It is always fun to take pictures of your dog, but what is the best way to do it? This complete guide shows how to take pictures of your dog.
Do you love your pet pooch more than anything else in the world? Well, you’re not the only one. There are just under 90 million pet dogs kept in happy households across the United States.
That’s a whole lot of dogs being doted on by their owners each day!
It’s no wonder that dog photography’s become so popular too. After all, they’re just so darn cute! With their adoring eyes and fun-loving personalities, you can’t help but want to take their photo.
Alas, working out how to take pictures of your dog (that are worthy of a place on the mantelpiece) isn’t as simple as it sounds! They refuse to sit still, look everywhere but the camera, and only hold the perfect pose for moments at a time.
Want some expert advice on taking pictures of your dog? You’re in the right place! Keep reading for our top tips on doing exactly that.
Get Them Accustomed to the Camera
A primary reason that dog photography can be a challenge relates to the camera itself. Remember, we take these gizmos for granted these days. Yet your lovable hound probably finds it far more confusing!
They don’t understand what you’re holding in front of your face, pointing in their direction, and trying to get their attention about. Furthermore, many dogs actively dislike the shutter sound and flash of cameras. Both can make them anxious and wonder what’s happening.
That’s why it helps to get your pup accustomed to the camera itself. Start by getting it out with your dog around and snap some photos to get them accustomed to the noise.
You could even give the dog a treat each time the shutter sound goes! Do that over time and they’ll soon associate the sound with a positive outcome. They’ll be more likely to strike the perfect pose for your pictures as a result.
Keep Them Comfortable
Timing’s all-important when it comes to taking pictures of your dog.
After all, you want to take a snap that captures their unique personality! You have to bide your time until the ideal moment and have your camera at the ready for when it arises.
Try taking their photo in places they feel most comfortable too. Maybe they have a favorite place to be walked, take a nap, or have a cuddle in the evenings. The ease they feel in these environments will make it ten times easier to take their photo.
Wait Until It’s Overcast
Lighting is a key element of any photography- including taking pictures of pets! Both the intensity and type of light come into play.
As a general rule, you should try to avoid harsh, bright lighting at all costs.
Going outdoors on overcast days often delivers the best results. The light’s natural, soft, consistent, and showcases your dog in all its glory. If you’re taking indoor snaps, then you leverage natural light in a similar way by positioning your pooch next to a window.
Taking pictures in low lighting?
Resistant the temptation to turn on the flash! It’s a recipe for sub-par results, including red eyes, harsh aesthetics, and a flat overall effect. If you’re indoors, then turning on the artificial lights is a much better option.
Sink to Their Level
There’s definite room for playing with angles and perspective when it comes to dog photography. Experiment with shots from on high, down below, or wherever else strikes your fancy.
However, you can never go wrong if you go down to the dog’s level. Taking those shots at eye-level with the dog shows the world as they see it! You maximize the overall aesthetic appeal of the image at the same time.
Attract Their Attention
One of the trickiest elements of this entire process can be getting your dog to look at the camera!
You want a candid shot of them staring into the lens, but nothing seems to work. Try as you might, they look in every direction apart from yours! Unfortunately, there’s no single solution to this problem- the right approach usually varies by the dog and context.
Nevertheless, having called their name and whistled to no avail, think about holding one of their favorite treats next to the camera. That should be enough to get their attention!
Still no joy? You could try to recover deleted photos from iPhone to see if you have any good ones from the past.
Focus on the Focus
Nailing the focus is one of the hardest parts of photographing a dog.
They’re almost always moving! They wag their tails, jump up and down, chase after smells, and rarely sit still for two seconds (unless they’re asleep…). All told, taking a picture that isn’t blurred can be a challenge.
Now, you can’t force your dog to stay still against their will!
But you can master your own levels of movement as the photographer. Try holding your breath as you take the photo, resting your arms on a stable surface, and tracking the movement of your dog if they’re on the run. You should end up with a far more focused image in the process.
Exactly How to Take Pictures of Your Dog
People love nothing more than taking photos of their dogs these days. And you can’t blame them!
After all, they become the newest members of the family. You want to capture precious moments in time to look back on them in the future. More to the point, dogs are so funny, cute, and cuddly, that there’s no limit to the number of photo opportunities they create.
The bad news is that dog photography isn’t always straight-forward! Lively, distractible, and unsure what the fuss is about, pet pooches aren’t always happy to have their photo taken.
We hope these tips on how to take pictures of your dog will come in handy in this regard. Keep them in mind and you should be snapping stunning shots of your hound in no time.
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