improve or show off what a fantastic pet parent you are, these photography tips will help ensure that every photo captures your pup’s personality.
